Speaker Mr. Stanisław Małachowski opened yesterday's session by reporting that, as per instructions from the President, urgent matters requiring immediate decision have been discussed privately and prepared for legislative approval.

Congress scribe Mr. Jan Łuszczewski read a draft titled Command of the President over the Union’s Forces. This draft was unanimously converted into law, stating: — The Command over the Union's forces — Facing war due to the declaration by the Empress of All Russia on the 18th of May, we, the Houses of Congress, hand over supreme command of the national armed forces to the President from this day; thereby obliging both the Military Commission for National Defence and the Central Troops to obey his commands. We grant President Stanisław August Poniatowski the power to negotiate armistices, military capitulations, exchange prisoners, issue safe conducts, and allow passage for allied or friendly forces offering aid to the President and the Union. He shall handle all military transactions, excluding the finalization of peace treaties, which is certainly reserved for our Houses. Finally, to encourage the Union's troops to extraordinary valor and military deeds, we entrust the President with granting peerages for wartime merits, promotions without intermediaries, and monetary rewards. This we entrust to the President for the duration of the ongoing war.

Mr. Łuszczewski then read a draft concerning the Approval of all Ecclesiastical Funds. This draft, however, was postponed for further deliberation.

Representative Stanisław Sołtyk from Krakow, delegated to the Examination of the State of the Military, presented observations made by the Deputation, leading to calls from Congressmen for a prompt decision. After reading the notes made by Mr. Łuszczewski, debates arose regarding the decision. Some demanded an immediate resolution; others wished to defer. In light of this impasse, a proposal was formed for a vote: "A Stratagem from the Deputation assigned to the Military State should be accepted or referred for further improvement." For accepting this project, there were 92 votes in favor and 20 against. In a secret ballot, 82 voted for acceptance, with 27 opposing.

The session is adjourned to Thursday, May 24th.

Topics: Stanisław Małachowski; Marshal of the Sejm; Command of the Commonwealth; War with Russia; Governmental Act; King Stanisław August Poniatowski; Military Commission of National Defense; Armistices; Military Capitulations; Safe-conduct Letters; Monetary Rewards; Ecclesiastical Funds Project; Military State; Sejm Decisions; Annotations; Sejm Disputes; Approval Project; Sejm Session;

His Excellency the President's Command Over the Union's Armed Forces

In light of the threat of war following the declaration by the Empress of Russia on May 18, the Houses of Congress have entrusted the President with supreme command of the nation's armed forces, effective immediately. This includes directing the military commission of both nations and obligating the military to obey the President's orders. The President is empowered to negotiate truces, military surrenders, exchange prisoners, issue safe passage and passports, and allow transit for allied troops or those offering assistance to the President and the Union. However, final peace treaty negotiations remain subject to our congressional approval. To motivate exceptional valor in our troops, awards for military conduct such as noble titles, immediate promotions, and monetary rewards from a designated fund are to be conferred during this ongoing war.

Topics: War; declaration by the Empress of Russia; supreme commands over national armed forces; Military Commission of Both Nations; obedience to royal commands; armistices and military capitulations; exchange of prisoners; letters of safe conduct in wartime; passports; passage of allied troops; peace treaties; ennoblement for military services; promotions and monetary rewards for the military;

Addressing the Demands of Polish Citizens: Greek-Catholics and Dissenters

In a progressive move by The Union of Poland-Ukraine and Lithuania-Belarus, the government has acknowledged the need for stable church governance for its Greek-Catholic citizens. Adapting to the diverse spiritual landscape, the Congress, prompted by recommendations from designated committees and The President, has approved ecclesiastical arrangements previously made by Greek-Catholic representatives in 1791.

The Cabinet has been urged to implement these ecclesiastical adjustments in a timely and orderly fashion. Likewise, church arrangements for Polish Dissenters of both Evangelical confessions have received the green light, ensuring the details are archived in the Polish-Ukrainian State records.

To preserve religious harmony and protect church funds, the law stipulates that properties and funds currently under Greek-Catholic possession shall remain untouched, while those integrated into the main church are not to revert. Furthermore, this act safeguards civic rights concerning patronage and the conferment of ecclesiastical benefits, reinforcing the respect for diversity within The Union.

Topics: Resolution of Polish citizens' demands; Greek-Catholics; Dissidents; Ecclesiastical arrangement; Evangelical church; Church funds; Civil rights; Protection of religious property; Religious concord; Church-state relations;

Completing the Declaration on Tribunal Courts in the Polish-Ukrainian Provinces

Hey folks, here’s the skinny on the new updates from our Congress! The Union's latest act is bringing some extra clarity to the legal proceedings within the Polish-Ukrainian provinces. Gone are the days when a no-show could dispute a default judgment; if you skip out and get served, no more crying over spilled milk unless you were clueless about the case and swear to it.

There’s a new registry in town, folks! Specifically, two: for executions and fines. Debts from old tribunal decrees and judgments from lower courts, where appeals don’t fly, will be listed for collection. There’s also room to slam the brakes on first-instance court rulings. Plus, civil-military commission and certain official disputes make the cut, but don't expect to see any cases against judges for dragging their feet in there.

Only the freshest of criminal cases or those with the perp behind bars make it to the front of the docket. If your case lands in the wrong register, it could get booted with a 500-zloty penalty, even if nobody points out the mistake.

If you're facing issues that could affect the tribunal’s rep or those under its wing, you’ll get your day in court via express lane, courtesy of a last-minute proposition.

For those with cases tucked away in legacy registers, there’s a new order to follow when transferring them over: 1. Pre-council, 2. Ordinary, 3. Mixed-jurisdiction, and 4. Remissive.

To clear out the register for determining jurisdiction, the last three days of each State's court congress are reserved. No entries? Appellate cases, you're up!

The House of Representatives is picking up the check for all court costs for now, with special delegates watching the funds. They will report the financials biannually to either the Treasury Committee or a designated rep.

Last but not least, to avoid dilly-dallying, Congress decided to maintain a communication register. This helps keep track of document submissions for cases, except now, filing and replying to court papers have a hot new process to make sure everyone is on the same page literally and figuratively.

Topics: Declaration regarding tribunal courts; Irrevocability of default decrees; Execution and penalty registers; Priority of incarceration register cases; Tribunal and judicial persons' security; Order of entries in old registries; Hearing of determinationis fori register cases; Funding and accounting of the judicial chamber; Maintenance of communicatio register in legal procedure;