The grounds and procedure for acquiring or forfeiting soviet citizenship are defined by the law on citizenship of the ussr. The recognition, observance and protection of the rights and freedoms of man and citizen shall be the obligation of the state. This is the constitution and fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics as adopted at the seventh special session of the supreme council of. There were three versions of the constitution of the union of soviet socialist republics, modeled after the 1918 constitution established by the russian soviet federative socialist republic rsfsr, the immediate predecessor of the soviet union. A brief research on 1936 soviet constitution under joseph. It is clear that tested by the constitution of the soviet union as revised and enacted in 1936, the ussr is the most inclusive and equalised democracy in the world. First part chapter 1 fundamentals of the constitutional system article 1 russian federation the russian federation russia is a democratic federal ruleoflaw state with the republican form of government. Citizens of the ussr are obliged to observe the constitution of the ussr and soviet laws, comply with the standards of socialist conduct, and uphold the honour and dignity of soviet citizenship. On property rights and profit, in state farming, collective and cooperative farm. All soviet citizens were now equally protected by the law and entitled to the franchise, the right to hold elective office, and other privileges of soviet citizenship.
Full text of 1918 soviet constitution internet archive. The 1977 ussr constitution uc hastings scholarship. The official name of the constitution was constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics russian. Iran islamic republic ofs constitution of 1979 with amendments through 1989. The soviets of working peoples deputies, which grew and attained strength as a result of the overthrow of the landlords and capitalists and the achievement of the. I flirted with state communism a long time ago, read the chinese constitution, was completely in love with it, thought theyd make a wonderful state. Constitution of 1936 the soviet constitution of 1936, also known as the stalin constitution, was approved by the eighth congress of soviets and became law on december 5, 1936. At the seventh special session of the supreme soviet of the ussr ninth convocation on october 7, 1977, the third and last soviet constitution, also known as the brezhnev constitution, was unanimously adopted. State organisations, public organisations and officials shall observe the constitution of the ussr and soviet laws. Constitution of the union of socialist soviet republics january 1924 abridged part i declaration since the foundation of the soviet republics, the states of the world have been divided into two camps. The 1924 soviet constitution with additional articles on trade unions and social insurance in russia hx15 notes.
Constitutions, soviet article about constitutions, soviet. The state anthem of the union of soviet socialist republics is confirmed by the presidium of the supreme council of the ussr. There were three versions of the constitution of the soviet union, modeled after the 1918 constitution established by the russian socialist federative soviet republic, the immediate predecessor. The constitution was the product of a commission appointed by the seventh allunion congress of soviets in february 1935. The union of soviet socialist republics, or rather its precursor, the. The soviet constitution problem in comparative corporate law.
The state anthem of the union of soviet socialist republics is confirmed by the presidium of the supreme soviet of the ussr. Russian socialist federated soviet republic, pioneered marxistleninist. Your group will carefully read the attached excerpts from the. Economic rights and the russian constitution wilson center.
The procedures established by these documents, however, were not able. Full text of 1918 soviet constitution see other formats the russian constitution adopted july 10, 1918 reprinted from the nation of january 4, 1919 5 cents a copy ml. Various nationalities in the soviet union began to call for their freedom. But in reality, the soviet citizens were unable to exercise any of those rights. Constitution of the soviet union 1977, unamended wikisource.
The soviet constitutions of 1936 and 1977 defined a wide range of social rights. A brief research on 1936 soviet constitution under joseph stalin. Petersburg marking the 20th anniversary of the constitution, kennan institute deputy director william pomeranz addressed the evolution of economic and property rights in russia as part of an assessment of the countrys constitutional development over the past. The names russian federation and russia shall be equal. Federalism and the soviet constitution of 1977 uw law digital. The ussr is dominated by the communist party of the soviet. Russian federations constitution of 1993 with amendments. On october 7, 1977, the supreme soviet of the ussr unani mously adopted the 1977 constitution basic law of the union of the soviet socialist republics. The adoption of the soviet constitution in this vulnerable period, therefore, is not coincidental, but conformed to the nations need to appease socioeconomic conflicts and to maintain resistant to future challenges. The great october socialist revolution, made by the workers and peasants of russia under the leadership of the communist party headed by lenin, overthrew capitalist and landowner rule, broke the fetters of oppression, established the dictatorship of the proletariat, and created the soviet state, a new type of state, the basic instrument for defending the gains of the revolution and. Soviet state, a new type of state, the basic instrument for defending the gains of. It is a device of measuring the extent of centralisation of a particular federal polity. Man, his rights and freedoms are the supreme value. The declaration of rights of the labouring and exploited people approved by the third allrussian congress of soviets in january 1918, together with the constitution of the soviet republic, approved by the fifth congress, constitutes a single fundamental law of the russian socialist federated soviet republic.
