Sołtys

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title: "Sołtys" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1868-establishments-in-poland", "politics-of-poland", "polish-words-and-phrases"] description: "Executive branch of a sołectwo" topic_path: "politics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sołtys" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Executive branch of a sołectwo ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Koden-19RJJZLI.jpg" caption="A sign representing sołtys' property"] ::

A sołtys () is a head of a sołectwo elected by its permanent citizens in a village meeting (zebranie wiejskie). According to data from 2010, Poland had 40 thousand sołtys, 30.7% of which were women.

Role and powers

Since 1990, a sołtys is an executive of a sołectwo that is supported by a sołectwo council. The detailed powers, duties and responsibilities of the sołtys are decided in the statute made by the gmina council. The sołtys can use the legal protection of a civil servant in his favour.

Duties

A sołtys has the duty to:

• Represent the sołectwo
• Organise village meetings
• Introduce laws made by the gmina to the sołectwo
• Collect taxes
• Participate in gmina council meetings

History

The office of the sołtys was introduced during the Partitions of Poland. It varied among countries. In Congress Poland, a sołtys was an executive branch of a gromada. They were supposed to guard order in the city. In Congress Poland, a gmina was made up of a few gromadas. In the Grand Duchy of Posen a sołtys usually served the role of a village owner.

In 1934, sołectwa were introduced once again to Poland, which mainly held control over business relating to the people.

In the Polish People's Republic, the role of a sołtys was replaced from 1954 to 1958 with a different position, though it was quickly changed to sołtys. A sołtys was the executive of a village government which, until 1973, ruled a gromada. From 1973 a sołtys governed a sołectwo.

References

References

1. "Rocznik Statystyczny Województw 2011 (wybrane tablice)". [[Statistics Poland]].
2. ''Ustawa z dnia 8 marca 1990 r. o samorządzie gminnym''
3. "Sołectwo - Studium Prawnoustrojowe".
4. ''Ustawa z dnia 25 stycznia 1958 r. o radach narodowych''

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