The socio-political development of the USSR until the mid-1980s was determined by two political concepts - developed socialism and the Soviet people as a new historical community. The dissident movement also began to exert a growing influence on the development of Soviet society, the domestic and foreign policy of the country.

At the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, a change in program milestones took place: the concept of the full-scale construction of communism laid down in the third program of the party was replaced by the concept of developed socialism. Thus, the CPSU actually renounced the solemn promise given at the 22nd Party Congress that "the present generation Soviet people will live under communism. "The main revisionists of the former general course were the leaders of the party - L.I. Brezhnev, M.A. Suslov, Yu.V. Andropov. In their policy they were guided by the principle: "movement is everything, the ultimate goal is nothing ". The new political concept was closer to life, it was created taking into account the growing military spending to achieve and then maintain military-strategic parity with the United States and strengthen the borders with China.

The concept was first made public in the report "Fifty years of the great victories of socialism", with which the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Brezhnev spoke at a joint solemn meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses on November 3, 1967. In 1971 , at the XXIV Congress of the CPSU, it was proclaimed the highest stage in the development of Marxism-Leninism. Yu.V. Andropov, in an article devoted to the teachings of K. Marx and the problems of building socialism in the USSR, published in 1983 on the occasion of the 165th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Marxism. In the second half of the 1980s, the period of domination of this concept was named by M.S. Gorbachev "period of stagnation".

The essence of the concept was that on the way to communism, the stage of developed socialism is inevitable, at which it reaches its integrity, i.e. a harmonious combination of all spheres and relations - production, socio-political, moral and legal, material and ideological. Andropov specified that this stage would be long, and the USSR was only at its beginning. The integrity of socialism was supposed to be achieved through its improvement.

USSR Constitution 1977

By the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, the concept was enshrined in new constitution USSR, which was called "the constitution of developed socialism." Work on the new Basic Law of the country was started under N.S. Khrushchev, after the adoption of a new party program. At the end of 1964, it was interrupted and resumed only in 1976 by decision of the XXV Congress of the CPSU. The draft Constitution was developed by May 1977 under the leadership of the Chairman of the Constitutional Commission L.I. Brezhnev and, after a nationwide discussion, was approved by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on October 7, 1977. By that time, Brezhnev had already combined two posts - General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. N.V. Podgorny, head of state since 1965, was retired in the summer of 1977.

At its core, the Constitution of the USSR of 1977 repeated the provisions of the Constitution of the USSR of 1936, however, they were more detailed and took into account the changes that had taken place in the country over 40 years. First of all, the characterization of the class character of the state and the party was withdrawn. The USSR has turned from a state of the dictatorship of the proletariat into a state of the whole people, the Soviets of working people's deputies into the Soviets of people's deputies, the CPSU from the party of the working class into the party of the whole people.

The first chapter of the Constitution for the first time set out in detail the political system of the USSR. According to her, all power in the state belonged to the people. He exercised state power through the Soviets, which formed the political basis of the USSR. The Soviets also formed the basis of the state apparatus, which, in addition to them, included state administration bodies, committees of people's control, prosecution and arbitration bodies.

Article 6 of the Constitution directly legally fixed the dominant role of the Communist Party in political system. The CPSU was characterized as the leading and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of the political system. The links of the political system also included trade unions, Komsomol, cooperative and other public organizations that participated in the management of state and public affairs in accordance with their statutory tasks. Finally, the Constitution proclaimed labor collectives as the primary link in the political system. They were also the primary link in the economic system of the USSR.

As before, the emphasis in the Constitution was on the proclamation of the socio-economic rights of citizens of the USSR, the list of which became wider: the right to work, free education, medical care, rest, pension provision, dwelling.

The constitution consolidated the sharply increased political and economic rights of the union state ("center") at the expense of the corresponding rights of the union republics. They were carried out by the allied ministries and departments, the number of which exceeded 150, while in 1924 there were 10 of them, in 1936 - 20.

The constitution forbade private ownership of the means of production and the exploitation of man by man. In the social sphere, the course towards achieving the social homogeneity of society has become decisive.

The Constitution proclaimed the strengthening of the "new social and international community" - the Soviet people - and the unified economic complex as the material basis of this community as the most important tasks of the union state.

Within five years after the adoption of the Constitution, all laws that were directly mentioned in its text were developed and put into effect. In 1978, the constitutions of fifteen union republics were brought into line with the new Union Constitution, incl. RSFSR. They all adopted new basic laws.

The new Constitution of the USSR did not overcome the shortcomings of the Constitution of 1936. They were inherent primarily in the political system. This is, firstly, the lack of publicity in the activities of both the system as a whole and individual links in particular; secondly, the mixing of the functions of the Party and the Soviets, the replacement of the Soviets by the Party; thirdly, the replacement of party organizations by party committees; fourthly, the replacement of elected bodies by the apparatus; fifthly, the bureaucratization of the apparatus (state, party, public and creative organizations). All this contributed to the alienation of the people from power, undermining the authority of the state and the party, despite the numerical growth of the latter. By 1985, there were 18 million communists in the CPSU. Approximately the same amount was made up of the administrative apparatus.

In November 1982, after the death of L.I. Brezhnev Yu.V. became the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Andropov. In 1983, he was also elected Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The new Soviet leader warned "against possible exaggerations in understanding the degree of the country's approach to the highest phase of communism", acknowledged the contradictions of developed socialism and declared that "we do not know the society in which we live."

In February 1984, Andropov died, and K.U. Chernenko. He raised the question of new edition program of the CPSU, which was supposed to give an analysis of the "stage of development of society", the degree of solution of the national question. Under his leadership, a program commission was created, which in March 1985, after the death of Chernenko, was headed by the new Secretary General - M.S. Gorbachev.

The Great October Socialist Revolution, carried out by the workers and peasants of Russia under the leadership of the Communist Party, headed by V.I. Lenin, overthrew the power of the capitalists and landlords, broke the shackles of oppression, established the dictatorship of the proletariat and created the Soviet state - a state of a new type, the main instrument for defending revolutionary gains, building socialism and communism. The world-historical turn of mankind from capitalism to socialism began.
Having won the civil war and repulsed the imperialist intervention, the Soviet government carried out the most profound social and economic transformations, forever put an end to the exploitation of man by man, to class antagonisms and national enmity. The unification of the Soviet republics into the USSR multiplied the forces and possibilities of the peoples of the country in building socialism. Social ownership of the means of production and genuine democracy for the working masses have been established.

For the first time in human history, a socialist society.

A vivid manifestation of the strength of socialism was the unfading feat of the Soviet people, their Armed Forces, who won a historic victory in the Great Patriotic War. This victory strengthened the prestige and international positions of the USSR and opened up new favorable opportunities for the growth of the forces of socialism, national liberation, democracy and world peace.

Continuing their creative activity, the working people of the Soviet Union ensured the rapid and all-round development of the country and the improvement of the socialist system. The alliance of the working class, the collective-farm peasantry and the people's intelligentsia, and the friendship of the nations and peoples of the USSR, have become stronger. A socio-political and ideological unity of Soviet society has taken shape, the leading force of which is the working class. Having fulfilled the tasks of the dictatorship of the proletariat, the Soviet state became a state of the whole people.

A developed socialist society has been built in the USSR. At this stage, when socialism is developing on its own basis, the creative forces of the new system and the advantages of the socialist way of life are more fully revealed, and the working people are increasingly enjoying the fruits of the great revolutionary achievements.

This is a society in which powerful productive forces, advanced science and culture have been created, in which the well-being of the people is constantly growing, more and more favorable conditions are emerging for the all-round development of the individual.

This is a society of mature socialist social relations, in which, on the basis of the rapprochement of all classes and social strata, the legal and actual equality of all nations and nationalities, and their fraternal cooperation, a new historical community of people has taken shape - the Soviet people.

This is a society of high organization, ideology and consciousness of working people - patriots and internationalists.

This is a society whose law of life is the concern of all for the welfare of each and the concern of each for the welfare of all.

This is a society of genuine democracy, the political system of which ensures the effective management of all public affairs, the ever more active participation of working people in public life, the combination of real rights and freedoms of citizens with their duties and responsibilities to society.

A developed socialist society is a natural stage on the road to communism.

The supreme goal of the Soviet state is the building of a classless communist society in which public communist self-government will be developed. The main tasks of a socialist state of the whole people are: the creation of the material and technical base of communism, the improvement of socialist social relations and their transformation into communist ones, the education of a person in communist society, the improvement of the material and cultural standard of living of the working people, the security of the country, and the promotion of peace and the development of international cooperation.

Soviet people,

guided by the ideas of scientific communism and faithful to their revolutionary traditions,

relying on the great socio-economic and political achievements of socialism,

striving for the further development of socialist democracy,

considering the international position of the USSR as an integral part of the world system of socialism and conscious of its international responsibility,

preserving the continuity of ideas and principles of the first Soviet Constitution of 1918, the Constitution of the USSR of 1924 and the Constitution of the USSR of 1936,

fixes the foundations of the social system and policy of the USSR, establishes the rights, freedoms and duties of citizens, the principles of organization and goals of the socialist state of the whole people and proclaims them in the present Constitution.

I. FOUNDATIONS OF THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND POLICY OF THE USSR

POLITICAL SYSTEM

Article 1. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a socialist state of the whole people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, peasants and intelligentsia, the working people of all nations and nationalities of the country.

Article 2. All power in the USSR belongs to the people.
The people exercise state power through the Soviets of People's Deputies, which constitute the political foundation of the USSR.
All other state bodies are controlled and accountable to the Councils of People's Deputies.

Article 3. The organization and activities of the Soviet state are built in accordance with the principle of democratic centralism: the election of all bodies of state power from top to bottom, accountability to their people, and binding decisions of higher bodies for lower ones. Democratic centralism combines unified leadership with initiative and creative activity in the localities, with the responsibility of each state body and official for the assigned work.

Article 4. The Soviet state, all its organs operate on the basis of socialist legality, ensure the protection of law and order, the interests of society, and the rights and freedoms of citizens.
State and public organizations and officials are obliged to observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws.

Article 5. The most important issues of state life are submitted for public discussion, as well as put to a nationwide vote (referendum).

Article 6 communist party of the Soviet Union, other political parties, as well as trade union, youth, other public organizations and mass movements, through their representatives elected to the Soviets of People's Deputies, and in other forms participate in the development of the policy of the Soviet state, in the management of state and public affairs.

Article 7. All political parties, public organizations and mass movements, performing the functions provided for by their programs and statutes, operate within the framework of the Constitution and Soviet laws.
The creation and activities of parties, organizations and movements aimed at forcibly changing the Soviet constitutional system and the integrity of the socialist state, undermining its security, and inciting social, national and religious hatred are not allowed.

Article 8 production, as well as social and cultural events and material incentives.
Labor collectives develop socialist emulation, promote the dissemination of advanced methods of work, strengthen labor discipline, educate their members in the spirit of communist morality, take care to raise their political consciousness, culture and professional qualifications.

Article 9 publicity, constant consideration of public opinion.

ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Article 10. The economic system of the USSR develops on the basis of the property of Soviet citizens, collective and state property.
The state creates the conditions necessary for the development of various forms of ownership and ensures their equal protection.
The land, its subsoil, water, flora and fauna in their natural state are the inalienable property of the peoples living in this territory, are under the jurisdiction of the Councils of People's Deputies and are provided for use by citizens, enterprises, institutions and organizations.

Article 11. The property of a citizen of the USSR is his personal property and is used to satisfy material and spiritual needs, independently conduct economic and other activities not prohibited by law.
A citizen may own any property for consumer and industrial purposes, acquired at the expense of labor income and on other legal grounds, except for those types of property, the acquisition of which by citizens in the ownership is not allowed.
Citizens have the right to have land plots in inheritable possession for life, as well as in use, for conducting peasant and personal subsidiary plots and for other purposes provided for by law.
The right to inherit property of a citizen is recognized and protected by law.

Article 12 Collective property is the property of leased enterprises, collective enterprises, cooperatives, joint-stock companies, economic organizations and other associations. Collective property is created by transforming state property in the manner prescribed by law and by voluntary association of property of citizens and organizations.

Article 13 autonomous regions, territories, regions and other administrative-territorial units (communal property).

Article 14. The source of the growth of social wealth, the well-being of the people and every Soviet person is the labor of Soviet people free from exploitation.
In accordance with the principle of socialism, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his work," the state exercises control over the measure of labor and consumption. It determines the amount of tax on income subject to taxation.
Socially useful labor and its results determine the position of a person in society. The state, by combining material and moral incentives, by encouraging innovation and a creative attitude to work, contributes to the transformation of labor into the first vital necessity of every Soviet person.

Article 15. The highest goal of social production under socialism is the most complete satisfaction of the growing material and spiritual needs of people.
Relying on the creative activity of the working people, socialist competition, the achievement of scientific and technological progress, improving the forms and methods of managing the economy, the state ensures the growth of labor productivity, an increase in production efficiency and the quality of work, dynamic, planned and proportional development National economy.

Article 16. The economy of the USSR constitutes a single national economic complex, embracing all links of social production, distribution and exchange on the territory of the country.
Management of the economy is carried out on the basis of state plans for economic and social development, taking into account sectoral and territorial principles, with a combination of centralized management with economic independence and the initiative of enterprises, associations and other organizations. At the same time, economic calculation, profit, cost, other economic levers and incentives are actively used.

Article 17. In the USSR, in accordance with the law, individual labor activity in the sphere of handicrafts, agriculture, consumer services for the population, as well as other types of activity based solely on the personal labor of citizens and members of their families, is allowed. The state regulates individual labor activity, ensuring its use in the interests of society.

Article 18. In the interests of present and future generations, the necessary measures are being taken in the USSR for the protection and scientifically substantiated, rational use of the land and its subsoil, water resources, flora and fauna, to maintain clean air and water, ensure the reproduction of natural resources and improve the human environment.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE

Article 19. The social basis of the USSR is the indestructible alliance of workers, peasants and intelligentsia.
The state promotes the strengthening of the social homogeneity of society - the erasure of class differences, the essential differences between town and country, mental and physical labor, the all-round development and rapprochement of all nations and nationalities of the USSR.

Article 20 In accordance with the communist ideal "The free development of everyone is a condition for the free development of all," the state aims to expand real opportunities for citizens to use their creative forces, abilities and talents, for the all-round development of the individual.

Article 21. The state takes care of improving the conditions and protection of labor, its scientific organization, the reduction, and in the future, the complete replacement of heavy physical labor on the basis of comprehensive mechanization and automation of production processes in all sectors of the national economy.

