Who is sovereign in Poland?

The 1997 Constitution of the Republic of Poland contains a provision for a nationwide referendum, a semblance of grassroots democracy in Poland. I'm referring specifically to Article 125, which allows for a referendum on matters important to the Polish state. I'm assuming that Article 125 is based on Article 4 of the Constitution, which clearly states that "the nation shall exercise authority through its representatives or directly." Directly, meaning from the grassroots, with the active participation of citizens, who are, or should be, the undisputed sovereign of the state. So am I also the sovereign of the Polish state? Let's take a closer look at the provision in Article 125 of the Polish Constitution before we decide that it's worth as little as the sheet of paper it's written on.

Point 1 of the aforementioned article states that "a nationwide referendum may be held on matters of particular importance to the state."

After reading this point, everyone will ask what are these important issues for the Polish state?

Society, as we know, is very diverse – what is important to me is irrelevant to my neighbor and vice versa.

Nevertheless, after reading this sentence, I assume that I am the one who co-decides on these important state matters. This motivates me to take responsibility for the fate of the country and gives me the feeling that my voice still counts in the decision-making process of the Polish state.

However, I'm still wondering how I can bring about a referendum on issues that are important to me, such as healthcare, because I know that older people can't afford medicine in Poland. I'm also bothered by the constant changes in the Polish education system – one system changes one way, the next change another. I also have doubts about the quality of rail transport. I'd like to change something for the better in the country – after all, I'm its sovereign.

So how can I, as a sovereign, bring about a referendum in which my problems would be voted on?

I'm reading the second paragraph of Article 125, and now I know that it's the Sejm that decides what's important to me, and of course, what's important to my neighbor: "The Sejm has the right to call a nationwide referendum by an absolute majority vote in the presence of at least half of the statutory number of deputies..." The Sejm is, as it were, composed of representatives elected by the electorate, or, proudly put, the nation. But do they "up there" know the problems of ordinary citizens, including mine? I seriously doubt it...

Besides, I wonder how much help the Sejm will give me, as it's dominated by one political party, and besides, this body is usually at odds and doesn't have time to solve my mundane problems. But I read further that "the President of the Republic, with the consent of the Senate expressed by an absolute majority vote in the presence of at least half of the statutory number of senators," can also decide to hold a referendum. Does this make me more optimistic? First the president, then an absolute majority in the Senate – regardless of who sits and deliberates in that Senate. This seems like a long and complicated procedure. Besides, how am I supposed to reach the President with my visions for healing the Republic of Poland when the presidential office has never responded to my emails?

In short, these obstacles are insurmountable for me. But that's not all – according to point 3 of that same article, a referendum must be held, and more than half of those eligible to vote must participate in this nationwide vote. I don't know why anyone needs this percentage threshold – if someone isn't interested in my issues, they don't vote, and thus passively agree to the referendum decision. However, if the nationwide vote is in my favor, I ask myself, will that decision really be binding?

I find it hard to believe, but this is still not the end of this complicated procedure. According to point 4 (still the same Article 125), the validity of a nationwide referendum must be approved by the Supreme Court.

I am reading the entire Article 125 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland again – it is only four sentences in total.

I'm glad I'm reading this on a computer screen. It's a waste of paper to print it out… This constitutional provision is nothing more than a "cat and mouse game." I don't need to explain to anyone who is the amused cat in this game and who is the hunted and frightened mouse.

Am I still a sovereign? According to Articles 4 and 125 of the Polish Constitution, am I actually able to co-decide on important and significant matters in the state? After reading this, I'm beginning to seriously doubt it. Okay, so I'm not a sovereign. But if I, as a citizen of the Republic of Poland, am not, then who is?