Chapter 2
DEPUTIES
Article 7
1. A Deputy shall be obliged to attend and actively participate in the sittings of the Sejm and any of its organs to which he has been elected. During the sittings of the Sejm, Deputies shall sit in the Chamber at fixed places.
2. No Deputy shall belong to more than two standing committees.
3. A Deputy fulfilling the function of a minister or secretary of state may not be member of a committee.
4. A Deputy's fundamental duties shall include in particular:
1) to participate in voting during the sitting of the Sejm and its committees,
2) to comply with commands of the Marshal of the Sejm ensuing from the Standing Orders of the Sejm.
5. The presence of a Deputy at a sitting of the Sejm shall be confirmed by a record of attendance made available on the day of each sitting during the first two hours of commencement of debate, as well as by participation in voting confirmed by printed record. Records of attendance, on expiry of the period of their availability, shall be deposited thereafter with the Marshal of the Sejm.
6. A Deputy shall confirm his attendance at a sitting of a committee or subcommittee by signing a record of attendance.
7. Where participation in a sitting of the Sejm or a standing or special committee is not possible, a Deputy shall, insofar as possible, notify either the Marshal of the Sejm or the chairperson of the committee before the relevant sitting and shall within 7 days justify such absence in writing to the Marshal of the Sejm or to the chairperson of the committee. Procedure for submitting of justification of absence shall be defined by the Presidium of the Sejm.
8. The following reasons shall be deemed to justify the failure by a Deputy to participate in a sitting of the Sejm or a committee, or in voting:
1) illness or necessary care of a sick person;
2) foreign or domestic trips at the request of the Sejm, the Marshal of the Sejm or a committee, approved by the Presidium of the Sejm;
3) conflict in the times of sittings of committees to which a Deputy belongs if he participated in one of those sittings, and in the case of conflict in the times of sitting of the Sejm and a committee or a subcommittee, subject to Article 152 para. 4 - fulfilling the functions of a rapporteur or speaking at a sitting of the Sejm;
4) leave granted to a Deputy by the Marshal of the Sejm, subject to para. 10;
5) other serious, unpredictable or unavoidable occurrences.
9. Information concerning unexplained absences by Deputies at sittings of the Sejm and its committees shall be available to the public.
10. A Deputy may, for reasons of great importance, apply to the Marshal of the Sejm for leave from performance of his duties. The Marshal of the Sejm shall grant the leave in consultation with the presidium of the club or group to which the Deputy belongs. Where a leave lasts longer than 14 days, the Deputy's allowance shall not be paid.
11. Access by a Deputy to information comprised of State and official secrets shall be governed by the provisions concerning State and official secrets. A Deputy shall be obliged to submit a written declaration that he will keep secret any information comprised of State and official secrets which he may obtain during the discharge of his function as a Deputy. The obligation to keep secrecy shall bind a Deputy both during his term of office and after its expiry.
Article 8
1. In the Sejm, Deputies may found Deputies' clubs and Deputies' groups according to political principles.
2. A club shall be founded by at least 15 Deputies.
3. A group shall be founded by at least 3 Deputies.
4. No Deputy may at the same time belong to more than one Deputies' club or Deputies' group.
5. Deputies' clubs and Deputies' groups may, by means of alliance, form a joint representation within the Council of Seniors.
6. In the Sejm, Deputies may found groupings according to principles other than those specified in para. 1.
7. The authorities of Deputies' clubs, Deputies' groups, groupings and alliances shall inform the Marshal of the Sejm about their composition and internal regulations (statutes).