Article 22 The USSR is consistently implementing a program for transforming agricultural labor into a variety of industrial labor; expansion in rural areas of the network of institutions public education, culture, health care, trade and public catering, consumer services and utilities; transformation of villages and villages into comfortable settlements.

Article 23 Based on the growth of labor productivity, the state is steadily pursuing a policy of raising the level of wages and real incomes of the working people.
In order to better meet the needs of the Soviet people, public consumption funds are being created. The state, with the broad participation of public organizations and labor collectives, ensures the growth and fair distribution of these funds.

Article 24 State systems of public health, social security, trade and public catering, consumer services and communal services are functioning and developing in the USSR.
The state encourages the activities of cooperative and other public organizations in all spheres of public services. It contributes to the development of mass physical education and sports.

Article 25. In the USSR there is and is being improved a unified system of public education, which provides general educational and vocational training for citizens, serves the communist education, spiritual and physical development of young people, and prepares them for work and social activities.

Article 26 In accordance with the needs of society, the state ensures the systematic development of science and the training of scientific personnel, organizes the introduction of the results of scientific research into the national economy and other spheres of life.

Article 27
The development of professional art and folk art is encouraged in every possible way in the USSR.

FOREIGN POLICY

Article 28. The USSR is steadfastly pursuing the Leninist policy of peace and is in favor of strengthening the security of peoples and broad international cooperation.
The foreign policy of the USSR is aimed at ensuring favorable international conditions for building communism in the USSR, protecting the state interests of the Soviet Union, strengthening the positions of world socialism, supporting the peoples' struggle for national liberation and social progress, preventing aggressive wars, achieving general and complete disarmament, and consistently implementing the principle of peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems.
Propaganda of war is prohibited in the USSR.

Article 29. The relations of the USSR with other states are built on the basis of observance of the principles of sovereign equality; mutual renunciation of the use of force or threat of force; inviolability of borders; territorial integrity of states; peaceful settlement of disputes; non-interference in internal affairs; respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; equality and the right of peoples to control their own destiny; cooperation between states; conscientious fulfillment of obligations arising from the universally recognized principles and norms of international law, from the international treaties concluded by the USSR.

Article 30 component world socialist systems, the socialist community develops and strengthens friendship and cooperation, comradely mutual assistance with the countries of socialism on the basis of the principle of socialist internationalism, actively participates in economic integration and in the international socialist division of labor.

DEFENSE OF THE SOCIALIST HOMELAND

Article 31 The defense of the socialist fatherland is one of the most important functions of the state and is the business of the entire people.
In order to protect the socialist gains, the peaceful labor of the Soviet people, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, the Armed Forces of the USSR were created and universal military duty was established.
The duty of the Armed Forces of the USSR to the people is to reliably defend the socialist Fatherland, to be in constant combat readiness, which guarantees an immediate rebuff to any aggressor.

Article 32
Duties government agencies, public organizations, officials and citizens to ensure the security of the country and strengthen its defense capabilities are determined by the legislation of the USSR.

II. STATE AND INDIVIDUAL

CITIZENSHIP OF THE USSR. EQUALITY OF CITIZENS

Article 33. A single union citizenship has been established in the USSR. Every citizen of a Union Republic is a citizen of the USSR.
The grounds for and procedure for the acquisition and loss of Soviet citizenship are determined by the Law on Citizenship of the USSR.
Citizens of the USSR abroad enjoy the protection and patronage of the Soviet state.

Article 34. Citizens of the USSR are equal before the law, regardless of origin, social and property status, race and nationality, sex, education, language, attitude to religion, type and nature of occupation, place of residence and other circumstances.
Equality of rights for citizens of the USSR is ensured in all areas of economic, political, social and cultural life.

Article 35. Women and men have equal rights in the USSR.
The implementation of these rights is ensured by providing women with equal opportunities with men in education and training, in work, remuneration for it and promotion at work, in social, political and cultural activities, as well as special measures for the protection of labor and women's health; creating conditions that allow women to combine work with motherhood; legal protection, material and moral support for motherhood and childhood, including the provision of paid leave and other benefits to pregnant women and mothers, the gradual reduction of working hours for women with young children.

Article 36 Citizens of the USSR of various races and nationalities have equal rights.
The exercise of these rights is ensured by the policy of all-round development and rapprochement of all nations and peoples of the USSR, the education of citizens in the spirit of Soviet patriotism and socialist internationalism, and the opportunity to use their native language and the languages ​​of other peoples of the USSR.
Any direct or indirect restriction of rights, the establishment of direct or indirect advantages of citizens on racial and national grounds, as well as any preaching of racial or national exclusiveness, enmity or neglect, are punishable by law.

Article 37. Foreign citizens and stateless persons in the USSR are guaranteed the rights and freedoms provided for by law, including the right to apply to court and other state bodies to protect their personal, property, family and other rights.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons staying on the territory of the USSR are obliged to respect the Constitution of the USSR and observe Soviet laws.

Article 38. The USSR grants the right of asylum to foreigners persecuted for defending the interests of working people and the cause of peace, for participating in a revolutionary and national liberation movement, for progressive socio-political, scientific or other creative activity.

BASIC RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS OF THE USSR

Article 39 Citizens of the USSR have the entirety of socio-economic, political and personal rights and freedoms proclaimed and guaranteed by the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws. The socialist system ensures the expansion of rights and freedoms, the continuous improvement of the living conditions of citizens as the programs of socio-economic and cultural development are carried out.
The use of rights and freedoms by citizens should not harm the interests of society and the state, the rights of other citizens.

Article 40 Citizens of the USSR have the right to work - that is, to receive guaranteed work with pay in accordance with its quantity and quality and not less than the minimum amount established by the state - including the right to choose a profession, occupation and work in accordance with vocation , abilities, vocational training, education and social needs.
This right is ensured by the socialist economic system, the steady growth of the productive forces, free vocational training, the improvement of labor qualifications and training in new specialties, and the development of vocational guidance and employment systems.

Article 41 Citizens of the USSR have the right to rest.
This right is ensured by the establishment for workers and employees of a working week not exceeding 41 hours, a shorter working day for a number of professions and industries, a reduced duration of work at night; the provision of annual paid holidays, days of weekly rest, as well as the expansion of the network of cultural, educational and health institutions, the development of mass sports, physical culture and tourism; creation of favorable opportunities for recreation at the place of residence and other conditions for the rational use of free time.
The hours of work and rest of collective farmers are regulated by the collective farms.

Article 42 Citizens of the USSR have the right to health care.
This right is provided by free qualified medical care provided by public health institutions; expanding the network of institutions for the treatment and promotion of the health of citizens; development and improvement of safety and industrial sanitation; carrying out extensive preventive measures; measures to improve the environment; special concern for the health of the younger generation, including the prohibition of child labor not related to training and labor education; the deployment of scientific research aimed at preventing and reducing morbidity, at ensuring a long-term active life of citizens.

Article 43 Citizens of the USSR have the right to material security in old age, in case of illness, complete or partial disability, and loss of a breadwinner.
This right is guaranteed by social insurance of workers, employees and collective farmers, temporary disability benefits; payment at the expense of the state and collective farms of pensions for old age, disability and for the loss of a breadwinner; employment of citizens who have partially lost their ability to work; caring for the elderly and the disabled; other forms of social security.

Article 44 Citizens of the USSR have the right to housing.
This right is ensured by the development and protection of state and public housing stock, promotion of cooperative and individual housing construction, fair distribution under public control of living space provided as the program for the construction of comfortable housing is implemented, as well as low rents and utility bills. Citizens of the USSR must take care of the housing provided to them.

Article 45 Citizens of the USSR have the right to education.
This right is ensured by the free of charge of all types of education, the implementation of universal compulsory secondary education for young people, the broad development of vocational, secondary specialized and higher education on the basis of the connection of learning with life, with production; development of correspondence and evening education; provision of state scholarships and benefits to pupils and students; free distribution of school textbooks; the opportunity to study at school in their native language; creating conditions for self-education.

Article 46 Citizens of the USSR have the right to enjoy the achievements of culture.
This right is ensured by the general accessibility of the values ​​of national and world culture, which are in state and public funds; development and uniform distribution of cultural and educational institutions throughout the country; the development of television and radio, book publishing and periodicals, a network of free libraries; expansion of cultural exchange with foreign countries.

Article 47 Citizens of the USSR, in accordance with the goals of communist construction, are guaranteed freedom of scientific, technical and artistic creativity. It is ensured by the wide deployment of scientific research, inventive and rationalization activities, and the development of literature and art. The state creates the necessary material conditions for this, provides support to voluntary societies and creative unions organizes the introduction of inventions and rationalization proposals in the national economy and other spheres of life.
The rights of authors, inventors and innovators are protected by the state.

Article 48 Citizens of the USSR have the right to participate in the management of state and public affairs, in the discussion and adoption of laws and decisions of national and local significance.
This right is ensured by the opportunity to elect and be elected to the Soviets of People's Deputies and other elected state bodies, to take part in national discussions and voting, in people's control, in the work of state bodies, public organizations and bodies of public amateur performance, in meetings of labor collectives and at the place of residence. .

Article 49. Every citizen of the USSR has the right to submit proposals to state organs and public organizations for the improvement of their activities, to criticize shortcomings in their work.
Officials are obliged to consider the proposals and applications of citizens within the established time limits, give answers to them and take the necessary measures.
Prosecution for criticism is prohibited. Those who pursue criticism are held accountable.

Article 50. In accordance with the interests of the people and for the purpose of strengthening and developing the socialist system, the citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedoms: freedom of speech, press, meetings, rallies, street processions and demonstrations.
The exercise of these political freedoms is ensured by the provision of public buildings, streets and squares to the working people and their organizations, the wide dissemination of information, and the possibility of using the press, television and radio.

Article 51. Citizens of the USSR have the right to unite in political parties, public organizations, mass movements which contribute to the development of political activity and amateur performance, the satisfaction of their diverse interests.
Public organizations are guaranteed conditions for the successful fulfillment of their statutory tasks.

Article 52. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of conscience, that is, the right to profess any religion or none, to practice religious cults or conduct atheistic propaganda. Incitement of enmity and hatred in connection with religious beliefs is prohibited.
The church in the USSR is separated from the state and the school from the church.

Article 53 The family is under the protection of the state.
Marriage is based on the voluntary consent of a woman and a man; spouses are completely equal in family relations.
The state takes care of the family by creating and developing a wide network of children's institutions, organizing and improving the service of everyday life and public catering, paying benefits on the occasion of the birth of a child, providing benefits and benefits to large families, as well as other types of benefits and assistance to the family.

Article 54 Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the person. No one may be arrested except on the basis of a court decision or with the authorization of a prosecutor.

Article 55 Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed the inviolability of their homes. No one has the right to enter a dwelling without a legal basis against the will of the persons living in it.

Article 56. The private life of citizens, the secrecy of correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraph messages are protected by law.

Article 57. Respect for the individual, protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens is the duty of all state bodies, public organizations and officials.
Citizens of the USSR have the right to judicial protection against encroachments on honor and dignity, life and health, personal freedom and property.

Article 58 Citizens of the USSR have the right to appeal against the actions of officials, state and public bodies. Complaints must be considered in the manner and within the time limits established by law.
Actions of officials committed in violation of the law, in excess of authority, infringing on the rights of citizens, may be appealed to the court in accordance with the procedure established by law.
Citizens of the USSR have the right to compensation for damage caused by illegal actions of state and public organizations, as well as officials in the performance of their official duties.

Article 59
A citizen of the USSR is obliged to observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws, to respect the rules of socialist community life, to carry with dignity high rank citizen of the USSR.

Article 60. The duty and a matter of honor for every able-bodied citizen of the USSR is conscientious work in the field of socially useful activity chosen by him, observance of labor discipline. Avoidance of socially useful labor is incompatible with the principles of socialist society.

Article 61. A citizen of the USSR is obliged to preserve and strengthen socialist property. The duty of a citizen of the USSR is to fight the theft and waste of state and public property, to treat the people's good with care.
Persons who infringe on socialist property are punished according to the law.

Article 62. A citizen of the USSR is obliged to protect the interests of the Soviet state, to contribute to the strengthening of its power and authority.
The defense of the socialist Fatherland is the sacred duty of every citizen of the USSR.
Treason to the motherland is the gravest crime against the people.

Article 63. Military service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR is an honorable duty of Soviet citizens.

Article 64. The duty of every citizen of the USSR is to respect the national dignity of other citizens, to strengthen the friendship of the nations and nationalities of the Soviet multinational state.

Article 65 public order.

Article 66 Citizens of the USSR are obliged to take care of the upbringing of children, to prepare them for socially useful work, to raise them as worthy members of socialist society. Children have an obligation to take care of their parents and help them.

Article 67 Citizens of the USSR are obliged to preserve nature and protect its riches.

Article 68 Concern for the preservation of historical monuments and other cultural values ​​is the duty and obligation of citizens of the USSR.

Article 69. The international duty of a citizen of the USSR is to promote the development of friendship and cooperation with the peoples of other countries, the maintenance and strengthening of world peace.

III. NATIONAL - STATE STRUCTURE OF THE USSR

USSR - UNION STATE

Article 70. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a single union multinational state formed on the basis of the principle of socialist federalism, as a result of the free self-determination of nations and the voluntary unification of equal Soviet Socialist Republics.
The USSR embodies the state unity of the Soviet people and unites all nations and nationalities for the joint construction of communism.

Article 71. The following are united in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic,
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic,
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic,
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic,
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic,
Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic,
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic,
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Article 72 Each Union Republic retains the right to freely secede from the USSR.

Article 73
1) the admission of new republics to the USSR; approval of the formation of new autonomous republics and autonomous regions within the union republics;
2) determination of the state border of the USSR and approval of changes in the borders between the union republics;
3) establishment of general principles for the organization and activities of republican and local bodies of state power and administration;
4) ensuring the unity of legislative regulation throughout the territory of the USSR, establishing the fundamentals of the legislation of the USSR and the Union republics;
5) implementation of a unified socio-economic policy, management of the country's economy; determination of the main directions of scientific and technological progress and general measures for the rational use and protection natural resources; development and approval of state plans for the economic and social development of the USSR, approval of reports on their implementation;
6) development and approval of the unified state budget of the USSR, approval of the report on its execution; management of a unified monetary and credit system; the establishment of taxes and revenues received for the formation of the state budget of the USSR, the definition of a policy in the field of prices and wages;
7) management of sectors of the national economy, associations and enterprises of union subordination; general management of branches of union - republican subordination;
8) issues of peace and war, protection of sovereignty, protection of state borders and territory of the USSR, organization of defense, leadership of the Armed Forces of the USSR;
9) ensuring state security;
10) representation of the USSR in international relations; relations of the USSR with foreign states and international organizations; establishment of a general order and coordination of relations between the union republics and foreign countries and international organizations; foreign trade and other types of foreign economic activity on the basis of state monopoly;
11) control over observance of the Constitution of the USSR and ensuring the conformity of the constitutions of the Union republics with the Constitution of the USSR;
12) resolution of other issues of all-Union significance.

