LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN POLAND
Poland is a unitary State composed of municipalities, counties and regions.
Local level: about 2500 municipalities (gminy)
Municipal authorities
The municipal council (rada gminy) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. In addition to its legislative powers, this assembly votes the municipal budget and determine local taxes. The council appoints members of commissions from among the councillors. These commissions are responsible for the preparation of decisions taken by the council and for the supervision of its execution.
The executive board (zarzd gminy) is composed of the mayor and its deputies. It implements the decisions taken by the council.
The mayor is elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. (S)he is the official representative of the municipality and is assisted by deputies elected by the council. The mayor is called wójt in rural municipalities, burmistrz in urban ones and prezydent miasta in towns of more than 100,000 inhabitants.
The head of the municipal administration (sekretarz gminy) is appointed by the council, upon proposal of the mayor.
Competences
. Public transport
. Social services
. Housing
. Environment
. Culture
. Heath
. Pre-primary and primary education
Note: Great urban municipalities in Poland have a special status with powers normally devoted to counties (powiat).
Intermediary level: about 380 counties (powiaty)
Counties authorities
The county council (rada powiatu) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. This deliberative assembly appoints members of the executive committee as well as the president of the county.
The executive board (zarzd powiatu) is composed of the president and her/his deputies elected by and among the council for four years. This body is in charge of implementing the council's decisions.
The president / head of the county (starosta) is elected for a four-year term by the council. (S)he is the official representative of the county and is assisted by deputies elected by the council.
Competences
. Road building and maintenance
. Secondary education
. Civil protection
. The environment
. Employment
Note: The capital city, Warsaw, is also a county and is divided in districts. Warsaw has an assembly (rada miasta stolecznego Warszawy) and a mayor (prezydent miasta stolecznego Warszawy), representing the executive body of the city. The mayor is elected by direct universal suffrage.
Regional level: 16 regions (voïvodies-województwo)
Regional authorities
The regional council (sejmik województwa) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. This deliberative assembly elects the president of the regional executive committee.
The executive board (zarzad województwa) is composed of members and of a president (marszałek) who are elected by the council for four years. It implements the decisions taken by the regional council.
The governor (wojewoda) is appointed by the prime minister upon proposal by the minister responsible for public administration. The governor represents the prime minister of the Republic of Poland as well as the central government at regional level. (S)he also supervises the activities of the regional government.
Competences
. Economic development
. Higher education
. Environment
. Employment
. Social policy
. Regional roads management
