Pagina 722 de 788

This law of the liberum veto, and the elective nature of the

royal office, offered countless opportunities for foreign nations

to interfere in the affairs of the Commonwealth. The district

diets, besides electing deputies to the General Diet, instructed

them how to vote, and chose local officials (p. 75); they also

were bound by the rule of the liberum veto (pp. 182, 304). Under

such a constitution the only practical means of reform was

through armed rebellion. Hence rebellions, or confederacies, were

legalised in Poland; a number of citizens might combine together,

choose a marshal (pp. 180, 182, 285), and seek to overthrow the

established order; in case of success they became the government,

in case of failure they were not liable to punishment. A diet

held by a confederacy was not subject to the liberum veto, but

adopted decisions by a majority vote.