Article 74. The laws of the USSR have equal force on the territory of all Union republics. In the event of a discrepancy between the law of a union republic and the all-union law, the law of the USSR shall apply.

Article 75. The territory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is united and includes the territories of the union republics.
The sovereignty of the USSR extends to its entire territory.

ALLIED SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

Article 76 A Union Republic is a sovereign Soviet socialist state that has united with other Soviet republics to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Outside the limits specified in Article 73 of the Constitution of the USSR, a union republic independently exercises state power on its territory.
A federal republic has its own Constitution, which corresponds to the Constitution of the USSR and takes into account the peculiarities of the republic.

Article 77. The Union Republic participates in the resolution of questions within the jurisdiction of the USSR at the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Federation Council, the Government of the USSR and other bodies of the USSR.
The Union Republic ensures comprehensive economic and social development on its territory, promotes the exercise of the powers of the USSR on this territory, and implements the decisions of the highest organs of state power and administration of the USSR.
On matters within its jurisdiction, the union republic coordinates and controls the activities of enterprises, institutions and organizations of union subordination.

Article 78. The territory of a Union Republic cannot be changed without its consent. The boundaries between Union republics may be changed by mutual agreement of the respective republics, which is subject to approval by the USSR.

Article 79

Article 80 A federal republic has the right to enter into relations with foreign states, conclude treaties with them and exchange diplomatic and consular representatives, and participate in the activities of international organizations.

Article 81. The sovereign rights of the Union Republics are protected by the USSR.

AUTONOMOUS SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

Article 82 An autonomous republic is part of a union republic.
An autonomous republic, outside the limits of the rights of the USSR and a union republic, independently decides questions within its jurisdiction.
An autonomous republic has its own constitution, corresponding to the constitution of the USSR and the constitution of a union republic, and taking into account the peculiarities of an autonomous republic.

Article 83. The Autonomous Republic participates in the solution of questions assigned to the jurisdiction of the USSR and the Union Republic through the highest bodies of state power and administration, respectively, of the USSR and the Union Republic.
An autonomous republic ensures comprehensive economic and social development on its territory, facilitates the exercise of the powers of the USSR and the union republic on this territory, and implements the decisions of the highest bodies of state power and administration of the USSR and the union republic.
On issues within its jurisdiction, the autonomous republic coordinates and controls the activities of enterprises, institutions and organizations of union and republican (union republic) subordination.

Article 84. The territory of an autonomous republic cannot be changed without its consent.

Article 85 , Yakutskaya.
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic includes the Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic includes the Abkhazian and Adzharian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics.
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic includes the Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

AUTONOMOUS REGION AND AUTONOMOUS REGION

Article 86 An autonomous region is part of a union republic or territory. The law on an autonomous region is adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic on the proposal of the Council of People's Deputies of the Autonomous Region.

Article 87. The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic consists of autonomous regions: Adyghe, Gorno-Altai, Jewish, Karachay-Cherkess, Khakass.
The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic includes the South Ossetian Autonomous Region.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region is part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
The Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic includes the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

Article 88 An autonomous region is part of a krai or region. The law on autonomous regions is adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic.

IV. COUNCILS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES AND THE PROCEDURE FOR THEIR ELECTION

SYSTEM AND PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVITY OF COUNCILS OF PEOPLE'S
DEPUTIES

Article 89 public authorities.

Article 90. The term of office of the Soviets of People's Deputies is five years.
Elections of people's deputies of the USSR are called no later than four months before the expiration of the term of office of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.
The timing and procedure for scheduling elections of people's deputies of the union and autonomous republics, local Soviets of people's deputies are determined by the laws of the union and autonomous republics.

Article 91. The most important issues of all-Union, republican and local significance are decided at meetings of the Congresses of People's Deputies, sessions of the Supreme Soviets and local Soviets of People's Deputies or are put by them to referendums.
The Supreme Soviets of the Union and Autonomous Republics are elected directly by the voters, and in those republics where the creation of Congresses is envisaged, by the Congress of People's Deputies. In accordance with the Constitution of the USSR, the constitutions of the Union and autonomous republics, the Presidiums of the Supreme Soviets and local Soviets of People's Deputies are formed, and the chairmen of the Soviets are elected.
The Soviets of People's Deputies form committees, standing commissions, create executive and administrative, as well as other bodies accountable to them.
Officials elected or appointed by the Soviets of People's Deputies, with the exception of judges, may not hold their positions for more than two consecutive terms.
Any official may be prematurely dismissed from his position in case of improper performance of his official duties.

Article 92 The Soviets of People's Deputies form organs of people's control, combining state control with social control of the working people in enterprises, institutions and organizations.
People's control bodies check the fulfillment of the requirements of the legislation, state programs and assignments; they are fighting violations of state discipline, manifestations of parochialism, a departmental approach to business, mismanagement and wastefulness, red tape and bureaucracy; coordinate the work of other control bodies; contribute to the improvement of the structure and work of the state apparatus.

Article 93. The Soviets of People's Deputies directly and through the bodies they create direct all branches of state, economic and socio-cultural development, make decisions, ensure their implementation, exercise control over the implementation of decisions.

Article 94. The activity of the Soviets of People's Deputies is built on the basis of collective, free, business-like discussion and resolution of issues, publicity, regular reporting of the executive and administrative bodies, other bodies created by the Soviets to them and the population, wide involvement of citizens in their work.
The Soviets of People's Deputies and the bodies they create take into account public opinion, bring to the discussion of citizens the most important issues of national and local importance, systematically inform citizens about their work and the decisions taken.

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Article 95 Elections of people's deputies are held in single-member or multi-member electoral districts on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
Part of the people's deputies of the union and autonomous republics, if it is provided for by the constitutions of the republics, may be elected from public organizations.

Article 96 Elections of people's deputies from electoral districts are universal - citizens of the USSR who have reached 18 years of age have the right to vote.
A citizen of the USSR who has reached the age of 21 may be elected a People's Deputy of the USSR.
A citizen of the USSR cannot simultaneously be a People's Deputy in more than two Soviets of People's Deputies.
Persons who are members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Councils of Ministers of the Union and Autonomous Republics, the executive committees of local Soviets of People's Deputies, with the exception of the chairmen of these bodies, the heads of departments, departments and departments of the executive committees of local Soviets, judges and state arbitrators cannot be deputies in the Council by which they are appointed or elected.
Mentally ill citizens who have been declared legally incompetent by a court, persons held in places of deprivation of liberty by a court verdict, do not participate in the elections. Persons in respect of whom, in accordance with the procedure established by the criminal procedural legislation, a measure of restraint has been chosen - detention, do not take part in the voting.
Any direct or indirect restriction of the electoral rights of citizens of the USSR is unacceptable and is punishable by law.

Article 97 Elections of people's deputies from electoral districts are equal: a voter in each electoral district has one vote; voters participate in elections on an equal footing.

Article 98 Elections of people's deputies from constituencies are direct: people's deputies are directly elected by citizens.

Article 100. The right to nominate candidates for people's deputies in electoral districts belongs to labor collectives, public organizations, collectives of secondary specialized and higher educational institutions, meetings of voters at the place of residence and military personnel in military units. Bodies and organizations that have the right to nominate candidates for people's deputies from public organizations are determined accordingly by the laws of the USSR, union and autonomous republics.
The number of candidates for people's deputies is not limited. Each participant of the pre-election meeting may propose any candidates for discussion, including his own.
Any number of candidates may be included on the ballots.
Candidates for people's deputies participate in the election campaign on an equal footing.
In order to ensure equal conditions for each candidate for people's deputies, expenses related to the preparation and conduct of elections of people's deputies are made by the relevant election commission from a single fund created at the expense of the state, as well as voluntary contributions from enterprises, public organizations, citizens.

Article 101 Preparations for the election of people's deputies are carried out openly and publicly.
The holding of elections is ensured by election commissions, which are formed from representatives elected by meetings (conferences) of labor collectives, public organizations, collectives of secondary specialized and higher educational institutions, meetings of voters at the place of residence and military personnel in military units.
Citizens of the USSR, labor collectives, public organizations, collectives of secondary specialized and higher educational institutions, military personnel in military units are guaranteed the opportunity to freely and comprehensively discuss the political, business and personal qualities of candidates for people's deputies, as well as the right to agitate for or against a candidate at meetings, in print, television, radio.
The procedure for conducting elections of people's deputies is determined by the laws of the USSR and the Union and Autonomous Republics.

Article 102 Voters and public organizations issue orders to their deputies.
The relevant Councils of People's Deputies consider orders, take them into account when developing plans for economic and social development and budgeting, as well as when preparing decisions on other issues, organize the implementation of orders and inform citizens about their implementation.

PEOPLE'S DEPUTY

Article 103 Deputies are authorized representatives of the people in the Soviets of People's Deputies.
Participating in the work of the Soviets, the deputies resolve issues of state, economic and socio-cultural construction, organize the implementation of the decisions of the Soviets, exercise control over the work of state bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations.
In his activities, the deputy is guided by national interests, takes into account the needs of the population constituency, the interests expressed by the public organization that elected him, achieves the implementation of the mandates of the voters and the public organization.

Article 104 A deputy shall exercise his powers, as a rule, without interrupting his production or service activities.
For the duration of meetings of the Congresses of People's Deputies, sessions of the Supreme Soviets or local Soviets of People's Deputies, as well as for the exercise of deputy powers in other cases provided for by law, a deputy is released from the performance of production or official duties with reimbursement of expenses related to deputy activity at the expense of funds relevant state or local budget.

Article 105 A deputy has the right to make inquiries to the relevant state bodies and officials who are obliged to respond to inquiries at the Congress of People's Deputies, sessions of the Supreme Soviet, and local Soviets of People's Deputies.
A deputy has the right to apply to all state and public bodies, enterprises, institutions, organizations on issues of deputy activity and to take part in the consideration of the issues raised by him. The heads of the relevant state and public bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations are obliged to receive the deputy without delay and consider his proposals within the established time limits.

Article 106 A deputy shall be provided with conditions for the unhindered and effective exercise of his rights and duties.
The immunity of deputies, as well as other guarantees of deputy activity, are established by the Law on the Status of Deputies and other legislative acts of the USSR, union and autonomous republics.

Article 107. A deputy is obliged to report on his work, the work of the Congress of People's Deputies, the Supreme Soviet or the local Soviet of People's Deputies to the voters, collectives and public organizations that nominated him as a candidate for deputy, or to the public organization that elected him.
A deputy who has not justified the trust of voters or a public organization may be recalled at any time by decision of the majority of voters or the public organization that elected him in the manner prescribed by law.

V. THE HIGHEST BODIES OF STATE POWER
AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE USSR

THE CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES OF THE USSR AND THE SUPREME SOVIET OF THE USSR

Article 108. The highest organ of state power in the USSR is the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.
The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR is authorized to accept for its consideration and decide any question that falls within the jurisdiction of the USSR.
The exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR includes:
1) the adoption of the Constitution of the USSR, the introduction of amendments to it;
2) decision-making on issues of the national-state system, assigned to the jurisdiction of the USSR;
3) determination of the state border of the USSR; approval of changes in the borders between the union republics;
4) determination of the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the USSR;
5) approval of long-term state plans and the most important all-Union programs for the economic and social development of the USSR;
6) election of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
7) approval of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
8) approval of the Chairman of the People's Control Committee of the USSR, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the USSR, the Prosecutor General of the USSR, the Chief State Arbitrator of the USSR;
9) election of the Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR on the proposal of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
10) repeal of acts adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
11) making decisions on holding a nationwide vote (referendum).
The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR adopts laws of the USSR and resolutions by a majority of votes from total number People's Deputies of the USSR.

Article 109. The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR consists of 2,250 deputies who are elected in the following order:
750 deputies - from territorial constituencies with an equal number of voters;
750 deputies - from national-territorial constituencies according to the norms: 32 deputies from each union republic, 11 deputies from each autonomous republic, 5 deputies from each autonomous region and one deputy from each autonomous district;
750 deputies - from all-Union public organizations according to the norms established by the Law on Elections of People's Deputies of the USSR.

Article 110. The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR is convened for the first session no later than two months after the elections.
On the proposal of the credentials committee elected by it, the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR decides to recognize the powers of the deputies, and in case of violation of the electoral legislation, to recognize the elections of individual deputies as invalid.
The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR is convened by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Regular meetings of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR are held at least once a year. Extraordinary meetings are convened at the initiative of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, at the proposal of one of its chambers, the President of the USSR, at least one-fifth of the People's Deputies of the USSR, or at the initiative of the Union Republic represented by its supreme body of state power.
The first session of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR after the elections is presided over by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission for Elections of People's Deputies of the USSR, and then by the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 111. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR is a permanent legislative and control body of state power in the USSR.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR is elected by secret ballot from among the People's Deputies of the USSR by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and is accountable to it.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR consists of two chambers: the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities, which are equal in size. The Chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR have equal rights.
The chambers are elected at the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR by a general vote of deputies. The Council of the Union is elected from among the people's deputies of the USSR from the territorial electoral districts and people's deputies of the USSR from public organizations, taking into account the number of voters in the union republic or region. The Soviet of Nationalities is elected from among the people's deputies of the USSR from national-territorial electoral districts and people's deputies of the USSR from public organizations according to the norms: 11 deputies from each union republic, 4 deputies from each autonomous republic, 2 deputies from each autonomous region and one deputy from each autonomous districts.
The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR annually renews up to one-fifth of the membership of the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities.
Each chamber of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR elects a Chairman of the Chamber and two of his deputies. The chairmen of the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities direct the meetings of the respective chambers and are in charge of their internal routine.
Joint sessions of the chambers are chaired by the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or by the chairmen of the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities in turn.

