«Treasury settlements» accepted by the General Diet in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1791). A purely feudal institution or a great step towards modern parliamentary control on the implementation of the budget by the government?

Abstract

Presented reflection tries to demonstrate the evolution of the model of «parliamentary» control over the activities of the treasury administration in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the course of its historical development since the 16^th century. The main part of the analysis is focused on the procedure of accepting by the General Diet – estate representation assembly of Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth – the settlements of the highest central treasury authorities (Grand Treasurer, and, after 1764, Grand Treasury Commissions). The general purpose of the presented article is to answer two questions. To what extent the solutions adopted under the 3^rd May Constitution in the area of parliamentary control over treasury settlements of the executive authorities have been taken from previous legal norms and earlier practice? And, if so, how essential this influence of 16^th and 17^th centuries solutions actually was? Answers to those questions allow undertaking a contributory reflection on whether the feudal experiences could have influenced the formation of modern parliamentary mechanisms of constitutional control (including the emergence of the voting on approval of the implementation of the budget by the government).