Zasada pomocniczości jako fundament nowoczesnego państwa

Abstract

The principle of subsidiarity is an idea of functioning communities. It depicts mutual relations among the state, its citizens and indirect structures. The basic assumptions of this principle generate from the Catholic Social Teaching. The principle was formulated for the first time at the end of 19th century by Pope Leo XIII in the encyclical letter Rerum novarum. The issue of subsidiarity was also dealt by Pius XI in the encyclical letter Quadragesimo Anno, John XXIII in the encyclical letter Mater at magistra and John Paul II in the encyclical letter Centesimu annus. The principle of subsidiarity is based on the idea that a social unit has priority over the com-munity and communities of the lower rank have priority over communities of the higher rank. Many contemporary states in their laws pertain to the principle of subsidiarity including Polish Constitution from 1997. It is also an essentail fundament of democracy whose basic condition is the existence of numerous structures between a citizen and the state. The necessity of implementing the principle of subsidiarity is also emphasized in the European Union.