Article 112. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR is convened annually by the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for regular - spring and autumn - sessions lasting, as a rule, three to four months each.
Extraordinary sessions are convened by the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on his initiative or at the proposal of the President of the USSR, of a Union Republic represented by its highest body of state power, at least one third of the composition of one of the chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR consists of separate and joint sessions of the chambers, as well as meetings of the standing committees of the chambers and committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR held between them. The session opens and closes at separate or joint sessions of the chambers.
After the expiration of the term of office of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR retains its powers until the formation of a new composition of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR by the newly elected Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.

Article 113. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR:
1) calls the election of people's deputies of the USSR and approves the composition of the Central Election Commission for the election of people's deputies of the USSR;
2) appoints, on the proposal of the President of the USSR, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
3) approves, on the proposal of the Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, the composition of the USSR Council of Ministers and the amendments to be made to it; on the proposal of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, forms and abolishes ministries of the USSR and state committees of the USSR;
4) elect the Committee of People's Control of the USSR, the Supreme Court of the USSR, appoint the Prosecutor General of the USSR, the Chief State Arbitrator of the USSR; approves the collegium of the Prosecutor's Office of the USSR and the collegium of the USSR State Arbitration;
5) regularly hear reports from the bodies formed or elected by him, as well as officials appointed or elected by him;
6) ensures the unity of legislative regulation throughout the territory of the USSR, establishes the foundations of the legislation of the USSR and the union republics;
7) carries out within the competence of the USSR legislative regulation the procedure for the implementation of constitutional rights, freedoms and duties of citizens, property relations, the organization of management of the national economy and socio-cultural construction, the budgetary and financial system, wages and pricing, taxation, environmental protection and the use of natural resources, as well as other relations;
8) gives an interpretation of the laws of the USSR;
9) establishes the general principles of organization and activities of republican and local bodies of state power and administration; determines the basis of the legal status of public organizations;
10) submit for approval by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR draft long-term state plans and the most important all-Union programs for the economic and social development of the USSR; approves the state plans for the economic and social development of the USSR, the state budget of the USSR; monitors the implementation of the plan and budget; approves reports on their implementation; makes changes to the plan and budget, if necessary;
11) ratify and denounce international treaties of the USSR;
12) exercise control over the provision of state loans, economic and other assistance to foreign states, as well as the conclusion of agreements on state loans and credits received from foreign sources;
13) determine the main activities in the field of defense and ensuring state security; imposes martial law or a state of emergency throughout the country; declares a state of war if it is necessary to fulfill international treaty obligations on mutual defense against aggression;
14) decide on the use of contingents of the Armed Forces of the USSR if necessary to fulfill international treaty obligations to maintain peace and security;
15) sets military ranks, diplomatic ranks and other special titles;
16) establish orders and medals of the USSR; establishes honorary titles of the USSR;
17) issue all-Union acts on amnesty;
18) has the right to cancel resolutions and orders of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
19) revoke the resolutions and orders of the Councils of Ministers of the Union Republics if they are inconsistent with the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR;
20) resolves other issues that fall within the jurisdiction of the USSR, except for those that fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopts laws of the USSR and resolutions.
Laws and resolutions adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR cannot contradict laws and other acts adopted by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.

Article 114 supervision of the USSR, the union and autonomous republics represented by their highest bodies of state power, autonomous regions, autonomous districts, the USSR People's Control Committee, the USSR Supreme Court, the USSR Prosecutor General, the USSR Chief State Arbitrator.
Public organizations represented by their all-Union bodies and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR also have the right to initiate legislation.

Article 115 Draft laws submitted for consideration by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR are discussed by the chambers at their separate or joint sessions.
A law of the USSR is considered adopted if in each of the chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR a majority of the members of the chamber voted for it.
Draft laws and other most important questions of state life, by decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, adopted on its initiative or on the proposal of the Union Republic represented by its supreme body of state power, may be submitted for nationwide discussion.

Article 116. Each chamber of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR has the right to consider any questions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
First of all, the issues of socio-economic development and state building, which are of common importance for the whole country, are subject to consideration in the Council of the Union; rights, freedoms and duties of citizens of the USSR; foreign policy of the USSR; defense and state security of the USSR.
First of all, the Council of Nationalities should consider questions of ensuring national equality, the interests of nations, nationalities and national groups, combined with the common interests and needs of the Soviet multinational state; improvement of the legislation of the USSR regulating interethnic relations.
On issues within its competence, each of the chambers adopts resolutions.
A decision adopted by one of the chambers, if necessary, is transferred to another chamber and, upon approval by it, acquires the force of a decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 117. In case of disagreement between the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities, the issue is referred to a conciliation commission formed by the chambers on an equal footing, after which it is considered again by the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities at a joint session.

Article 118. To organize the work of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, a Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is created, headed by the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR includes: the Chairman of the Council of the Union and the Chairman of the Council of Nationalities, their deputies, the chairmen of the standing committees of the chambers and committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, other people's deputies of the USSR - one from each union republic, as well as two representatives from the autonomous republics and one - from autonomous regions and autonomous regions.
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR prepares meetings of the Congress and sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, coordinates the activities of the standing committees of the chambers and committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, organizes nationwide discussions of draft laws of the USSR and other most important issues of state life.
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR ensures the publication in the languages ​​of the union republics of the texts of laws of the USSR and other acts adopted by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, its chambers, and the President of the USSR.

Article 119. The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is elected by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR from among the People's Deputies of the USSR by secret ballot for a term of five years and no more than two consecutive terms. It may be withdrawn at any time by secret ballot by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.
The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is accountable to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issues resolutions on convening sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and orders on other issues.

Article 120 and other decisions adopted by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, control over the activities of state bodies and organizations.
For the same purposes, the chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR may create committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on an equal footing.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR, each of its chambers create, when they consider it necessary, investigative, auditing and other commissions on any issue.
The standing commissions of the chambers and the committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR are annually renewed to one-fifth of their composition.

Article 121. Laws and other decisions of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, resolutions of its chambers are adopted, as a rule, after a preliminary discussion of the drafts by the respective permanent commissions of the chambers or committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The appointment and election of officials to the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Committee of People's Control of the USSR, the Supreme Court of the USSR, as well as the boards of the Prosecutor's Office of the USSR and the State Arbitration Court of the USSR, is carried out subject to the conclusion of the relevant standing commissions of the chambers or committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
All state and public bodies, organizations and officials are obliged to comply with the requirements of the commissions of the chambers, commissions and committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, to provide them with the necessary materials and documents.
Recommendations of commissions and committees are subject to mandatory consideration by state and public bodies, institutions and organizations. The results of the consideration and the measures taken must be reported to the commissions and committees within the period set by them.

Article 122 Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR. The body or official to whom the request is addressed must give an oral or written answer at a given meeting of the Congress or at a given session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR within no more than three days.

Article 123. People's Deputies of the USSR have the right to be released from their official or production duties for the period necessary to carry out deputy activities at the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, its chambers, commissions and committees, as well as among the population.
A People's Deputy of the USSR may not be prosecuted, arrested, or subjected to administrative penalties imposed in judicial order, without the consent of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and in the period between its sessions - without the consent of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 124. The Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR is elected by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR from among experts in the field of politics and law, consisting of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and 25 members of the Committee, including one from each Union republic.
The term of office of persons elected to the USSR Constitutional Supervision Committee is ten years.
Persons elected to the Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR cannot simultaneously be members of bodies whose acts are supervised by the Committee.
Persons elected to the Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR are independent in the performance of their duties and are subject only to the Constitution of the USSR.
USSR Constitutional Supervision Committee:
1) on behalf of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, submits to it conclusions on the conformity with the Constitution of the USSR of draft laws of the USSR and other acts submitted for consideration by the Congress;
2) on the proposals of at least one-fifth of the people's deputies of the USSR, the President of the USSR, and the highest bodies of state power of the union republics, submit to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR opinions on the conformity of the laws of the USSR and other acts adopted by the Congress with the Constitution of the USSR.
On behalf of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, on the proposal of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, gives conclusions on the conformity of decrees of the President of the USSR with the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR;
3) on behalf of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, on the proposals of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the President of the USSR, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the highest bodies of state power of the Union republics, submits to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR or the Supreme Soviet of the USSR conclusions on the conformity of the Constitution of the USSR with the constitutions of the Union republics, and the laws of the Union republics republics - also to the laws of the USSR;
4) on behalf of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, on the proposals of at least one-fifth of the members of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the President of the USSR, the highest bodies of state power of the union republics, submit to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or the President of the USSR conclusions on the conformity of acts of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its chambers, draft acts, submitted for consideration by these bodies, the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR adopted by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, and the resolutions and orders of the Council of Ministers of the USSR - also the laws of the USSR adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR; on the conformity of international contractual and other obligations of the USSR and the Union Republics with the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR;
5) on behalf of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, on the proposals of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, its chambers, the President of the USSR, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the standing committees of the chambers and committees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the highest bodies of state power of the Union republics, the Committee of People's Control of the USSR , the Supreme Court of the USSR, the Prosecutor General of the USSR, the Chief State Arbitrator of the USSR, the all-union bodies of public organizations and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR gives opinions on the compliance of the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR with the normative legal acts of other state bodies and public organizations, in respect of which, in accordance with the Constitution of the USSR, no prosecutorial oversight.
The Committee of Constitutional Supervision of the USSR is also entitled, on its own initiative, to submit conclusions on the conformity of the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR with acts of the highest bodies of state power and administration of the USSR, other bodies formed or elected by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
If an act or its individual provisions are found to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the USSR or the laws of the USSR, the Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR sends its conclusion to the body that issued the act to eliminate the inconsistency. The adoption by the Committee of such a conclusion suspends the operation of an act that does not comply with the Constitution of the USSR or a law of the USSR, or of its individual provisions, with the exception of the laws of the USSR adopted by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the constitutions of the Union republics. The act or its individual provisions, which, according to the Committee's conclusion, violate the rights and freedoms of citizens, lose their force from the moment such conclusion is adopted.
The body that issued the act brings it into conformity with the Constitution of the USSR or the law of the USSR. If the discrepancy is not eliminated, the Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR enters with a proposal, respectively, to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or the Council of Ministers of the USSR on the abolition of acts of bodies or officials accountable to them that do not comply with the Constitution of the USSR or the law of the USSR.
The conclusion of the Committee may be rejected only by a decision of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, adopted by two-thirds of the votes of the total number of People's Deputies of the USSR.
The organization and procedure for the activities of the Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the USSR are determined by the Law on Constitutional Supervision in the USSR.

Article 125. The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR exercise control over all state bodies accountable to them.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the President of the USSR direct the activities of the USSR People's Control Committee.
The organization and procedure for the activities of the organs of people's control are determined by the Law on People's Control in the USSR.

Article 126

Chapter 15.1

USSR PRESIDENT

Article 127. The head of the Soviet state - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - is the President of the USSR.

Article 127.1. A citizen of the USSR no younger than thirty-five and no older than sixty-five may be elected President of the USSR. The same person cannot be the President of the USSR for more than two terms.
The President of the USSR is elected by the citizens of the USSR on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a term of five years. The number of candidates for the post of President of the USSR is not limited. Elections of the President of the USSR are considered valid if at least fifty percent of the voters took part in them. A candidate is considered elected if he receives more than half of the votes of the voters who took part in the voting throughout the USSR as a whole and in most of the union republics.
The procedure for electing the President of the USSR is determined by the Law of the USSR.
The President of the USSR cannot be a people's deputy.
A person who is the President of the USSR may receive wages only for this position.

Article 127.2. Upon taking office, the President of the USSR takes the oath at a meeting of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR.

Article 127.3. USSR President:
1) acts as a guarantor of the observance of the rights and freedoms of Soviet citizens, the Constitution and laws of the USSR;
2) take the necessary measures to protect the sovereignty of the USSR and the Union republics, the security and territorial integrity of the country, to implement the principles of the national state structure of the USSR;
3) represents the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics within the country and in international relations;
4) ensures the interaction of the highest bodies of state power and administration of the USSR;
5) submit annual reports on the state of the country to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR; informs the Supreme Soviet of the USSR about the most important questions of the domestic and foreign policy of the USSR;
6) present to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR candidates for the posts of Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Chairman of the USSR People's Control Committee, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the USSR, Prosecutor General of the USSR, Chief State Arbitrator of the USSR, and then submit these officials to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR for approval; enters with submissions to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR on the release from duties of these officials, with the exception of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the USSR;
7) puts before the Supreme Soviet of the USSR the question of resignation or acceptance of the resignation of the Council of Ministers of the USSR; in agreement with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dismisses and appoints members of the Government of the USSR with subsequent submission for approval by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
8) signs the laws of the USSR; has the right to return the law with its objections to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR no later than within two weeks for a second discussion and vote. If the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by a two-thirds majority in each of the chambers, confirms its earlier decision, the President of the USSR signs the law;
9) has the right to suspend the operation of resolutions and orders of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
10) coordinate the activities of state bodies to ensure the defense of the country; is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USSR, appoints and replaces the high command of the Armed Forces of the USSR, assigns the highest military ranks; appoints judges of military tribunals;
11) negotiate and sign international treaties of the USSR; accepts letters of credence and revocable letters of diplomatic representatives of foreign states accredited to him; appoints and recalls diplomatic representatives of the USSR in foreign states and at international organizations; assigns the highest diplomatic ranks and other special titles;
12) awards orders and medals of the USSR, confers honorary titles of the USSR;
13) decides on issues of admission to the citizenship of the USSR, withdrawal from it and deprivation of Soviet citizenship, granting asylum; grants pardon;
14) announces general or partial mobilization; declares a state of war in the event of a military attack on the USSR and immediately submits this issue for consideration by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR; declares martial law in certain areas in the interests of protecting the USSR and the security of its citizens. The procedure for introducing and the regime of martial law are determined by law;
15) in the interests of ensuring the safety of citizens of the USSR, warns of a state of emergency being declared in certain localities, and, if necessary, introduces it at the request or with the consent of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet or the highest body of state power of the corresponding Union republic. In the absence of such consent, it introduces a state of emergency with the immediate submission of the adopted decision for approval by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on this issue is adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the total number of its members.
In the cases specified in the first part of this clause, it may introduce temporary presidential rule, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the union republic.
The state of emergency, as well as presidential rule, is established by law;
16) in case of disagreements between the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which could not be resolved in the manner prescribed by Article 117 of the Constitution of the USSR, the President of the USSR considers the disputed issue in order to develop an acceptable solution. If it is not possible to reach an agreement and there is a real threat of disruption of the normal activities of the highest bodies of state power and administration of the USSR, the President may submit a proposal to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR on the election of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in a new composition.

