The National Security Council (Rada Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego) – an advisory organ to the President of Poland?

Abstract

Poland’s National Security Council (Rada Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego, RBN) is defined in the country’s Constitution as organ doradczy Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w zakresie wewnętrznego i zewnętrznego bezpieczeństwa państwa (officially translating into: “the advisory organ to the President of the Republic regarding internal and external security of the State”). Against that background, this article uses analysis of policy practice as it seeks to explain whether the NSC truly plays that role of advisory organ, or is more in the nature of a coordinating-and-consulting body. To address this research topic, three areas have been identified for broader and deeper consideration, i.e. the means of selecting Council Members, the frequency with which Sittings have been convened, and the subject matter addressed at those Sittings.