US and Polish Constitutions of 1787 and 1791: two early constitutionas and the underlying legal principles. Lessons for today? date: 2019-04-23

2019 marks the centennial of the Polish - American relationships as the US has officially established relationships with the newly re-born Poland in April of 1919.  To celebrate the occassion, JLS is proud to offer a new CLE dealing with the two first modern written constitutions: the US constitution from 1787 and the Polish one from May 3, 1791.

US was the first county to have a modern and written constitution and Poland, equally, was the first such country in Europe (with France being the third one).  This CLE will compare the principles of modern democracy as established by the US and Polish constitutions and we will explain historical legal context in which Polish constitution arose.  While both countries had distinct historical roots and underlying legal and constitutional traditions, their constitutions were grounded in several shared legal principles, many of which survive to this day.  We will examine the underlying legal theories of what are the proper role of various branches of government and examine the role of lawyers and legal systems in modern democracies, as well as underlying ethical obligations of the legal professionals in protecting rights of citizens and maintaining the democratic rule.

Presenters:  Marian A.  Kornilowicz and Elizabeth M. Zechenter