Partition Sejm - Other Legislation Including Government and Education Reform

Other Legislation Including Government and Education Reform

The partitioning powers (in particular, Russia) demanded that the Sejm passes further reforms, with the intent of strengthening their power over the Commonwealth, and the original commission was allowed to work till January 1774, extending the Sejm which was adjourned again. The commission was unable to carry out its changes in that period, and thus it was allowed to extend its deliberations once more; there were ultimately seven such extensions.

Cardinal Laws were confirmed and guaranteed by the partitioning powers. The Sejm also continued enacting laws reducing the religious tolerance in the Commonwealth. The passive electoral rights of the Orthodox and Protestants were diminished, with a restriction limiting the number of non-Roman Catholic Sejm deputies to three (one from Greater Poland, one from Lesser Poland, and one from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania). They were also denied the ability to be elected to the Senate, or to the ministerial positions.

Royal power was restricted, as the King lost the power to give out titles and positions of military officers, ministers and senators, the starostwo territories, Crown lands would be awarded through an auction. In return, the King received, for personal possession, four starostwa. The royal (free) election was confirmed, with stipulations that future kings had to come from the Polish nobility, and sons and grandsons of any king could not succeed him to the throne till two others have held it in the meantime.

A trade treaty was signed between the Commonwealth and Prussia, unfavorable to the Commonwealth. The Partition cut off the Commonwealth's access to the Baltic Sea, and the state had no choice but to accept the high tariffs imposed by Prussia.

The Sejm also created two notable institutions: the Permanent Council, a main governmental body in continuous operation, and the Commission of National Education. The Council was intended by the partitioners to be an institution easier to control (by them) than the unruly Sejms, and indeed it remained under the influence of the Russian Empire. It was nonetheless a significant improvement in the Commonwealth governance. The Council, with committees (ministries) on Foreign Affairs, Treasury, Defense, Justice and the Interior (Police), was able to interpret existing laws in the sphere of administration, and provided the Commonwealth with a continuous governing body that operated between the Sejms and was not affected by the liberum veto. The Permanent Council was led by the King, had 36 members elected, half from each chamber of the Sejm, and ruled by majority vote (the King decided in case of a tie). The previously very powerful magnate ministers were placed under the control of the new council and supervised by the five parallel departments of the Council, including from 1776 also the hetmans. The Council, in addition to its administrative duties, would present to the King three candidates for each nomination to the Senate and other main offices.

The Commission of National Education, another type of a newly created ministry (a central state institution of a collegial structure), was one of the three Great Commissions (the other two were for the Treasury and the Army). It took over much of the possessions of the recently disbanded Jesuit order (see Dominus ac Redemptor), and became the first ministry of education in Europe. As such, its creation is universally seen as the most proud and constructive achievement of the otherwise deplored Partition Sejm. The fiscal policy was also reformed, with one tax being introduced and tariffs being reintroduced. Military was reformed, with hetmans being held more accountable to the Sejm. The size of the army was declared to be increased to 30,000 (this goal was not going to be met). Szlachta was officially allowed to deal with trade and crafts (previously engaging in "urban" professions would risk losing the noble status). The severity of serfdom was discussed, but no significant reforms were passed in that field.

The new legislation was guaranteed by the Russian Empire, giving it another excuse to interfere in Commonwealth politics if the legislation it favored was changed.

Corruption was rampant, from deputies awarding themselves various starostwa and other privileges, to various fraudulent deals that channeled funds intended for government institutions, such as the Commission of National Education, to the pockets of the deputies and their allies.

The commission ended its deliberations on 27 March 1775; the Sejm resumed, accepting the various new acts, and was finally ended on 11 April 1775.