Comment: Reimagining the Polish Constitution by Looking to the Past

This commentary examines the striking parallels between the Social Contract Incubator's proposal, as outlined in Part I of this volume, and the institutions established by Poland's first written Constitution of May 3, 1791. Examples include the pragmatic compromise regarding the Catholic Church's role in public life and the emphasis on securing local legitimacy for judicial appointments. Additionally, the chapter reflects on the timing of this volume's proposal for a comprehensive constitutional revision-emerging approximately twenty-five years after the adoption of the 1997 Constitution. This trajectory underscores the enduring wisdom of Article VI of the 1791 Constitution, which recognized the need for basic laws to be regularly updated to address evolving societal conditions.