SECTION II
SENATE BODIES
Article 4
The bodies of the Senate shall be:
1) The Marshal of the Senate,
2) The Presidium of the Senate,
3) Convention of Elders,
4) Senate Committees.
Article 5
The Presidium of the Senate shall consist of the Marshal of the Senate and three Deputy Marshals.
Article 6
1. The Senate shall elect the Marshal from among candidates submitted by at least 10 Senators, by secret ballot, passing the resolution with an absolute majority of votes.
2. If none of the candidates has received the required majority, consecutive balloting shall be conducted which effects the consecutive elimination of the candidate who receives the least number of votes. In case of an equal number of votes, elimination is effected by drawing lots. If in the last round of voting none of the candidates achieves the required majority then the voting procedure is repeated.
3. Recalling the Marshal of the Senate takes place on a motion from at least 34 senators in a secret ballot, passed with an absolute majority of votes cast by the statutory number of senators.
Article 7
1. The Senate shall elect the Deputy Marshals from among candidates submitted by at least 10 senators in a secret ballot. Each Senator indicates the name of his candidate on his voting card. The elected three candidates are considered to be those candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes. In the event of the third and fourth candidates obtaining the same number of votes then the voting for these candidates is repeated.
2. The provisions of article 6, para. 3 are applicable respectively to the recall of a Deputy Marshal.
Article 8
1. The Marshal of the Senate shall:
1) protect the rights and the dignity of the Senate,
2) represent the Senate,
3) conduct issues regarding relations with the Sejm,
4) establish the plan for the Senate’s work, after seeking the opinion of the Convention of Elders,
5) convene sittings of the Senate,
6) establish a draft agenda after seeking the opinion of the Convention of Elders,
7) preside over sittings of the Senate and watch over their conduct,
8) order the printing of acts of law passed by the Sejm, draft acts and resolutions and other Senate papers and hand them to Senators,
9) supervise adherence by the Senate and its bodies to the timetable for its work,
10) supervise the work of the Senate committees and may instruct them to consider certain matters,
11) convene the sittings of the Presidium of the Senate, preside over the sittings and direct its work,
12) convene the Convention of Elders and preside over its sittings,
13) oversee the performance by state and local self-government organs, and units subordinate to them, and other obligated entities, of their constitutional and statutory duties with respect to the Senate, the Senate bodies and Senators,
14) conduct assessments of the performance by state and local self-government organs of their duties with respect to the Senate, the Senate bodies and Senators, and present these assessments to Senators,
15) provide assistance to Senators in the performance of their mandate and undertake, at their request, appropriate steps to deal with issues submitted,
16) ensure order and decorum within the entire precinct of the Senate,
17) set the draft budget for the Chancellery of the Senate after having sought the opinion of the Presidium of the Senate, and the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee, and - with respect to the care over Polish émigré communities and Poles abroad - the Emigration and Poles Abroad Committee, and supervise its performance,
18) establish in an order the statute for the Chancellery of the Senate after having sought the opinion of the Presidium of the Senate and the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee,
19) appoint and recall the Head of the Chancellery of the Senate, after having sought the opinion of the Presidium of the Senate and the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee,
20) carry out other tasks ensuing from the Senate Rules.
2. The Marshal of the Senate shall also perform other tasks foreseen in the Constitution and other acts of law.
3. The Marshal of the Senate shall sign on behalf of the Senate letters to external addressees.
4. The Marshal of the Senate may authorise a Senator or a group of Senators to perform specific duties.
Article 9
The Presidium of the Senate shall:
1) interpret the Rules and Regulations of the Senate after having sought the opinion of the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee,
2) refer specific matters to committees for consideration,
3) establish the principles for organising scientific advice for the Senate and its bodies, appointing advisors and use of opinions and expert studies,
4) oversee the performance by Senators of their duties,
5) give opinions on issues raised by the Marshal of the Senate,
6) undertake other activities resulting from the Rules and Regulations of the Senate.
Article 10
1. The daily agenda and times of the sittings of the Presidium of the Senate shall be set by the Marshal of the Senate.
2. The Head of the Senate Chancellery and persons invited by the Marshal of the Senate shall participate in the sittings of the Presidium of the Senate in an advisory capacity.
3. Minutes shall be prepared of the sittings of the Presidium of the Senate, signed by the Marshal of the Senate. The minutes shall be the only official record of the sitting of the Presidium and shall be available to all the Senators.
