Permanent Council
Encyclopedia
The Permanent Council was the highest administrative authority in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
between 1775 and 1789 and the first modern government
in Europe. In some Polish text it was renamed as Zdrada Nieustająca - Permanent Betrayal.
, who saw it as a way to secure her influence over the internal politics of Poland. Contrary to the Sejm
, which previously had the same prerogatives, the Council could not be veto
ed nor disbanded. Also, it was much less prone to influence of the minor gentry
. Finally, both Catherine and her ambassador to Poland, Otto Magnus von Stackelberg
, believed that the Council would be dominated by anti-royal magnates and that it would put an end to his push towards the reforms.
The Council was composed of the King Stanisław August Poniatowski (who acted as a modern prime minister
and had two votes instead of one), 18 members of the Senat
and 18 members of the Diet
. The meetings were supervised by marshal
Roman Ignacy Potocki.
In reality all Council's staff was nominated in accordance with Russian ambassador Otto Magnus von Stackelberg, who acted as a representative of Empress Catherine II, protectress of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth since 1768. Soon after its creation, Council became an instrument of Russian surveillance over Poland.
The council was divided onto 5 separate ministries called Departments:
Among the prerogatives of the Council was heading the state administration, preparation of projects of laws and Sejm acts, which were later accepted by the parliament, control over law obedience and interpretation of the law. Although heavily-criticized, most notably by the so-called Patriotic Party
and the Familia
, the Council managed to start a period of economical prosperity in Poland and significantly strengthened the power of the monarch in Poland. It was liquidated in 1789 by the Four-Year Sejm and briefly reinstituted in 1793 by the Sejm of Grodno. However, this time it was directly headed by the Russian ambassador. Majority of her members was bribed by Russian embassy in Warsaw.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
between 1775 and 1789 and the first modern government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
in Europe. In some Polish text it was renamed as Zdrada Nieustająca - Permanent Betrayal.
History
The Permanent Council was created on the insistence of Catherine II of RussiaCatherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
, who saw it as a way to secure her influence over the internal politics of Poland. Contrary to the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
, which previously had the same prerogatives, the Council could not be veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed nor disbanded. Also, it was much less prone to influence of the minor gentry
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
. Finally, both Catherine and her ambassador to Poland, Otto Magnus von Stackelberg
Otto Magnus von Stackelberg (ambassador)
Reichsgraf Otto Magnus von Stackelberg was a diplomat of the Russian Empire, an envoy in Madrid from 1767 to 1771, ambassador in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1772 to 1790 and in Sweden from 1791 to 1793....
, believed that the Council would be dominated by anti-royal magnates and that it would put an end to his push towards the reforms.
The Council was composed of the King Stanisław August Poniatowski (who acted as a modern prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and had two votes instead of one), 18 members of the Senat
Senate of Poland
The Senate is the upper house of the Polish parliament, the lower house being the 'Sejm'. The history of the Polish Senate is rich in tradition and stretches back over 500 years, it was one of the first constituent bodies of a bicameral parliament in Europe and existed without hiatus until the...
and 18 members of the Diet
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
. The meetings were supervised by marshal
Marszalek
Marszałek was one of the highest officials in the Polish royal court since the 13th century and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century...
Roman Ignacy Potocki.
In reality all Council's staff was nominated in accordance with Russian ambassador Otto Magnus von Stackelberg, who acted as a representative of Empress Catherine II, protectress of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth since 1768. Soon after its creation, Council became an instrument of Russian surveillance over Poland.
The council was divided onto 5 separate ministries called Departments:
- Foreign interests
- Military
- Police that is Good Order
- Treasury
- Justice
Among the prerogatives of the Council was heading the state administration, preparation of projects of laws and Sejm acts, which were later accepted by the parliament, control over law obedience and interpretation of the law. Although heavily-criticized, most notably by the so-called Patriotic Party
Patriotic Party
The Patriotic Party , also known as the Patriot Party or, in English, as the Reform Party, was a political movement in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the period of the Four-Year Sejm of 1788–92, whose chief achievement was the Constitution of 3 May 1791...
and the Familia
Familia
Familia was the name of a Polish political party led by the Czartoryski magnates and families allied with them, and formed toward the end of the reign of King August II...
, the Council managed to start a period of economical prosperity in Poland and significantly strengthened the power of the monarch in Poland. It was liquidated in 1789 by the Four-Year Sejm and briefly reinstituted in 1793 by the Sejm of Grodno. However, this time it was directly headed by the Russian ambassador. Majority of her members was bribed by Russian embassy in Warsaw.
Notable members
- King Stanisław August Poniatowski
- marshalMarszalekMarszałek was one of the highest officials in the Polish royal court since the 13th century and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century...
Roman Ignacy Potocki - Stanisław Małachowski
- Tomasz Adam OstrowskiTomasz Adam OstrowskiTomasz Adam Ostrowski was a Polish nobleman , Count since 1798Tomasz became Colonel of the Crown Army in 1765, Chamberlain of King Stanisław August Poniatowski in 1767, castellan of Czersk since 1777, Court Treasurer since 1791, Marshal of the Sejm of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1809 and later...
- Ludwik Szymon Gutakowski
- Stanisław Poniatowski (kings' relative)
- Józef AnkwiczJózef AnkwiczJózef Ankwicz , of Awdaniec coat of arms, also known as Józef z Posławic and Józef Awdaniec, was a politician and noble in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He held the office of castellan of Nowy Sącz from 1782. Deputy to the Great Sejm, and most infamously, the Grodno Sejm...
- Michał Jerzy Poniatowski (primate of Poland)