The May Constitution of Poland reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

May Constitution of Poland

The first written constitution in Europe, Constitution of third May, was passed by the Polish Sejm for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on May 3, 1791. The main points included:

• further unification of the state,
• religious tollerance with exception to apostasia,
• giving political rights to citizens of the cities,
• removing the Liberum Veto,
• limiting to free election of the King to the extinction of Saxonian dynasty.

Preamble

In the name of God, One in the Holy Trinity. Stanislaus Augustus, by the grace of God and the will of the People King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Mazovia, Samogitia, Kijów, Volhynia, Podolia, Podlachia, Livonia, Smoleńsk, Siewierz and Czernichów, together with the Confederated Estates in dual number representing the Polish people.
Recognizing that the destiny of us all depends solely upon the establishment and perfection of a national constitution, having by long experience learned the inveterate faults of our government, and desiring to take advantage of the season in which Europe finds itself and of this dying moment that has restored us to ourselves, free of the ignominious dictates of foreign coercion, holding dearer than life, than personal happiness the political existence, external independence and internal liberty of the people whose destiny is entrusted to our hands, desiring as well to merit the blessing and gratitude of contemporary and future generations, despite obstacles that may cause passion in us, do for the general welfare, for the establishment of liberty, for the preservation of our country and its borders, with the utmost constancy of spirit, ordain the present constitution and declare it to be entirely sacred and inviolable until the people, at the time prescribed by law, by their clear will recognize a need to alter it in any of its articles. To which constitution further statutes of the present diet shall apply in everything.

See also: War in the defence of constitution

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