Naczelnik Państwa

Naczelnik Państwa (Polish pronunciation: [naˈt͡ʂɛlɲik ˈpaɲstfa], Chief of State) was the title of Poland's head of state in the early years of the Second Polish Republic. This office was held only by Józef Piłsudski, from 1918 to 1922. Until 1919 it was called tymczasowy naczelnik państwa (provisional chief of state). After 1922 the Polish head of state was called prezydent (president).

The office of Chief of State was created by a Regency Council decree of November 22, 1918, which established a system of governance for Poland pending its revision by a democratically elected Sejm (parliament).

The Naczelnik exercised the highest civil and military power in the country. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Polish armed forces, with powerful prerogatives in the field of foreign relations. He appointed government ministers, who answered to him, including the prime minister. Any laws promulgated by the Chief of State required the signatures of the Chief of State, the prime minister, and the pertinent minister, though any such laws were to be reviewed by the first subsequent Sejm.

Józef Piłsudski, who was chosen Chief of State, relinquished his powers to the first Sejm on February 20, 1919; however, the Sejm requested that he remain Chief of State, stating the powers of the office (now without the word, "Provisional") in the Small Constitution of 1919. The Chief of State remained Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, named the government (subject to confirmation by the Sejm) and held the highest executive power. He was a member of the Council of National Defense (Rada Obrony Państwa), created during the Polish-Soviet War, which had threatened the survival of the newly recreated Polish state.

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