Article 127.4. The President of the USSR heads the Federation Council, which includes the highest state officials of the Union republics. The highest state officials of the autonomous republics, autonomous regions and autonomous districts have the right to participate in the sessions of the Federation Council.
Federation Council: considers issues of compliance with the Union Treaty; develops measures to implement the national policy of the Soviet state; submits to the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR recommendations on the resolution of disputes and the settlement of conflict situations in interethnic relations; coordinates the activities of the Union republics and ensures their participation in resolving issues of all-Union significance that fall within the competence of the President of the USSR.
Issues affecting the interests of peoples who do not have their own national-state formations are considered in the Federation Council with the participation of representatives of these peoples.
The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the chairmen of the chambers have the right to participate in the sessions of the Federation Council.

Article 127.5. Under the President of the USSR, the Presidential Council of the USSR operates, whose task is to develop measures to implement the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the USSR, to ensure the country's security.
Members of the Presidential Council of the USSR are appointed by the President of the USSR. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR is a member of the Presidential Council of the USSR ex officio.
The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR has the right to participate in the meetings of the Presidential Council of the USSR.

Article 127.6. The President of the USSR holds joint meetings of the Federation Council and the Presidential Council of the USSR to consider the most important issues of the country's domestic and foreign policy.

Article 127.7. The President of the USSR, on the basis of and in pursuance of the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR, issues decrees that are binding throughout the entire territory of the country.

Article 127.8. The President of the USSR has the right of immunity and can only be removed by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR if he violates the Constitution of the USSR and the laws of the USSR. Such a decision is made by at least two-thirds of the votes of the total number of deputies by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR on the initiative of the Congress itself or the USSR Supreme Soviet, taking into account the conclusion of the USSR Constitutional Supervision Committee.

Article 127.9. The President of the USSR may delegate the performance of his duties under paragraphs 11 and 12 of Article 127.3 to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and his duties under paragraph 13 of Article 127.3 - to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 127.10. If the President of the USSR for one reason or another cannot continue to fulfill his duties, until the election of a new President of the USSR, his powers pass to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and if this is not possible, to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The election of a new President of the USSR must be held within three months.

USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Article 128

Article 129. The Council of Ministers of the USSR is formed by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR at a joint meeting of the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities, consisting of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, first deputies and deputy chairmen, ministers of the USSR, and chairmen of state committees of the USSR.
The Council of Ministers of the USSR includes ex officio chairmen of the Councils of Ministers of the Union republics.
On the proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR may include in the Government of the USSR heads of other organs and organizations of the USSR.
The Council of Ministers of the USSR resigns its powers before the newly elected Supreme Soviet of the USSR at its first session.

Article 130. The Council of Ministers of the USSR is responsible to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and is accountable to them.
The newly formed Council of Ministers of the USSR submits for consideration by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR a program of forthcoming activities for the term of its powers.
The Council of Ministers of the USSR at least once a year reports on its work to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and regularly informs the President of the USSR about its activities.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR may, on its own initiative or at the proposal of the President of the USSR, express no confidence in the Government of the USSR, which entails its resignation. A resolution on this issue is adopted by a majority vote of at least two-thirds of the total number of members of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 131. The Council of Ministers of the USSR is empowered to resolve all issues of state administration that fall under the jurisdiction of the USSR, insofar as, according to the Constitution of the USSR, they do not fall within the competence of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and the President of the USSR.
Within its powers, the Council of Ministers of the USSR:
1) provides management of the national economy and socio-cultural construction; develops and implements measures to ensure the growth of the welfare and culture of the people, to develop science and technology, the rational use and protection of natural resources, to strengthen the monetary and credit system, to pursue a unified price policy, wages, social security, organize state insurance and a unified accounting system and statistics; organizes the management of industrial, construction, agricultural enterprises and associations, transport and communications enterprises, banks, as well as other organizations and institutions of union subordination;
2) develops and submits to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR current and long-term state plans for the economic and social development of the USSR, the state budget of the USSR; takes measures to implement state plans and budgets; presents to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR reports on the fulfillment of plans and the execution of the budget;
3) takes measures to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens, protect the interests of the country, protect property and public order;
4) take measures to ensure the defense of the country and state security;
5) carry out general activities in the field of relations with foreign states, foreign trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation of the USSR with foreign countries; takes measures to ensure the fulfillment of international treaties of the USSR; approves and denounces intergovernmental international treaties;
6) forms, if necessary, committees, main departments and other departments under the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

Article 132. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, consisting of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, first deputies and deputy chairmen, acts as a permanent body of the Council of Ministers of the USSR to resolve issues related to ensuring the management of the national economy and other issues of state administration. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR may also include, by decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, other members of the Government of the USSR.

Article 133. The Council of Ministers of the USSR, on the basis of and in pursuance of laws of the USSR and other decisions of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and decrees of the President of the USSR, issues resolutions and orders and checks their execution. Decrees and orders of the Council of Ministers of the USSR are binding on the entire territory of the USSR.

Article 134. The Council of Ministers of the USSR has the right, on matters within the jurisdiction of the USSR, to suspend the execution of resolutions and orders of the Councils of Ministers of the Union republics, as well as to cancel acts of the ministries of the USSR, state committees of the USSR, and other bodies subordinate to it.

Article 135. The Council of Ministers of the USSR unites and directs the work of all-Union and Union-Republic ministries and state committees of the USSR and other bodies subordinate to it.
All-Union ministries and state committees of the USSR direct the branches of government entrusted to them or carry out intersectoral administration throughout the entire territory of the USSR directly or through the bodies they create.
Union-republic ministries and state committees of the USSR manage the branches of management entrusted to them or carry out intersectoral management, as a rule, through the relevant ministries, state committees, other bodies of the union republics and directly manage individual enterprises and associations that are under union subordination.
The ministries and state committees of the USSR are responsible for the state and development of the spheres of administration entrusted to them; within their competence, issue acts on the basis of and in pursuance of the laws of the USSR and other decisions of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, decrees of the President of the USSR, resolutions and orders of the Council of Ministers of the USSR; organize and check their implementation.

Article 136

VI. BASIS FOR BUILDING STATE AUTHORITIES
AND ADMINISTRATION IN THE UNION REPUBLIC

OF THE UNION REPUBLIC

Article 137. The supreme organs of state power in the union republics are the Supreme Soviets of the union republics, and in those union republics where the establishment of congresses is envisaged, the congresses of people's deputies.

Article 138. The powers, structure and procedure for the activities of the highest bodies of state power in the union republics are determined by the constitutions and laws of the union republics.

Article 139

Article 140. The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic issues resolutions and orders on the basis of and in pursuance of legislative acts of the USSR and the Union Republic, resolutions and orders of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, organizes and checks their execution.

Article 141 not having a regional division, the executive committees of district and relevant city councils of people's deputies.

Article 142
Union-republic ministries and state committees of a union republic direct the branches of government entrusted to them or carry out intersectoral management, reporting both to the Council of Ministers of the union republic and to the corresponding union-republic ministry of the USSR or the state committee of the USSR.
Republican ministries and state committees direct the branches of government entrusted to them or carry out intersectoral management, reporting to the Council of Ministers of the union republic.

SUPREME BODIES OF STATE POWER AND ADMINISTRATION
AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

Article 143. The Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics are the supreme organs of state power in the Autonomous Republics, and in those Autonomous Republics where the establishment of Congresses is envisaged, the Congresses of People's Deputies.

Article 144. The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic forms the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic - the Government of the Autonomous Republic - the highest executive and administrative body of state power of the Autonomous Republic.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND ADMINISTRATION

Article 145 people's deputies.

Article 146 make suggestions on them.
Local Soviets of People's Deputies lead in their own territory of state, economic and socio-cultural construction; approve plans for economic and social development and the local budget; carry out management of state bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations subordinate to them; ensure the observance of laws, the protection of state and public order, the rights of citizens; contribute to strengthening the country's defense capability.

Article 147 Local Soviets of People's Deputies, within the limits of their authority, ensure comprehensive economic and social development on their territory; exercise control over the observance of the legislation by enterprises, institutions and organizations of higher subordination located in this territory; coordinate and control their activities in the field of land use, nature protection, construction, use of labor resources, production of consumer goods, socio-cultural, consumer and other services to the population.

Article 148 Decisions of local Councils are binding on all enterprises, institutions and organizations located on the territory of the Council, as well as officials and citizens.

Article 149

Article 150. The executive committees elected by them are the executive and administrative organs of the local Soviets of People's Deputies.
Executive committees report at least once a year to the Councils that elected them, as well as at meetings of labor collectives and at the place of residence of citizens.
The executive committees of local councils are directly accountable both to the council that elected them, and to the higher executive and administrative body.

VII. JUSTICE, ARBITRATION AND PROSECUTIONAL OVERSIGHT

COURT AND ARBITRATION

Article 151. Justice in the USSR is administered only by the courts.
In the USSR there are the Supreme Court of the USSR, the Supreme Courts of the Union Republics, the Supreme Courts of the Autonomous Republics, the Territorial, Regional, City Courts, the Courts of Autonomous Regions, the Courts of Autonomous Districts, the District (City) People's Courts, and military tribunals in the Armed Forces.

Article 152. All courts in the USSR are formed on the basis of the election of judges and people's assessors, with the exception of judges of military tribunals.
People's judges of district (city) people's courts, judges of territorial, regional and city courts are elected by the respective higher Councils of People's Deputies.
Judges of the Supreme Court of the USSR, the Supreme Courts of the Union and Autonomous Republics, the Courts of Autonomous Regions and Autonomous Districts are elected respectively by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Supreme Soviets of Union and Autonomous Republics, and the Councils of People's Deputies of Autonomous Regions and Autonomous Districts.
People's assessors of district (city) people's courts are elected at meetings of citizens at their place of residence or work by open voting, and people's assessors of higher courts - by the relevant Councils of People's Deputies.
Judges of military tribunals are appointed by the President of the USSR, and people's assessors are elected by meetings of military personnel by open voting.
Judges of all courts are elected for ten years. People's assessors of all courts are elected for a term of five years.
Judges and people's assessors are responsible to the bodies or voters that elected them, report to them and may be recalled by them in the manner prescribed by law.

Article 153. The Supreme Court of the USSR is the highest judicial body of the USSR and supervises the judicial activity of the courts of the USSR, as well as the courts of the Union republics, within the limits established by law.
The Supreme Court of the USSR consists of the Chairman, his deputies, members and people's assessors. The Supreme Court of the USSR includes ex officio chairmen of the Supreme Courts of the Union republics.
The organization and procedure for the activities of the Supreme Court of the USSR are determined by the Law on Supreme Court THE USSR.

Article 154 Consideration of civil and criminal cases in all courts is carried out collegially; in the court of first instance - with the participation of people's assessors. People's assessors in the administration of justice enjoy all the rights of a judge.

Article 155 Judges and people's assessors are independent and subject only to the law.
Judges and people's assessors are provided with conditions for the unhindered and effective exercise of their rights and duties. Any interference in the activities of judges and people's assessors in the administration of justice is unacceptable and entails liability under the law.
The immunity of judges and people's assessors, as well as other guarantees of their independence, are established by the Law on the Status of Judges in the USSR and other legislative acts of the USSR and Union republics.

Article 156 Justice in the USSR is administered on the basis of the equality of citizens before the law and the courts.

Article 157. Trial of cases in all courts is open. Hearing cases in a closed session of the court is allowed only in cases established by law, while observing all the rules of legal proceedings.

Article 158. The accused is guaranteed the right to defense.

Article 159 Judicial proceedings are conducted in the language of a Union or Autonomous Republic, an Autonomous Region, an Autonomous Okrug, or in the language of the majority of the population of a given locality. Persons participating in the case who do not speak the language in which the proceedings are conducted shall be provided with the right to fully familiarize themselves with the materials of the case, participate in judicial actions through an interpreter and the right to speak in court in their native language.

Article 160. No one can be found guilty of a crime, and also be subjected to criminal punishment except by a court verdict and in accordance with the law.

Article 161 Bar associations operate to provide legal assistance to citizens and organizations. In cases stipulated by law, legal assistance to citizens is provided free of charge.
The organization and procedure for the activities of the bar are determined by the legislation of the USSR and the union republics.

Article 162 Participation of representatives of public organizations and labor collectives is allowed in legal proceedings in civil and criminal cases.

Article 163. The resolution of economic disputes between enterprises, institutions and organizations is carried out by state arbitration bodies within their competence.
The organization and procedure for the activities of state arbitration bodies are determined by the Law on State Arbitration in the USSR.

PROSECUTION

Article 164 Prosecutor General of the USSR and prosecutors subordinate to him.

Article 165. The Prosecutor General of the USSR is responsible to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and is accountable to them.

Article 166 Prosecutors of the Union republics, autonomous republics, krais, oblasts and autonomous oblasts are appointed by the Prosecutor General of the USSR. The prosecutors of autonomous districts, district and city prosecutors are appointed by the prosecutors of the union republics and approved by the USSR Prosecutor General.

Article 167. The term of office of the Prosecutor General of the USSR and all lower prosecutors is five years.

Article 168. Bodies of the Procurator's Office exercise their powers independently of any local bodies whatsoever, being subordinate only to the Prosecutor General of the USSR.
The organization and procedure for the activities of the bodies of the procurator's office are determined by the Law on the Prosecutor's Office of the USSR.

VIII. EMBLEM, FLAG, ANTHEM AND CAPITAL OF THE USSR

Article 169. The state emblem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is an image of a sickle and a hammer against the background of the globe, in the rays of the sun and framed by ears of corn, with an inscription in the languages ​​of the union republics: "Proletarians of all countries, unite!". At the top of the coat of arms is a five-pointed star.

Article 170. The state flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a red rectangular panel with a picture in its upper corner, near the staff, of a golden hammer and sickle and above them a red five-pointed star framed by a golden border. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 1:2.

Article 171. The State Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is approved by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 172. The capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is the city of Moscow.

IX. THE OPERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE USSR AND THE PROCEDURE FOR ITS AMENDMENTS

Article 173. The Constitution of the USSR has the highest legal force. All laws and other acts of state bodies are issued on the basis of and in accordance with the Constitution of the USSR.

Article 174 Amendments to the Constitution of the USSR are made by a decision of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the total number of People's Deputies of the USSR.

History of Russia in the 20th - early 21st centuries Milov Leonid Vasilyevich

§ 2. The Constitution of the USSR and the situation in the country during the years of late "developed socialism". 1977-1985

1977 constitution The new Basic Law, often referred to as the "Constitution of Developed Socialism", was adopted on 7 October. By the cruel irony of History, the completion of the development and its introduction into action occurred at a time when socialism lost its ability to develop dynamically. Work on the draft law took many years. The first draft, which was intended to replace the Constitution of 1936, was prepared and discussed shortly after the Great Patriotic War. However, the matter did not come to the adoption of the new Constitution then.

