Abstract
Since the revival of the self-government system in Poland in 1990, the
capital and the biggest city of Poland has had an administrative system different
from other Polish towns. In 1990–2002, the system was based on the
territorial structure made of separate units called gminas (communes), having
a status of legal entities. However, the system was evolving over that period.
In 1990–1994 the city was divided into seven districts-gminas: Warszawa-Mokotów,
Warszawa-Ochota, Warszawa-Wola, Warszawa-Żoliborz, Warszawa-Praga
Północ, Warszawa-Praga Południe and Warszawa-Śródmieście. The mayor
of the city of Warsaw was its President elected by all the city councilors.
The system did not function well. In 1994 a new system was introduced: the
central part of the city, which had the biggest building density and the population
of about one million, became one gmina called Warszawa-Centrum
and divided into districts. Around it, there were ten neighboring gminas:
Warszawa-Ursynów, Warszawa-Wilanów, Warszawa-Wawer, Warszawa-
-Targówek, Warszawa-Rembertów, Warszawa-Białołęka, Warszawa-Bielany,
Warszawa-Bemowo and Warszawa-Ursus. In 1998 a decision was made to
introduce one more level of self-government in the city: powiat warszawski
(County of Warsaw) with its own administrative units. This very complicated
system existed until 2002, when it was replaced by a new one in which Warsaw
became one gmina with eighteen districts.