Voivodeship sejmik

A voivodeship sejmik ( _pl. sejmik województwa) is a regional council composed of elected councillors in each of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) of Poland. Sejmiks are elected for four-year terms. The number of councillors varies, depending on the population: in smaller voivodeships there are 30, while in the most populous (Masovian Voivodeship) there are 51.

The word "sejmik" is a diminuitive of "sejm", which was historically an assembly of nobles, and is now the name of the lower house of the Polish parliament. For other historical uses of the term, see sejmik.

The members of a sejmik elect a chairman and deputy chairmen from among their number. These may not sit on the voivodeship's executive board. The chairman is responsible for organizing the sejmik's business and presiding over debates.

The sejmik can adopt bylaws on matters concerning a voivodeship which are not reserved for central governmental administration (most of which is managed in the region by the centrally-appointed governor or voivode); such matters include the voivodeship's budget, development strategy, and rules on management of the voivodeship's property. The sejmik elects and holds to account the voivodeship's executive board ("zarząd województwa"), which is chaired by the voivodeship marshal ("marszałek województwa").

ee also

* Sejmik
* Sejm