Silesian Parliament

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Silesian Parliament or Silesian Sejm (Polish: Sejm Śląski) was the governing body of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship, an autonomous voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic between 1920 and 1939. It was elected in democratic elections and had certain influence over the usage of taxes collected in Silesia. It consisted of 48 deputies.

[edit] History

The area around Katowice, Upper Silesia, was inhabited by ethnic Silesians since the early centuries. It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty until its extinction, later falling into the Habsburg domains. Inhabited mainly by Germans, Silesians, Jews and Poles, Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic following the Silesian Uprisings throughout the Silesian region between 1918 and 1921. The land was subsequently divided by an allied commission and the League of Nations, leaving Katowice on the Polish side and with significant autonomy (Silesian Parliament as a constituency and Silesian Voivodship Council as the executive body).

[edit] Building

Designed by architect Lech Wojtyczko, the Silesian Parliament was built in 1925-1929. For a very long time it was the biggest structure in Poland. Currently it hosts the offices of the Silesian Voivodship.