In April 1962, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved the composition of the Constitutional Commission headed by Khrushchev. With his resignation and the revision of the course towards the direct construction of communism, the direction of further work on the draft Constitution naturally changed. The threat to the existence of traditional nations from the coming "communist nation" (and the anxiety in the national republics on this score) was removed by the entry in the resolution of the XXIII Congress of the CPSU, from which it followed that the Soviet people, as a new community, were multinational.

Work on the draft Constitution was completed in accordance with the instructions of the XXV Party Congress (February 1976), when liberal and technocratic tendencies in the leadership of the country were interrupted, the doctrine of party spirit finally prevailed, a tough foreign policy course was formed, the personalization of power and the strengthening of the position of the party- state bureaucracy. At the same time, theses were promoted about strengthening the "leading role of the working class", about increasing the social homogeneity of society, expanding the rights and freedoms of citizens (a consequence of the signing of the Helsinki Act), and growing democracy. All this was reflected in the new draft of the Constitution, the authors of which were sometimes forced to combine the incompatible.

The completed draft of the Constitution in May 1977 was approved by the plenum of the Central Committee and submitted for public discussion. On October 7, at the extraordinary seventh session of the Supreme Council of the ninth convocation, the Constitution was adopted. It emphasized the continuity of ideas and principles with the previous Constitutions of 1918, 1924 and 1936.

The constitution consisted of a preamble and nine sections: Fundamentals of the social system and politics; State and personality; National-state structure; Councils of People's Deputies and the procedure for their election; Supreme authorities and management; Fundamentals of building state authorities and administration of the Union republics; Justice, arbitration and prosecutorial supervision; Coat of arms, flag, anthem and capital; The operation of the Constitution and the procedure for its application.

The main innovation was the preamble, which stated the building of "developed socialism" and the creation of a "nationwide state". Thus, the “withering away of the state” was postponed indefinitely, and the task of comprehensively strengthening law and order became a priority. The construction of a "classless communist society" was called as the highest goal of the state. The basis of the economic system of the USSR was socialist ownership of the means of production, the basis of the political system - the Soviets, the social basis - the union of workers, peasants and intelligentsia. New sections appeared in the text of the Constitution: on the political system of society, social development and culture, the status of a people's deputy.

The new chapter (which had no analogues in previous Constitutions) dealt with foreign policy issues. Its focus on ensuring favorable international conditions "for building communism in the USSR" was emphasized; to “strengthening the positions of world socialism; support for the peoples' struggle for national liberation and social progress. The principle of socialist internationalism was consolidated in the USSR's relations with socialist countries and states that had liberated themselves from colonial dependence. In practice, these provisions sometimes came into conflict with the obligations to observe the principle of sovereign equality and the rights of peoples to control their own destiny, justifying the foreign policy expansion of the socialist state.

For the first time, the Basic Law reflects the real mechanism of power in the USSR. The CPSU was called "the leading and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of its political system, state and public organizations" (Article 6). This legalization of the real role of the party led to the monopoly control of the party organizations over the activities of enterprises and institutions. It sharply increased the importance of the party apparatus throughout the power vertical, turning party membership into an almost indispensable condition for any official career.

New forms of "direct democracy" were oriented towards the development of "genuine democracy": popular discussion and referendum; new civil rights - to appeal against the actions of officials: judicial protection against encroachment on honor and dignity; criticism of the actions of state and public organizations. The Constitution enshrines the rights to health care, housing; use of cultural achievements; to creative freedom.

According to the Constitution, all the Soviets of Deputies: the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Supreme Soviets of the Union and Autonomous Republics, regional, regional and others - constituted a single system of state authorities. The highest of them was the bicameral Supreme Soviet of the USSR, consisting of the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities. He was authorized to solve the most important state issues: the adoption and amendment of the all-Union Constitution, the inclusion of new republics in the Union, the approval of state budgets, plans for social and economic development. In between sessions of the USSR Supreme Council, its functions were performed by the Presidium. Everyday management activities were carried out with the help of the state administration system, which was headed by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The constitution also secured the increased economic and political role of the union center at the expense of the corresponding rights of the republics.

The new Basic Law retained the provisions of the Constitution of 1936 on the national-state structure. Numerous proposals aimed at eliminating the hierarchy national formations(and peoples) within the USSR by returning to the traditional, pre-revolutionary territorial principle of the administrative division of the country, equalizing the status of the republics, transferring individual republics from autonomous to union, were not taken into account. At the same time, the very definition of the USSR as a "single allied multinational state" (Article 69) testified to the desire to strengthen the federal centralist principles. In contradiction to this was the “right of free exit from the USSR” (Article 71) secured by the Constitution for each Union Republic, emphasizing its sovereignty (Articles 75, 80).

Thus, the USSR Constitution of 1977 finally formalized the conservative course of Brezhnev's domestic and foreign policy, legitimized the party's strict ideological control over society, and preserved the explosive contradictions in the national question.

Changes in the state-political leadership in the last years of Brezhnev's tenure. The consequence of the rejection of economic methods of management was the centralization, bureaucratization and swelling of the administrative apparatus. By 1985, the total number of managers in the country approached 18 million people: for every 6-7 employees there was one manager. The most significant bureaucratic layer (11.5 million) was made up of the grassroots apparatus of enterprises and organizations. Up to 10% of the state budget was annually spent on the maintenance of bureaucratic structures. Emphasizing the steady growth of the role of the CPSU was accompanied by its numerical growth. By the mid 80s. it had 19 million people. The party apparatus expanded accordingly.

In 1982, the party structure included 14 Central Committees of the Communist Parties of the Union Republics, 6 regional committees, 150 regional committees, 2 city committees equivalent to regional committees (Moscow, Kyiv), 10 district committees, 872 city committees, 631 city district committees, 2885 rural district committees, 419.7 thousand people. primary party organizations. Thus, only the first persons in the party hierarchy in the early 80s. recruited (excluding the primary party organizations, 80% of which consisted of 3-45 party members) 4570 people. However, promotion to the top was no longer, as before, associated with the obligatory ascent of the party ladder. The highest elite of the country since the 70s. is beginning to reproduce itself more and more not at the expense of nominees from below, but through the selection and training of personnel in elite schools. These were the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Higher Party School, the Higher School of the Trade Union Movement, the Higher Komsomol School, the Diplomatic Academy, and the Institute of International Relations.

At the same time, ministries and departments turned into real bastions of bureaucracy. By 1985, the union apparatus of the governing bodies of ministries and departments numbered 107 thousand people, the republican - 140 thousand, the number of employees of the ministries of the ASSR, regional, regional administrations and departments was 280 thousand people. Since 1965 the ministries have been absolute monopolists in their industry. They disposed of all resources, directly managed enterprises and organizations throughout the country. The transition to the construction of giant enterprises in almost all industries has led to the expansion of the influence of their leaders.

main support supreme power during the years of the Brezhnev General Section, the Central Committee of the CPSU and especially its apparatus became. If in the second half of the 60s. the main decisions were made at the plenums, then subsequently the center of power increasingly shifted to the departments of the Central Committee. The total number of responsible employees of the apparatus of the Central Committee reached 1,500 people. Plenums of the Central Committee and congresses of the party, although they met regularly, became more and more formal, only "approving" the decisions prepared by the apparatus. The mechanism for replenishing the apparatus of the Central Committee and the Central Committee itself by the end of the 70s. was fine-tuned to perfection. In certain proportions, representation in the apparatus of republican party organizations, territories and regions, the military-industrial complex, science and art, and law enforcement agencies was observed. The interests of all power structures were reflected in the Central Committee and its apparatus. This situation has become favorable for lobbying the interests of regions and industries.

The highest level of power in the country was represented by about a thousand people in Moscow and about 3 thousand throughout the Soviet Union. This number included the heads of the apparatus of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, major ministries (defense, internal affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), secretaries of regional committees, regional committees, the Central Committee of the Communist Parties of the Union republics. It included ministers, deputy ministers, members of the board of ministries and allied departments, the highest representatives of the Soviet apparatus, the army, the KGB, justice, industry, science, propaganda and culture, who were members and candidate members of the Central Committee and the Central Control Commission of the CPSU. In the localities, the heads of departments of regional committees, regional committees, the Central Committee of the Communist Parties of the Union republics, directors of the largest industrial enterprises, commanders of military districts and large military units, heads of KGB departments.

The top leadership of the country by the end of the 70s. degenerated into a real gerontocracy. Average age members of the Politburo (21–22 members and candidate members), secretaries of the Central Committee (10–11) for 1971–1981. grew from 60 to 68 years. The "collective leadership" showed exceptional attention to each other's health. On March 24, 1983, a special decision was made to limit the working hours of members and candidate members of the Politburo over 65 years of age. The duration of the vacation increased, they could work at home one day a week. Brezhnev for about 6 last years had 3 days off a week; the doctors demanded another day off for him. For this reason, the meetings of the Politburo, which made the most important political decisions, often lasted no more than 15–20 minutes.

The orders established under the “late Brezhnev” were preserved until 1985. “You can look at the age composition of the Politburo in any way,” said Yu. V. Andropov (1983). “Here is the concentration of the political experience of our party, and therefore a hasty, ill-conceived replacement of people may not always be to the benefit of the cause.” They weren't really in a hurry to replace it. In 1978, instead of the deceased F. D. Kulakov, M. S. Gorbachev, the 1st secretary of the Stavropol Regional Committee of the CPSU, was elected Secretary of the Central Committee for Agriculture.

In March 1976, G. A. Aliyev, 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, became a new candidate for membership in the Politburo, then (since November 1978) - E. A. Shevardnadze, 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia. P. M. Masherov, who died in October 1980 in a car accident, was replaced as a candidate member of the Politburo by the new 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus T. Ya. (May 1982).

Emphasizing their importance, the representatives of the old guard in the Politburo willingly awarded themselves all kinds of prizes, orders and medals. L. I. Brezhnev since 1981 became the champion in possession of the "Gold Stars" of the Hero. Three brochures of the General Secretary's memoirs ("Virgin Land", "Small Land", "Revival"), prepared with the help of professional journalists, were awarded the Lenin Prize for Literature (1979).

The question of his successor Brezhnev was inclined to decide in favor of KU Chernenko. The 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, V.V. Shcherbitsky, was considered as a reserve figure. According to V. V. Grishin, shortly before his death, Brezhnev “wanted at the next plenum of the Central Committee to recommend Shcherbitsky as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, and to move himself to the post of Chairman of the Central Committee of the Party.”

The “stagnation” of “developed socialism” became the time of the flourishing of nomenklatura privileges, which still included state dachas, special rations, special treatment, special transport, etc. However, all these attributes of “power-property” could not be transferred to personal property and passed on to children. The desire to ensure the comfortable existence of relatives and heirs in conditions of safety from persecution for the nomenklatura established under Brezhnev led to the fact that, to a large extent, it did not consider it obliged to live according to the "moral code of the builders of communism."

Abuse of official position, the desire to attach relatives to a "bread" position, to an elite university, etc., becomes an ordinary phenomenon. For example, a far-fetched Ministry of Mechanical Engineering for animal husbandry and fodder production was formed, which was headed by Brezhnev's brother-in-law. Brezhnev's son, without proper reason, became the 1st Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade (in 1983 he was relieved of his post). Brezhnev's son-in-law became Deputy Minister of the Interior. Since 1979, Andropov's son has successfully made a career in the Foreign Ministry, in 1984 he became ambassador to Greece.

The most corrupt in the years of late "developed socialism" were the Central Asian republics, where giving bribes to officials constituted a whole system. Merging of the party and state apparatus with the shadow economy began. The scale of the latter was becoming more and more menacing. According to later estimates, in the mid-70s. shadow economy dealers alienated about a seventh of the working people's income, by the beginning of the 80s. - 18%, by 1985 - 21%, and in 1989 - 25%. Brigades of "coven workers" who built dachas and entire villages multiplied in the country. The legal schools of capitalism were youth housing cooperatives (MZhK), which were created in 1971 to provide young families with apartments on a self-financing basis. By the mid 80s. only in Moscow there were 52 MZhK. Komsomol members, "knocking out" funds, building materials, loans, became entrepreneurs. Subsequently, building firms and banks grew up on the basis of the MZhK.

All this happened against the backdrop of obsessive pseudo-communist propaganda, continuous holidays and awards on the occasion of various anniversaries, anniversaries and successes in the “improvement” of “developed socialism”. At the same time, the country's production mechanism, created over decades, continued to operate, improving the living conditions of hundreds of millions of people.

Search for ways to strengthen socialism under Andropov and Chernenko. On November 12, 1982, two days after the death of L. I. Brezhnev, the plenum of the Central Committee of the party elected Yu. V. Andropov as General Secretary of the Central Committee. He was 68 years old. Since June 1967, he was the chairman of the KGB, and after the death of M. A. Suslov in February 1982, he was the main ideologist of the party. Intolerance of dissent, adherence to an authoritarian style, reputation as an enlightened partocrat, personal modesty - all these qualities outweighed the chances of other contenders for the highest post. In the best possible way, they also met the expectations of the “common people”: to restore order in the country, shorten privileges, stop bribery, and fight the “shadow business”. The first steps of Andropov-general secretary did not deceive expectations. “Although one cannot reduce everything to discipline,” he declared in December 1982, “it must begin with it.” At the same time, instructions were given to prepare serious measures in the economic sphere. In 1983, a large-scale economic experiment began in three republican and two union ministries (Mintyazhmash and Minelektroprom).

From the beginning of 1983, KGB officers began to identify violators of labor discipline. Raids on shops, cinemas, baths, etc., identified and punished those who were supposed to be at work at that time. At the same time, high-profile cases of corruption were launched, a fight against unearned income and speculation was announced. The fight against abuses in trade has taken on a large scale. The head of the Main Department of Trade of the Moscow City Executive Committee was put on trial and shot; after him, 25 senior officials of the Moscow Glavtorg, the director of the largest Moscow grocery stores, and an automobile store were taken into custody. The positions of the "cotton mafia" in Uzbekistan were pushed back; got to the 1st Secretary of the Krasnodar Regional Committee of the CPSU S. F. Medunov, Minister of the Interior N. A. Shchelokov and his deputy Yu. M. Churbanov, who were heavily involved in corruption. During the short period of Andropov's rule, more than 30% of party leaders were replaced in Moscow, 34% in Ukraine, and 32% in Kazakhstan.

