Obraz przedstawia obrady podczas uchwalania Konstytucji 3 Maja. Sala wypełniona po brzegi ludźmi. Na środku dokonuje się zaprzysiężenie. Na ilustracji widnieją dopiski. 1. Taking advantage of the favourable international situation, Poles attempted to reform the archaic structure of the state and free themselves from the guardianship of Russia. By the time shown in the painting, during the first parliamentary term, which started in 1788, a number of social and political reforms had been carried out.The Permanent Council was abolished. The Military Commission of the Commonwealth was established. The Sejm voted on increasing the number of troops from around 5,000 to 100,000 and on setting a tax for their maintenance, imposed on the income of the nobility and the clergy, as well as the city (from pelts and butchery). However, since the citizens submitted false tax declarations, the new tax did not bring the expected income. Eventually, the number of troops was reduced to 65,000.The first census in Poland was also carried out., 2. In the autumn of 1790, the two-year period of functioning of the Sejm expired. Since it was believed that the Sejm should carry on for the sake of continuity of reforms, they only added the newly elected deputies. This doubled the number of deputies.The Sejm passed the legislation on councils, limiting their rights and excluding the nobles who were not property owners from participating in them. It also abolished the law of the liberum veto. Finally, it also approved the law on cities. Townspeople from royal cities became subject to legal protection, they gained the right to own land estates and acquire nobility, occupy officers' posts, as well as posts in public administration. Twenty-four city representatives could participate in the Sejm, with the right to an advisory vote on urban matters. This act protected the common people through legislation and government administration.Once the resolutions were adopted, there was a break in the session to celebrate Easter. Most of the deputies left for their homes., 3. As many of the deputies, who worked for neighbouring countries, opposed the adoption of the constitution, the reformers used deception. The deliberations of the Sejm were to be resumed on May 5, 1791, but the reformers were discreetly notified of the necessity to come two days earlier. It was then, on May 3, that the Sejm adopted the Constitution. Its authors were King Stanisław August Poniatowski, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj - they described it as "the last will and testament of the dying Homeland". The official name of the constitution was the "Government Act" and it consisted of 11 articles, and the previously adopted laws on cities and regional councils constituted its integral part.The liberum veto was abolished, the majority voting was introduced. The Sejm was to be permanent, i.e. deputies were elected for two years, during which they represented the nation and could not be restricted by instructions. This is when the bad dreams of Catherine II came true., 4. On May 3, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ceased to exist, and the Republic of Poland was established in its place. The free election was abolished, and replaced with the hereditary succession of the king. After the death of Stanisław August Poniatowski, the throne was to be taken over by the ruler of the Wettin dynasty.The constitution defined the social system that was going to be introduced in the country. In contrast to the USA and France, the Commonwealth was to remain a three-estate state. The basic postulate of enlightenment, that people are equal by birth, was not introduced.However, the Montesquieu tripartite division of powers was applied. The legislation was to be passed by the parliament consisting of two chambers: the deputies and the senate with the king at its head. The executive power consisted of the king and the so-called Guardians of the Laws with its commissions. The role of the king was strengthened. Judicial power remained estate-based, as it was separate for the individual estates of the realm. A future universal codification of the law was announced.