Chapter 3

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF DEPUTIES AND SENATORS

IN THE SEJM AND SENATE

Article 13

1. A Deputy and Senator shall be present and actively participate in the sittings of the Sejm or Senate, and the National Assembly, and also any of their organs to which they have been elected.

2. The rules for explanation of absence by Deputies or Senators who have failed to attend a sitting of the Sejm or Senate and the National Assembly and also their organs, shall be specified in the Standing Orders of the Sejm and the Rules and Regulations of the Senate.

Article 14

1. A Deputy, in performing his parliamentary duties, has a particular right to:

1) express his viewpoint and submit motions on issues considered during the sittings of the Sejm and its organs;

2) elect and be elected to the organs of the Sejm;

3) apply to the Presidium of the Sejm for consideration of a particular matter by the Sejm or a Sejm committee.

4) apply to a Sejm committee for consideration of a particular matter;

5) participate in introducing Deputies' bills and draft resolutions as well as in considering bills and draft resolutions of the Sejm;

6) participate in the discussion of matters considered by the Sejm or a Sejm committee;

7) introduce interpellations and Deputies' questions.

2. The Standing Orders shall specify principles and procedures of executing rights as referred to in para. 1, and other Deputies' rights in the Sejm as well as procedure and ways of giving answers to interpellations and Deputies' questions and their consideration by the Sejm.

Article 15

1. A Senator, in performing his parliamentary duties, has a particular right to:

1) express his viewpoint and submit motions on issues to be considered during the sittings of the Senate and its organs;

2) elect and be elected to the organs of the Senate;

3) apply to the Presidium of the Senate for consideration of a particular matter by the Senate or a Senate committee.

4) apply to a Senate committee for consideration of a particular matter;

5) participate in introducing bills and draft resolutions in the Senate;

6) participate in the discussion of matters considered by the Senate or a Senate committee;

2. The principles of, and procedures for, the exercise of rights referred to in para. 1 as well as Senators' further powers in the Senate, shall be specified in the Rules and Regulations of the Senate.

Article 16

1. Deputies and Senators shall have a right to obtain from members of the Council of Ministers and the representatives of relevant organs and institutions of State and local government, information and explanations related to matters arising from the performance of a Deputies' or Senators' duties.

2. Members of the Council of Ministers and representatives of relevant organs and institutions of State and local government, social institutions, establishments and enterprises of the State and local government, commercial companies with partnership of State or communal legal persons, shall be obliged to present information and explanations on request of permanent and special committees of the Sejm or Senate related to matters falling within the scope of their activity.

Article 17

1. In the Sejm, according to the principles specified by the Standing Orders of the Sejm, Deputies may found Deputies' clubs, groups or groupings.

2. In the Senate, according to the principles specified by the Rules and Regulations of the Senate, Senators may found Senate's clubs, groups or groupings.

3. Deputies may found joint parliamentary clubs, groups or groupings together with Senators.

4. The name, short name and graphic emblem of the club or group, referred to in paras. 1 - 3 shall have the benefit of the legal protection provided in relation to personal rights.

Article 18

1. Clubs and groups referred to in Article 17 may establish offices for clubs and groups in order to service their activities.

2. Clubs and groups may employ staff, for a fixed period no longer than the time of the term of office. The staff shall be employed by the chairman of a club or group. The activities of the offices may be assisted by unpaid cooperators.

3. The chairperson of a club or group shall establish, within the scope of funds referred to in para. 5, the mode of compensating employees of clubs and groups, taking into account the period of their previous employment.

4. The Presidium of the Sejm and the Presidium of the Senate shall jointly establish the principles for granting to employees, referred to in para. 2, bonuses for long-term service, additional annual salary and termination allowance related to the expiry of the term of office of the Sejm and Senate, and shall provide funds for such purpose.

5. Clubs and groups shall be provided with lump-sum funds to cover the costs connected with their functioning as well as the costs of functioning of clubs' offices and groups' offices - in amounts and according to the principles established jointly by the Presidium of the Sejm and the Presidium of the Senate. The funds shall not be spent for purposes other than those specified in the first sentence of this paragraph.

6. Organizational and technical conditions related to the founding, functioning and dissolution of offices shall be specified jointly by the Presidium of the Sejm and the Presidium of the Senate.

7. Technical and organizational conditions of functioning of Deputies', Senate's or parliamentary grouping shall be specified, as appropriate, by the Presidium of the Sejm and the Presidium of the Senate.