The great october socialist revolution, made by the workers and peasants of russia under the leadership of the communist party headed by lenin, overthrew capitalist and landowner rule, broke the fetters of oppression, established the dictatorship of the proletariat, and created the council rus. Other articles where stalin constitution is discussed. Perspectives on federalism in the various constitutions 47 the levels. The soviet state and all its bodies function on the basis of socialist law, ensure the maintenance of law and order, and safeguard the interests of society and the rights and freedoms of citizens. Became disillusioned when i read the anarchist faq, then what is property, etc. Constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet. The soviet constitution of 1936, also known as the stalin constitution, was approved by the eighth congress of soviets and became law on december 5, 1936. The introduction of property rights represented one of the major accomplishments of the 1993 russian constitution. The rsfsr constitution of 1918 was the first soviet constitution.
The brezhnev constitution r g gidadhubli compared to the stalin constitution of 1936, the new brezhnev constituition of the soviet union, proclaimed on october 8, 1977, has a wider focus on the countrys economic sy,stem and hence has greater economic implications. Iran islamic republic ofs constitution of 1979 with. The constitution declares the supreme soviet to be the highest body of state authority of the u. The stalin constitution continued, together with the rules of the communist party of the soviet union, to serve as the formal framework of government until the ratification of a new, though rather similar, constitution in 1977.
Jun 11, 2014 the soviet constitutions of 1936 and 1977 defined a wide range of social rights. The declaration of rights of the labouring and exploited people approved by the third allrussian congress of soviets in january 1918, together with the constitution of the soviet republic, approved by the fifth congress, constitutes a single fundamental law of the russian socialist federated soviet republic this fundamental law becomes effective upon the publication of the. Constitutions, soviet in the ussr, documents that define the principles of the socialist social and state structure of the ussr and of the union and autonomous republics, the system of soviet state bodies and the principles of their organization and activity, and the basic rights and duties of soviet citizens and the material and legal guarantees for. Stalin constitution seventeen moments in soviet history. The stalin constitution seventeen moments in soviet history. The soviet socialist constitution by soviet union abebooks.
The constitution of russia from 1918, also called the basic law, osnovnoy zakon which governed the russian soviet republic, described the regime that assumed power in the october revolution of 1917. Foreign policy and the 1977 soviet constitution american journal. It is the purpose of this article to explore the reasons for the differing results in interpreting and applying similar fundamental rights in the soviet union and the united states. The supreme soviet of the ussr exercises all rights vested in the union of soviet socialist republics in accordance with article 14 of the constitution, in so far as they do not, by virtue of the constitution, come within the jurisdiction of organs of the ussr that are accountable to the supreme soviet of the ussr, that is, the presidium of the. However, nonrussians formed a majority in the 14 soviet republics other than russia. As violence mounted against ethnic armenians in azerbaijan, the number of armenian refugees flowing into armenia and other soviet republics steadily rose. Russian federations constitution of 1993 with amendments through 2008. Constitution of the ussr 1977 constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics adopted at the seventh special session of the supreme soviet of the ussr, ninth convocation, on october 7, 1977 novosti press agency publishing house moscow, 1985 constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics the great october socialist. Constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics, pdf of the english text of the 1977 constitution.
They were recognized as fundamental to the 1924 soviet constitution, which was the formative document of the union of soviet socialist republics. Furthermore, the 1993 russian constitution has gained the status of the highest norm in the hierarchy of norms, illustrated by article 15 declaring its supreme legal force and direct effect. Theories and realities of modern soviet constitutional law. The capital of the union of soviet socialist republics is the city of moscow. More than 100 ethnic groups lived in the soviet union. Article 172 the capital of the union of soviet socialist republics is the city of moscow. Excerpts from the constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics october 7, 1977. The names russian federation and russia are equivalent. That is, if one looks only at the soviet constitution on paper, one might conclude that it was a model of liberalism because it provided for separation between church and state, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. Russia also officially known as the russian federation, is a state in northern eurasia. This constitution, which was ratified soon after the declaration of rights of the working and exploited people, formally recognized the working class as the ruling. The russian federation russia is a democratic federal lawbound state with a republican form of government.
