The real source of supreme state power, the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), was not regulated by the constitution; it was ruled by its own statute.

The constitution legalized many practices that had been introduced in Poland, in the wake of the Soviet Red Army and the Polish People's Army defeat of Nazi Germany in 1944–1945, by Polish-communist governmental bodies, including the Polish Committee of National Liberation (PKWN) and its successors.

[1] While the ultimate power was reserved for the dictatorship of the proletariat, expressed as "the working people of towns and villages",[1] the Sejm was granted on paper the paramount authority in government; it oversaw both the judicial and executive branches.

Many other government officials were also chosen, including the head of the Supreme Audit Office (Najwyższa Izba Kotroli, NIK), members of the State Tribunal (Trybunał Stanu) and Constitutional Tribunal (Trybunał Konstytucyjny), as well as the Ombudsman (Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich) (the latter three institutions were created in the 1980s).

[6] Article 30 of the constitution set out the authority of the Council of State, including representing the Polish People's Republic in foreign relations and in ratification of international treaties.

[9] The Council of Ministers developed the state budget and socio-economic plans and presented them to the Sejm for approval.

During its forty-five years of service, the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic was subject to many changes, with its text amended 24 times.

The amendment caused protests resulting in the Letter of 59, asking for inclusion of human rights as stated in the Helsinki Accords.

[10][11] The government backed off somewhat, and the final amendment deleted the phrase "citizens' rights depend upon fulfillment of civic duties", changed "unshakable fraternal bonds" to "strengthening of friendship" and made other conciliatory changes, but after the revised amendment passed there were still protests from the Catholic Church and intellectuals.

Among the more important changes were: The 1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union was an exemplar act and the Russian translation of the draft text of the 1952 Constitution was personally reviewed and edited by Joseph Stalin; his modifications were inserted into the Polish text by Bolesław Bierut.

The constitution served as a propaganda tool, proclaiming the "Polish People's Republic", and in theory establishing many rights for its citizens.