The ministries of Poland are the various departments performing functions implemented by the Polish government. Each ministry is headed by a governmental minister selected by the Prime Minister, who sits in the collective executive Council of Ministers. The current competences and regulations of the ministries were established under a series of central administrative reforms carried out by prime ministers Józef Oleksy and Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz between 1996 and 1997. Under legal regulations, the cabinet can create, combine, or dissolve ministries, with the Prime Minister determining the scope and responsibilities of ministers. The number and range of ministries has varied throughout the past. As of 2023, sixteen codified ministries exist within the government and discharge executive functions under the Second Cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki. History Ministries in 1991 In connection with maintaining continuity with the legislation of the Polish People's Republic during Poland's systemic transformation carried out in 1989-1991, previous rules of organizing the chief organs of public administration were maintained. The office of a minister and the ministry serving them were established by means of a law. On this basis the Council of Ministers issued a decree on the detailed scope of a minister's activities and a decree (initially a resolution) on granting ministries organizational statutes. At the end of 1991, after the first free legislative election was held, the following ministries and offices with the rights of ministries functioned in Poland: Ministry of National Education Ministry of Finance Ministry of Spatial Planning and Construction Ministry of Culture and Art Ministry of Communication Ministry of National Defense Ministry of Environment Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry Ministry of Labor and Social Policy Ministry of Ownership Transformation Ministry of Industry and Trade Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy Ministry of the Interior Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Justice Ministry of Transport and Marine Economy Ministry of Economic Cooperation Abroad Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Central Planning Office Office of the Committee of Scientific Research Office of the Council of Ministers Reform of the center of administration Pursuant to the act of 8 August 1996, the acts of 12 June 1996 and 8 August 1996 reforming the functioning of the economy and public administration came into force: under provisions taking effect on 1 October 1996: in place of the Ministry of Ownership Transformation, along with the separation of tasks related to the State Treasury from other ministries, central offices and state organizational