The country followed with intense attention the information innovation that anticipated the future "glasnost". Every week the newspapers published the message "To the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU." Relying primarily on D. F. Ustinov and A. A. Gromyko, Andropov “rejuvenated” the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Committee. G. A. Aliyev, who became the first deputy chairman of the government of the USSR, N. A. Tikhonova, was introduced to the Politburo; V. I. Vorotnikov (Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR since June 1983); M. S. Solomentsev (Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR until June 1983, later Chairman of the Party Control Committee under the Central Committee of the CPSU from July 1983). V. M. Chebrikov (Chairman of the KGB since December 1982) became a new candidate for membership in the Politburo. N. I. Ryzhkov (Head of the Economic Department of the Central Committee) was elected as the new secretary of the Central Committee; Politburo member G. V. Romanov (1st Secretary of the Leningrad Regional Party Committee, responsible in the Politburo for coordinating the work of military-industrial complex enterprises); E. K. Ligachev (Head of the Department of Organizational Party Work of the Central Committee).

Yu. V. Andropov's article "The Teachings of Karl Marx and Some Questions of Socialist Construction in the USSR" (Kommunist, 1983, No. 3) caused a great revival in social science. The General Secretary warned "against possible exaggerations in understanding the degree of the country's approach to the highest phase of communism." Recognition of the contradictions and difficulties of "developed socialism" and Andropov's phrase "we do not know the society in which we live" were perceived as a necessary prerequisite for further self-knowledge and possible reform of Soviet society. However, the "revival of communist fundamentalism" was short-lived. On February 9, 1984, Yu. V. Andropov, who suffered from an incurable kidney disease, died.

Some restoring order, discipline and other activities associated with his name, gave a noticeable economic effect. According to official data, the economic growth rate in 1983 was 4.2% (versus 3.1% in 1982); national income grew by 3.1%; industrial production - by 4%; agricultural production - by 6%.

Andropov as General Secretary of the Central Committee and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was replaced by Brezhnev's longtime ally K. U. Chernenko. (He was 73 at the time and had a severe form of asthma.) His coming to power immediately turned into a rejection of Andropov's innovations. There were no new appointments to the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Committee under Chernenko, but M. S. Gorbachev was nominated to the second place in the leadership instead of N. A. Tikhonov. The struggle for discipline was curtailed, the threads of corruption cases were cut off at the level of middle management. Representatives of the party and state elite were again beyond all suspicion. For a time, the most important were the talk about the new Program of the CPSU and the discussion about the "stage of development of society", which was now proposed to be called not developed, but developing socialism. Chernenko believed that in this way work began, giving "a powerful acceleration to the development of the national economy."

The restoration of Molotov in the party (June 1984) became a landmark for the period of Chernenko's being in power. At the same time, the pro-Stalinist mood of the old generation of the Politburo was clearly expressed by Ustinov, who proposed to restore Malenkov and Kaganovich to the party. According to him, "not a single enemy brought as much trouble as Khrushchev brought us with his policy towards the past of our party and state, as well as towards Stalin." However, V. M. Chebrikov recalled the resolutions on the lists of the repressed and the flow of letters of indignation that should be expected in the event of restoration. It is not known how this issue would have been resolved, since the "renaissance" of late "Brezhnevism" soon ended.

The situation in the economy and social sphere. The inability of the leadership to reverse the negative trends in the national economy led to a further slowdown in economic development. In the 10th Five-Year Plan (1976-1980), the national income grew by 21%, industrial output - by 24%, agricultural - by 9%. In the 11th Five-Year Plan (1981-1985), the corresponding figures were 16.5, 20 and 11%. At the beginning of the reign of M. S. Gorbachev, on the wave of "acceleration", it was planned to increase in the 12th five-year plan (1986-1990) the national income by 20-22%, industrial production - by 21-24%, agricultural production - twice.

The average annual growth rate of the national income, which, according to official data, in 1971–1975 was 5.7%, during the years of the 10th five-year plan decreased to 4.3%, the 11th - to 3.6%. The corresponding indicators of the average annual increase in industrial production were 7.4, 4.4 and 3.7%, agricultural - 2.3, 1.7 and 1.4%.

Similarly, the indicators of growth in the productivity of social labor also decreased. The planned targets for increasing the gross industrial output in the 10th five-year plan were fulfilled by 67%, in the 11th - by 77%; to increase agricultural production and even less - by 56 and 42%, respectively. The latest figures testify, among other things, to the low quality of national economic planning.

The tasks of the 11th five-year plan, approved at the XXVI Congress of the CPSU (March 1981), were not fulfilled in any of the indicators. Nevertheless, the development of the country was progressive. The growth rate of national income (newly created value in all sectors of the sphere of material production) throughout the 70s. remained at the level of 4.9% of annual growth, and even in the most “stagnant” five-year period (1981–1985) an annual increase of 3.6% per year was provided on average. Alternative data show that in the 70s. national income increased annually by 2.1%, and in 1981-1985. - by 0.6%, but these figures were not much lower than in most developed countries. As for total industrial production, from 1970 to 1988 it increased 2.38 times in the USSR against 1.32 times in England, 1.33 in Germany, 1.48 in France, 1.68 in USA, 2 times - in Japan.

National wealth of Russia in 1970–1980 grew by an average of 7.5% per year against 10.5% annual growth in the 60s. In general, the Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenkov periods (1964–1985) are characterized by an annual increase in national wealth by 6.5%, and only in the Gorbachev period did this figure decrease to 4.2% per year. The growth of Russia's gross domestic product in these years is characterized by the following data. In 1985, its volume was 3494 billion rubles. and was 2.9 times more than in 1964, and 1.4 times more than in 1977.

The USSR had a powerful diversified economy, provided with almost all types of raw materials, cadres of scientists, engineers, and workers. There have been significant shifts in the solution of the country's eternal transport problem. For the 60-80s. steam locomotives were completely replaced by diesel locomotives, aircraft with piston engines by jet, river and sea vessels were equipped with diesel engines. Powerful specialized trucks, comfortable high-speed buses appeared in the national economy, mass production of passenger cars was established (Volga since 1956, Zaporozhets since 1960, Zhiguli since 1970), the road network has noticeably expanded and improved , the main pipeline transport was created. The production potential was quite high and made it possible to conduct experiments on the reorganization of the economy in the right direction without a radical shake-up of the life of the peoples of the country. However, the leadership of the USSR during the period of late “developed socialism” was unable to do this task.

"Upstairs", of course, many were aware of the trouble in the development of the economy. There were also attempts to find a way out. In 1979, a group of analysts led by Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Academician V. A. Kirillin prepared a report on the state and prospects of the Soviet economy. It contained a realistic picture of the plight of the Soviet economy: the country was beginning to fall hopelessly behind in the use of advanced technologies, and the growing problems could not be solved without a radical, structural reform of the economy. Analysts' proposals, like all earlier reform projects in the economy, were in one way or another connected with ideas about the need to expand the role of elements of market relations in a socialist economy.

However, the report caused only irritation and dissatisfaction of the majority of the members of the Politburo. V. A. Kirillin was removed from work. This, apparently, was one of the reasons for the exacerbation of the disease.

A. N. Kosygin. In October 1980 he was released from work. Appointed on October 23, 1980, N.A. Tikhonov, chairman of the Council of Ministers, was just as suspicious of the reforms as Brezhnev.

"Improvement" of the management of the national economy began in the late 70s. the already familiar course of replacing economic levers with administrative ones. The Decree of the Central Committee of July 12, 1978 "On the Further Improvement of the Economic Mechanism and Tasks of Party and State Organs" emphasized the further enhancement of the role of the state plan as the most important instrument of state policy. Number of mandatory planned indicators was again increased, their content was specified in the simultaneously adopted resolution "On Improving Planning and Strengthening the Impact of the Economic Mechanism on Improving Production Efficiency and Quality of Work." In parallel with this, the sectoral structure of economic management became more complex and differentiated.

Attempts to intensify the economy through the compilation of numerous programs of automation and complex mechanization, which were of an administrative-bureaucratic nature, turned out to be ineffective, since they did not affect wages and living standards. Attempts to reanimate labor enthusiasm also failed. Numerous labor initiatives, shifts, reciprocal obligations, work according to the defect-free method had little in common with the shock work of the pre-war years and the labor enthusiasm of the post-war five-year plan. They were most often the "initiative" of the party organs, and not of the masses, and quickly faded away. This, of course, does not exclude the fact that in the labor collectives there were many wonderful, respected masters of their craft and honest workers who served as role models.

Since the end of the 70s. the influence of a number of objective factors that impeded the development of the economy by extensive methods was growing. The demographic situation worsened. The decline in the birth rate in the 60s. led to a reduction in the influx of labor resources. The relocation of extractive industry centers to the eastern regions increased the cost of fuel and energy raw materials. Thus, from 1971 to 1980, fuel production in the USSR increased by more than 3 times, gas - by more than 8, and oil - by almost 7 times. Oil and gas were the most important Soviet exports. Only from the export of oil the country received annually about 16 billion dollars. The share of fuel and energy in the total volume of Soviet exports increased from 15.6% in 1970 to 54.4% in 1984. In 1960, almost all oil and gas was produced in the European part of the USSR, in the mid-80s . two-thirds of the all-Union oil and gas production was provided by Western Siberia. It became increasingly difficult to extract fuel in the northern regions of the country, and in 1984 for the first time in years Soviet power annual oil production has declined.

For 1965–1982 the total foreign exchange earnings of the USSR from the export of oil and gas amounted to about 170 billion dollars. There was a clear dependence of the country on the conjuncture of the world market. Falling prices for coal and oil on the world market in the mid-80s. became a major cause of the financial and budgetary crisis. The years of late "developed socialism" began to be called the years of "stagnation" primarily because, while absorbing the flow of petrodollars, the Soviet leadership did little to rebuild economic mechanisms.

In December 1978, the first stage of the huge Volgodonsk plant of heavy engineering (Atommash) was put into operation. It was here that the mass production of various types of nuclear reactors for nuclear power plants began. However, along with the work to complete this construction, the expensive, unpromising and environmentally flawed Astrakhan gas condensate plant, the Tengizgyulimer gas chemical complex, and the Volga-Chogray canal in Kalmykia were being built.

The countryside, which traditionally acted as a donor of extensive industrial development, found it increasingly difficult to play its former role over the years. Investments in agriculture, although they increased, were clearly not enough. Young people continued to leave for the city. From 1967 to 1985, an average of 700,000 people left the village every year. The average age of rural residents has steadily increased.

A particularly difficult situation developed in the Non-Chernozem region - on the vast territory of the historical center of Russia, covering 29 regions and autonomous republics. It was a heavy retribution for not understanding that in a "cold country" investments in agriculture should be several times greater than in the practice of the authorities. Nevertheless, the implementation of the resolution adopted in 1974 "On measures for the further development of agriculture in the Non-Chernozem zone of the RSFSR" made it possible to build a number of large industrial complexes. The completion of the electrification of the village was also an undoubted achievement. However, much less funds were allocated for the development of the social sphere and infrastructure, rural life continued to be primitive and difficult. The products sold to the state by the collective farmers of the Non-Black Earth region in 1980, after all the reforms, remained unprofitable. For milk, the loss was 9%, for cattle - 13%, for pigs - 20%, for poultry - 14%, for wool - 11%. This remained one of the main reasons for the decline of agriculture.

The policy of enlargement of small settlements actually revealed the lack of interest of the authorities in the development of each village because of the high costs of individual housing construction, roads, bridges, gas pipelines. As a result, the number of settlements was constantly reduced under the pretext of lack of prospects. Life in the villages remote from the central estates froze. Schools, hospitals, shops, household service enterprises were closed. According to the population censuses of 1959 and 1989, the number of rural population in the country decreased by 10%, in the Non-Chernozem region - by 42%. The number of rural settlements in the RSFSR decreased during this time by 139 thousand, in the Non-Chernozem region - by 76 thousand. A special category of rural settlements that do not have an able-bodied population arose and showed a growth trend. The traditional and most important source of population growth in the country did not actually work. The historical center of Russia was disappearing, as if in some powerful cataclysm. The policy of liquidating small villages was rightly described by the writer V. Belov as "a crime against the peasantry."

As a result of transformations in the countryside, by the end of 1985 there were 26.2 thousand collective farms and 22.7 thousand state farms in the country. They employed 12.7 and 12 million people, respectively, and produced approximately equal volumes of agricultural products (by 73.9 and 75.2 billion rubles).

The situation of the crisis that took shape in agriculture under the conditions of late "developed socialism" was fundamentally different from the pre-revolutionary situation in the Russian countryside. Despite all the upheavals of the Soviet period of history and the destruction of the war years, the combined efforts of the Soviet government and the peasantry made it possible to increase by the beginning of the 80s. agricultural production in comparison with the pre-revolutionary level by 3–4 times, the annual productivity of individual labor in agriculture by more than 6 times, and the hourly productivity by 10 times ( average duration the working day of a peasant was about 7 hours, and at the beginning of the century - 11). The social productivity of labor in the agro-industrial complex of the USSR, taking into account the worst natural conditions(2.9 times in terms of biocenosis, 3.4 times in the duration of stall keeping of livestock, etc.), in essence, was not inferior to the American one. All this allowed the Soviet Union to have a nationwide food fund sufficient to guarantee its citizens food consumption 1/3 more than the average in the world.

With all this, the search for the withdrawal of the countryside from the crisis, undertaken in the late 70s, largely lay in the traditional archaic stereotype of thinking. M. S. Gorbachev, who became Secretary of the Central Committee for Agriculture in 1978, led the development of the next project for its improvement under the name “Food program of the USSR for the period until 1990.” (approved in May 1982). Its essence consisted in the complex use of the entire arsenal of administrative and bureaucratic measures to solve the food problem in the country by 1990.

The program was based on the idea of ​​agro-industrial integration - the establishment of production links between collective farms, state farms, enterprises Food Industry, trade, construction and transport organizations. Production was closed in a single state agro-industrial complex. At the regional level, all enterprises associated with the production and processing of agricultural products, with the production of fertilizers, agricultural machinery, etc. were united in the agro-industrial complex. Appropriate structures of agro-industrial associations were created. In November 1985, the Gosagroprom of the USSR, which absorbed the functions of five Union ministries, became the highest authority. By the mid 80s. 4.8 thousand inter-farm enterprises operated in the agricultural sector of the economy. However, agro-industrial integration did not bring the expected effect. Thanks to additional budget appropriations in the 11th five-year plan, it was possible to overcome the decline in agricultural production and even ensure its some growth compared to the 10th. In general, the targets were not achieved. There were no more products per "capita" in the country. The Soviet Union was forced to import more and more food from abroad. In 1976–1980 imports accounted for 9.9% of the level of agricultural production in the country, in 1980 - 18.1%, in 1981 - 28.4%.

