Friends of the Constitution

Zgromadzenie Przyjaciół Konstytucji Rządowej (in English, also variously rendered as Association of Friends of the (Governing) Constitution,Society of Friends of the Government Ordinance,Society of Friends of the Constitution,Assembly of Friends of the Government Constitution) was the first modern Polish political party (with a charter and organizational discipline), formed in May 1791, shortly after the adoption of the Constitution of May 3, 1791, by the efforts of the Patriotic Party. The purpose of the Friends of the Constitution was to defend the reformed political system and to introduce further reforms.

The party's leading members included Hugo Kołłątaj, , Tadeusz Mostowski, Michał Ossowski and Józef Weyssenhof.

The Friends of the Constitution published a periodical, Gazeta Narodowa i Obca (The National and Foreign Gazette).

In the name "Zgromadzenie Przyjaciół Konstytucji Rządowej", the expression "zgromadzenie" may be rendered in English as "gathering", "assembly" or "congress".

The Friends of the Constitution had their own charter and organizational discipline and have been described as the first modern political party in Poland.

Since many of the party's members participated in the Sejm's (parliament's) deliberations, the Friends of the Constitution have also been described as the first Polish parliamentary caucus.

Members were also active outside the Sejm and enjoyed support among many segments of society, from szlachta (nobility) salons to more radical, Jacobin-influenced bourgeois circles.

The first meeting of the Friends of the Constitution took place on 21 May 1791. Their charter declared their support for the May 3 Constitution, and their aim of perfecting the Constitution and the polity that it served.

The party numbered at least 213 members whose names are known to history, including those of 126 deputies and 14 senators. Most of the members were of the szlachta, but at least 7 were townsmen. The charter stipulated that all members were equal. Decisions were taken by majority vote. Many members had connections with the Patriotic Party.

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