The Chancellery of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
in cooperation with
the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL-AIDC)
Warsaw Roundtable (WRT)
Parliamentarism and Electoral Systems in the 21st Century
Warsaw, 23–24 November 2026
CALL FOR PAPERS
1. Conference subject-matter
It is impossible to envision a modern democratic system without a properly functioning parliament. As a collegial body, the parliament not only embodies the legislative authority, but also serves as a vital channel of citizen representation. Indirect exercise of sovereign power through elected representatives remains a cornerstone of democratic governance. Ensuring political representation that realistically reflects the diversity of societal views is essential for legitimizing legislative authority – and this process begins with the electoral system.
Given that both parliamentarism and electoral systems are foundational issues in constitutional law, their thorough examination is imperative – particularly in times when democratic institutions face growing challenges. This roundtable seeks to explore how electoral systems can be designed in the 21st century to ensure both effective governance and genuine representation. It also raises the question of whether parliament remains an effective arena for political deliberation and decision-making, or whether its role has been increasingly shaped by symbolic and performative political contestation. The aim of this roundtable is not only to analyse existing electoral systems and models of parliamentarism, but also to diagnose the threats and challenges facing contemporary parliamentary democracy. Particular attention will be given to phenomena such as populism, gerrymandering, and malapportionment, which can undermine representativeness, weaken democratic legitimacy, and distort the decision-making capacity of parliaments. The discussion will seek to identify these risks and reflect on institutional and legal solutions that can strengthen the role of parliament as a cornerstone of the democratic state governed by the rule of law. This roundtable will focus on issues related to electoral law and the structure, internal organization, and position of parliament in contemporary political practice. It will not address systems of government, which are a separate, albeit related, issue.
2. Eligibility and topics to be addressed
Within the framework of the conference theme, we welcome proposals addressing
- current challenges in electoral law,
- voting systems,
- manipulation of the electoral system,
- models of parliamentarism,
- political culture and its significance for parliamentarism,
- parliamentary legitimacy and the effectiveness of parliamentary work,
- intra-parliamentary democracy,
- internal organization of parliament,
- parliament and the responsibility of the highest state officials for exercising power.
2.1. Senior scholars
We welcome proposals from senior scholars addressing, in particular, the old and new challenges of democratic electoral system and the Parliament’s Oversight Function.
2.2. Junior scholars
We especially invite junior scholars who are PhD candidates or early-career scholars within seven years of completing their PhD (or equivalent degree) to submit proposals on the parliament in the world of artificial intelligence.
3. Abstract submission
Applicants are required to submit their CV and abstracts in English or French
(not exceeding 500 words) by August 20, 2026 (GMT+2/Warsaw time) to
4. Costs, travel, and accommodation
There is no registration or participation fee. The Chancellery of the Sejm offers to cover two nights of accommodation for speakers. Coffee and lunch will be provided during the Roundtable.
5. Dates
Scholars whose papers are selected for presentation at the conference will be notified of their presentation schedule by mid-October.
Extended abstract draft papers (maximum 2,000 words, including footnotes) are due by 1 November.
Papers presented in English will be considered for publication in a special edited volume of The Sejm Review, subject to peer review.