Voivodeship ( Polish: województwo ) is the largest administrative unit in Poland .
The head of the joint administration and representative of the Council of Ministers in the voivodship is the voivode . The executive branch is headed by the Marshal of the Voivodeship ( Polish. Marszałek województwa ).
Provincial self-government determines the policy of the region, that is, it deals with issues that cannot be resolved at the district level. This is, first of all: the uniform development of the economy (economy), the use of innovations in regional markets, rational educational policies to the level of the university, the creation of attractive conditions for investors (especially with the entry into the European Union ).
The main indicator of the voivodship's activity is management efficiency, the best use of regional potential. New voivodships should be as large as possible (at least several million inhabitants), have great economic and organizational potential, as well as scientific potential, especially in matters of innovation (higher schools and scientific and applied institutes), have cultural and creative potential.
Content
Number of voivodships
The number of voivodships in Poland periodically changed.
- 1582 - 1634 - 34
- 1634 - 1660 - 35
- 1660 - 1768 - 33
In the period from 1582 to 1768, in addition to the voivodships, Poland also had one principality and one autonomous bishopric . In the period from 1582 to 1717, there was also one land in the composition. At a time when Poland was in a union with the Russian Empire , at first ( 1815 - 1837 ) the main administrative unit was the same province, but 7 years after the uprising of 1830 the country was divided into provinces . This continued until 1922 . Independent Poland recovered from the turmoil of the Civil War in Russia and the Polish campaign of the Red Army , the territory of the state was again divided into voivodships, but already in 16 parts. For a short period of 1944 - 1946, Poland, liberated from German occupation, included 11 (in 1945) and 10 (in 1946) voivodships. Subsequently, the number of voivodships in the country only began to increase.
- 1946-1950 - 14
- 1950-1975 - 17
- 1975-1998 - 49
On January 1, 1999, administrative reform entered into force, according to which Poland is divided into 16 voivodships.
List of Poland Voivodeships
Voivodeships and their capitals:
- Warmian-Masurian - Olsztyn
- Greater Poland - Poznan
- West Pomeranian - Szczecin
- Kuyavian-Pomeranian - Bydgoszcz (location of the governor) and Torun (location of the Sejm and self-government bodies)
- Lodz - Lodz
- Lublin - Lublin
- Lubuskie - Gorzow Wielkopolski (location of the voivode) and Zielona Gora (location of the Sejm and local authorities)
- Masovian - Warsaw
- Lesser Poland - Krakow
- Lower Silesian - Wroclaw
- Opole - Opole
- Subcarpathian - Rzeszow
- Podlaskie - Bialystok
- Pomeranian - Gdansk
- Ентwiętokrzyskie - Kielce
- Silesian - Katowice
See also
- County
- Gmina