4. The Presidium of the Senate shall undertake resolutions and other decisions by a majority vote. In the case of an equal number of votes, the Marshal of the Senate shall have a casting vote.
Article 11
1. Deputy Marshals of the Senate shall:
1) preside over the sittings of the Senate in the name of the Marshal of the Senate,
2) perform, in the name of the Marshal of the Senate, duties assigned to them by him.
2. When acting on behalf of the Marshal of the Senate Deputy Marshals have all the rights and duties of the Marshal of the Senate resulting from the Senate Rules and Regulations.
Article 12
1. The Senate committees shall be appointed to consider and deliberate on matters upon their own initiative as well as those referred to them by the Senate, the Marshal of the Senate or the Presidium of the Senate.
2. The committees, within the scope of their competence, shall examine and present to the Senate their position regarding bills passed by the Sejm.
3. The committees shall also take their stand regarding the correctness of enactment and the manner of implementation of statutes.
4. The committees may prepare their own rules of procedure upon consultation with the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee.
Article 13
1. The Senate shall appoint standing committees designated for specific matters, and can appoint and dissolve special committees for carrying out specific assignments.
2. The chairmen and the members of committees shall be elected and recalled by the Senate.
3. The Marshal of the Senate, upon his own initiative or that of the Presidium of the Senate, and also upon the motion of at least four chairmen of committees, shall convene a sitting of the chairmen of Senate committees.
4. Sittings of the chairmen of the Senate committees shall co-ordinate co-operation between committees, delineate needed legislative initiatives, as well as consider other matters presented by the Marshal of the Senate, by the Presidium of the Senate or by the chairmen of the committees.
Article 14
1. Proposals of resolutions concerning the appointment and dissolution of committees, as well as concerning their composition, shall be prepared and presented to the Senate by the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee.
2. Proposals of resolutions concerning the appointment and recall of the chairman of a committee shall be prepared and presented to the Senate by the Rules and Senate Affairs Committee upon a motion of the particular committee with the consideration for para. 4.
3. The provisions of section IX are not applicable to proposed resolutions specified in paras. 1 and 2.
4. A motion for the recall of a chairman of a committee may also be presented by the Marshal of the Senate on his own initiative or on a motion from the Presidium of the Senate.
5. The Convention of Elders shall issue opinions on motions concerning the appointment and recall of chairmen of committees.
Article 15
1. The following standing committees shall be designated:
1) The National Economy Committee,
2) The Culture and Media Committee,
3) The Science and National Education Committee,
4) The National Defence Committee,
5) The Environmental Protection Committee,
6) The Human Rights and the Rule of Law Committee,
7) The Rules and Senate Affairs Committee,
8) The Family and Social Policy Committee,
9) The Agriculture and Rural Development Committee,
10) The Local Government and Public Administration Committee,
11) The Emigration and Poles Abroad Committee,
12) The Foreign Affairs and European Integration Committee,
13) The Legislation Committee,
14) The Health, Physical Education and Sport Committee.
2. The subject matters for standing committees shall be defined in an appendix to the Rules and Regulations of the Senate.
Article 16
1. The Convention of Elders is a body which provides for the co-operation of Senate clubs and Senate groups on issues connected with the activity and the course of work of the Senate.
2. The Convention of Elders shall consist of: the Marshal, Deputy Marshals and Senators – who represent Senate clubs, agreements specified in Article 21, para. 5, as well as parliamentary clubs if they consist of at least 7 Senators.
3. The Convention of Elders shall carry out its assignments through:
1) issuing opinions upon the proposals for agenda of Senate sittings,
2) issuing opinions on the work schedule and statements pertaining to the dates of sittings of the Senate,
3) pointing out needed legislative initiatives,
4) considering and presenting motions on the order of the debate or the sitting of the Senate,
5) considering other matters presented by the Marshal of the Senate, the Presidium of the Senate or representatives of clubs and agreements specified in Article 21, para. 5.
4. The Convention of Elders shall be convened by the Marshal of the Senate, on his own initiative, by the Presidium of the Senate or upon the motion of a club or one of the agreements specified in Article 21, para. 5.
5. In Article 10 paras. 1 - 3 shall apply to the sittings of the Convention of Elders.
Article 17
1. The Senate shall elect from among its members from six to eight Secretaries of the Senate. The election is done jointly, unless decided otherwise by the Senate.
2. The Secretaries of the Senate shall keep a list of the speakers and a record of the sittings, do the vote count and carry out other tasks assigned by the Marshal of the Senate.