Your group will carefully read the attached excerpts from the 1936 constitution of the soviet union. See constitution basic law of the union of soviet socialist republics, xxix currunt dicest of. Excerpts from the constitution of the union of soviet socialist republics 1936 directions. The 1977 constitution, also known as the brezhnev constitution or the constitution of the developed socialism, was the third and final constitution of the soviet union, adopted unanimously at the 7th special session of the supreme soviet ninth convocation and signed by general secretary leonid brezhnev. The new constitution declares that the soviet union is a state of all the people, and that the social, economic, and political relationships in. Citizens of the ussr are guaranteed freedom of conscience, that is, the right to profess or not to profess any religion, and to conduct religious worship or atheistic.
I spent three weeks of a college course on the soviet constitution 30 yrs agocant say i really remember much, but i. In order to have a proper understanding of the concept, the analysis of the two varying concepts of constitution, as have. It is the duty of every citizen of the ussr to respect the national dignity of other citizens, and to strengthen friendship of the nations and nationalities of the multinational soviet state. The 1977 constitution of the soviet union, officially the constitution fundamental law of the. The fundamental problem of the constitution of the russian socialist federated soviet republic involves, in view of the present transition period, the establishment of a dictatorship of the urban and rural proletariat and the poorest peasantry in the form of a powerful allrussian soviet authority, for the purpose of abolishing the exploitation of men by men and introduction. What the soviet constitution says about freedom and. Constitution of the ussr 1977 constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics adopted at the seventh special session of the supreme soviet of the ussr, ninth convocation, on october 7, 1977 novosti press agency publishing house moscow, 1985 constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics the great october socialist revolution, made by the. Part ix legal force and amendments article 173 the constitution of the ussr shall have supreme legal force. It was only replaced on 7 october 1977 when the supreme soviet9 of the ussr unanimously adopted the fourth and final soviet constitution. Soviet constitutions article about soviet constitutions. It was adopted by popular vote the following year and went into effect on january 1st 1938.
The 1924 soviet constitution with additional articles on trade unions and social insurance in russia hx15. State organisations, public organisations and officials shall observe the. Constitution fundamental law of the union of soviet socialist republics. The constitution of the soviet union promises its citizens freedom of conscience and religion, as is obvious in this statement from article 52 of the soviet constitution. The main features of the soviet constitution of ninteteenthirty six in 1936, stalin judged the time ripe for drafting a new constitution which would preserve his autocratic power in the country. What the soviet constitution says about freedom and religion. As the fundamental law, the soviet constitutions are the legal basis for all current legislationthat is, all soviet laws must conform to the constitution and may not contradict it.
Union, hereinafter cpsu, which makes the principal political decisions and directs. Yet the soviet union was a dictatorship, and even in the 1970s internal and external critics alike denied the existence of any form of rights there. The constitution described by lenin as a piece of paper has disappeared in favor of a constitution called the fundamental or basic law. Importantly, the 1918 russian constitution s main principles served as a precursor to the ensuing constitutions of both united and autonomous soviet republics. Constitution fundamenta law l of the union of soviet socialist republics adopted at the extraordinary eight congresh of soviets s of th u. Soviet constitutions article about soviet constitutions by. Its fundamental principles were elaborated during the struggle of the working people for soviet power during the great october socialist revolution of 1917.
Publication date 1978 note includes constitution of 1977 translated into english. However, the move to reform the soviet union ultimately led to its breakup. Adopted by the fifth allrussian congress of soviets july 10, 1918. T he declaration of rights the laboring and exploited peo ple approved by the third allrussian congress of soviets in january, 1918 together with the constitution of the soviet. The fundamental problem of the constitution of the rus sian socialist federated soviet republic involves, in view of the present transition period, the establishment of a dictatorship of the urban and rural proletariat and the poorest peasantry in the form of a powerful ailrussian soviet authority, for the purpose of abolishing the. Smith seeks to explain how and why constitutional rights to welfare be. The united states is the oldest, most stable and best example of a federal, constitutional republic with a presidential system, and a federal government headed by a president, who has wide.
The new constitution will go down in the history of the ussr as the brezhnev constitution. The 1977 constitution replaced the 1936 constitution and the soviet public holiday of ussr. Military service in the ranks of the armed forces of the ussr is an honorable duty of soviet citizens. Aug 12, 2016 there were three versions of the constitution of the soviet union, modeled after the 1918 constitution established by the russian socialist federative soviet republic, the immediate predecessor. The union of soviet socialist republics is a socialist state of workers and peasants. This constitution remained in force until 1977 when leonid brezhnev based his new brezhnev constitution on the 1936 document. Sidney and beatrice webb, 1937 many who lauded stalins soviet union as the most democratic country on earth lived to regret their words. It is the duty of, and matter of honour for, every ablebodied citizen of the ussr to work conscientiously in his chosen, socially useful.
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