The strategic, decades-long underestimation of the need for particularly large investments in the agriculture of the "cold country" and the life of the peasants turned into a waste of petrodollars and the absence of large-scale innovations in high-tech sectors of the economy. And this had fatal consequences in the future.

In order to accelerate the development of agriculture in the southern regions of the country in the early 80s. in the USSR, projects were developed to transfer part of the flow of northern rivers to the south: Siberian - to Central Asia, European - to the Caspian Sea through the Volga. The projects were widely discussed in the government and found support in the southern regions of the country. Thanks to the sharp criticism of the public, primarily Russian writers (V. Belov, Yu. Bondarev, S. Zalygin, V. Rasputin) and scientists (academicians A. L. Yanshin, D. S. Likhachev, B. A. Rybakov), the implementation environmentally hazardous projects in 1986 were shelved.

The contradictions of the country's industrial modernization were also reflected in the social sphere. social structure Soviet society acquired an increasingly urban character, which clearly did not correspond to the geographical specifics of the country. The population of cities increased from 164 million people in 1979 to 180 million in 1985, the rural population decreased from 99 to 96 million. The number of workers and employees in the national economy from 1975 to 1985 increased from 102 million to 118.5 million, the number of collective farmers decreased from 15 to 12.5 million people. Citizens accounted for almost 2/3, in some republics and regions - up to 3/4 of the population. However, its overall increase was mainly due to the high birth rate in the Central Asian republics. Natural population growth in 1986 was 0.68% in Russia, while in Estonia, Latvia it was 0.40%, in Ukraine and Lithuania - 0.44 and 0.66%, in Belarus and Georgia - 0.74 and 0.99%, in Moldova - 1.30%, in Kazakhstan and Armenia - 1.81 and 1.83%, in Azerbaijan - 2.09%; and in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan - 2.55 and 2.85%, in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan - 3.08 and 3.52%.

Despite the official thesis about the strengthening of the social homogeneity of society, in fact, differentiation in the quality and standard of living of various segments of the population increased. The incomes of the upper stratum, which accounted for about 2% of the population, were 20–25 times higher than those of the lower strata. According to official data for March 1986, 4.8% of workers and employees of the national economy of the USSR earned less than 80 rubles. per month; 32.3% - 80-140; 29.5% - 140–200; 22.7% - 200–300; 9.5% - over 300 rubles. The worker in the USSR in the form of wages accounted for an ever smaller part of the value of the product he created. In 1971, the share of wages in the net industrial output was 58%, and in 1985 - 36%. In the mid 80s. over 50 million people were still employed in unskilled manual labor.

Leveling tendencies led to a fall in the prestige of skilled labor. This had serious consequences, shifting into the "shadow" the income received in excess of the official salary. There was a growing stratum of doctors who helped the sick for an additional fee; expanded tutoring services in the field of education; the commodity circulation included the housing stock used by citizens. The shadow economy was also associated with purely criminal activities, theft of goods and raw materials, fraud with reporting, manufacturing at state enterprises and the subsequent sale of unaccounted products through the state trade network, with foreign exchange transactions. According to various estimates, by the mid-80s. 15 million people were employed in the shadow economy. Its volumes were estimated at 80 billion rubles. In cities, the share of this economy accounted for the repair of 45% of apartments, 40% of cars, 30% of household appliances. In rural areas, this share reached 80%.

At the same time, the multiple growth of spending on culture testified to positive shifts in the development of society; increase in circulation of books, periodicals; strengthening the material base of the media. In the 70s. the country entered the era of "television culture". However, in general, the share of state funds allocated for social and educational needs in the conditions of late “developed socialism” was declining. Under Brezhnev, the share of education in the state budget was less than even before the war, when the country was much poorer. This happened against the backdrop of rising costs for the maintenance of bureaucratic and managerial structures.

Ultimately, the 60-80s. were a time of significant improvement in the well-being of the people. The average monthly monetary wages of workers and employees employed in industry in 1970 amounted to 133.3 rubles. per month, in agriculture - 100.9 rubles, it was 2.2 and 1.6 times higher than living wage. Additional income from the public consumption fund and personal subsidiary farms significantly increased this gap. Party congresses constantly demanded greater attention to the production of consumer goods and to ensure fundamental changes in the quality and quantity of goods and services for the population. The monetary incomes of the population increased, the guaranteed wages of collective farmers increased, the salaries of the low-paid strata of the population were drawn up to those of the average paid. However, in reality, this policy led to the fact that highly qualified specialists often found themselves infringed in wages. An absurd situation was created when, in mechanical engineering and construction, engineers received less than pieceworkers. If in the late 1950s engineering and technical workers as a whole received 70% more than workers, then by the mid-80s. the gap was only 10%, which reduced the prestige of the engineering profession and did not contribute to the development of scientific and technological progress.

Real per capita income 1965–1975 grew by 46% in 1976-1980. - by another 18%, in 1981-1984. - on 10 %. However, during the 1970s more than 100 million sq. m of housing, which improved the living conditions of more than 107 million people. In the 11th five-year plan, another 50 million people received new housing. In 1976–1980 built residential buildings with an area of ​​527.3 million square meters. m, in 1981–1985. - 552.2 million. City housing stock increased from 1867 million square meters. m in 1975 to 2561 million in 1985. This was a huge achievement.

The life support of people in the years of "developed socialism" improved as a result of a huge scale road construction. The operational length of the railways of the Ministry of Railways of the USSR increased from 125.8 thousand km (end of 1960) to 144.9 thousand km at the end of 1885. The length of paved public roads during this time increased from 258 thousand km. km to 812 thousand km. In addition to the subways built in the post-war years in Leningrad (1955) and Kyiv (1960), during the “stagnation”, the subway was added in another 8 largest cities - Tbilisi (1966), Baku (1967), Kharkov (1972), Tashkent (1977), Yerevan (1981), Minsk (1984), Gorky and Novosibirsk (1985). The life of people in the city has basically reached the modern level and has improved significantly in the countryside (mainly due to the completion of its electrification). Large investments were made in guaranteed life support for the long term: unified energy and transport systems, a network of poultry farms was built, which basically solved the problem of protein in the diet. Huge investments in Siberia and the Urals, made in the 1960s-1980s, in principle, ensured the life of the country for many decades to come. Judging by the dynamics of many indicators, the USSR in 1965-1985. was in a state of well-being, despite many troubles that, in principle, could be eliminated.

Soviet people used free education, medical care, the state incurred large expenses for the maintenance of the housing stock. Payments and benefits received by the population from public consumption funds in 1979 amounted to 4.9 billion rubles, and in 1985 - 9.3 billion. By the end of the 70s. the consumption of non-food products and the provision of durable goods increased or remained stable.

Retail prices for basic consumer goods have not changed significantly since the 1950s and have increased more slowly than the wages of the bulk of the working people. In general, the situation in this respect in the 50-80s. was much more advantageous in comparison with the 30s and 40s.

Since 1962, food prices have hardly changed, with the exception of fish and delicatessen products, chocolate, coffee, citrus fruits, and liquor products. In general, the index of state retail prices for all goods increased in 1984 compared to 1965 by 11%. The increase in food prices was mainly due to alcoholic beverages. If this influence is excluded, then the increase in food prices was 6% by 1965, and 2% by 1980. This was achieved largely through state subsidies for the sale of food, mainly meat and milk. Subsidies first appeared in 1965 in the amount of 3.6 billion rubles. and subsequently increased by almost 4 billion rubles. per year, creating the well-known "scissors" of prices and serious distortions in the economy. In 1987, subsidies amounted to 57 billion rubles. Market prices for foodstuffs were on average 2.5 times higher than state retail prices.

From the book History of Russia. XX - beginning of XXI century. Grade 9 author Volobuev Oleg Vladimirovich

§ 38. REALITIES OF DEVELOPED SOCIALISM REFORM IS GOOD, BUT STABILITY IS BETTER… After the removal of Khrushchev, the word “voluntarism” became very popular in the country. Accusing the detached leader of volitional methods of leadership, the lack of logic and economic feasibility in

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§ 34. CULTURE OF THE AGE OF "DEVELOPED SOCIALISM" Education and science. Achievements of Soviet science and culture in the late 1960s - early 1980s. were largely due to the state of the domestic education system. In this period soviet school became the most popular and

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II. CRISIS OF "DEVELOPED SOCIALISM" At the end of the 50s. Khrushchev set before the national economy of the USSR a grandiose task: to catch up and overtake the American economy. The team that ousted the “corn maker” showed more modest ambitions: the building of communism was pushed back to

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In the new edition, it was noted that the "dictatorship of the proletariat" fully fulfilled the tasks that were assigned to it and the Soviet Union became a state of the whole people. In addition, the document was fixed management, already established at that time. The supreme body of power was considered the Supreme Council. It consisted of two chambers: the Council of Nationalities and the Council of the Union. His term of office was extended to five years.

About the year in which the Constitution of “developed socialism” was adopted, about the prerequisites that contributed to its appearance, and about the changes in it, read in this article.

The study of the history of the creation of the Fundamental Law of the USSR is of great political, socio-economic, scientific and cultural significance. One of the central aspects of the formation Russian statehood is the adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism". The year 1977 was an important step in further development country.

In the history of the Soviet state, there were only 4 constitutions: 1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977. They had different periods of validity, which testified to some changes taking place in the life of society. In addition, they displayed the emergence of new or improvement of old concepts. Also, each updated basic law of the country summed up the results of the previous one, after which the state opened the next stage of its development.

main reason

The development of a new document and the subsequent adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism" is associated with a significant change in the political regime in the USSR. Despite the fact that it was still strictly organized and ruled by representatives of the only party in the country, the state began to free itself from the cult of autocracy, which I. V. Stalin introduced in his time.

Arbitrariness and lawlessness, as well as the boundless fear that prevailed in the era of the totalitarian rule of one person - all this was publicly condemned by the ruling Communist Party itself. When the steps taken towards the recognition of mistakes and excesses convinced society of the impossibility of returning the former regime, the question arose that the development and subsequent adoption in the USSR of the Constitution of “developed socialism” was simply necessary.

Formation of a special commission

It was decided to start the first stage of preparing a new edition of the Basic Law. First of all, they created a special constitutional commission. Its formation was preceded by a report by Secretary N. S. Khrushchev at a meeting of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on April 25, 1962. On the same day, a meeting was held at which the composition of the commission was approved. From that moment began the direct development and further adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism" (project leader - N. S. Khrushchev).

When L. I. Brezhnev took over as first secretary, he automatically assumed the functions of chairman of the Constitutional Commission. I must say that its composition changed several times, but the principle of formation remained the same - it included the first persons of the state and party leadership, representatives of the union and autonomous republics, territories and regions, as well as delegates from workers and peasants, scientists, etc.

Project development

At the initial stage of writing the document, the question arose of what kind of this moment Soviet society and where it will move in the future. The position based on the "dictatorship of the proletariat" was irrelevant, because " class struggle' was no longer there.

It took time to move away from the old ideology and build a fundamentally new society. Almost 15 years passed before the theory of "developed socialism" appeared. But once its foundations were in place, the drafting of the Constitution moved much faster.

Prerequisites

Four decades passed from the moment when the Constitution of 1936 was adopted until the approval of the new document. During this time, a number of significant changes took place in the USSR, which in one way or another affected all aspects of public life.

The former Constitution, adopted in 1936, proceeded from the fact that the creation was completed. Now it was positioned that a mature and developed society had already been built in the USSR, as a result of which a different community of people called the Soviet people had formed.

The state that arose on the basis of the "dictatorship of the proletariat" has now become public, and the economy has completely passed into socialist ownership. The Communist Party has greatly expanded its ranks, and its role in government has become more responsible.

Socialism was put on a par with other world systems, so the international influence and authority of the Soviet Union increased several times. All these premises indicated that the development and adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism" was inevitable.

Promulgation

The draft of the new basic law was published at the beginning of June 1977 not only in central, but also in republican, regional and regional newspapers. It was actively discussed for four months - from June 5 to the end of September. According to official figures, more than 140 million people took part in the process of discussing the new project. And this is about four-fifths of the entire adult population of the Soviet Union. A nationwide discussion on this issue made it possible to make about 450 thousand proposals for amendments, which were aimed at clarifying, improving or supplementing the articles of the draft.

Main aspects of domestic and foreign policy

The main direction in the development of the Soviet state-legal system was proclaimed to be the improvement and strengthening of socialist democracy. This was supposed to be promoted by the adoption of the Constitution of “developed socialism”. Under whom could such an idea be realized? Of course, under Stalin this was out of the question. Since his sole reign, power in the country has changed dramatically.

Also, in the new basic law, the social basis of the Soviet state was fixed - a strong alliance of workers and peasants with the intelligentsia. He implied the achievement of a certain social homogeneity of society, as well as equal opportunities for the all-round development of each person.

As for the Constitution, the main provisions aimed at establishing peace, international cooperation and ensuring the security of all peoples without exception were clearly formulated. Progressive principles of good neighborly relations between Soviet Union and other countries. An integral part of the world socialist system was the commonwealth of states with the same policy as that of the USSR.

Economy

The adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism" was supposed to contribute to a significant rise in both the cultural and material standard of living of the Soviet people. For this, a special scientifically based and long-term economic strategy has been developed. The main role in it was played by the Soviet state. It was supposed to ensure the organization of production, favorable conditions for the creation of a modern material and technical base and develop regulations that would regulate economic relations.

The developers of the new fundamental law proceeded from the fact that the adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism" would further consolidate the already historically established powerful, unified and successfully operating mechanism of the national economy. This document for the first time in history fixed at the legislative level a special economic system of the USSR.

Forms of ownership

The adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism", the date of approval of which was only a matter of time, put socialist ownership of all means of production, which was divided into two forms, into the basis of the economic system. One of them was state-wide, and the other - collective-farm cooperative. True, there was another type of socialist property - the property of trade unions and other public organizations. But only the first two forms determined the nature of the national economy and the division of society into representatives of friendly classes - workers and peasants. At the same time, the main task of the state, enshrined in the new Constitution, was the protection of socialist property.

The Soviet economic system also provided for the right to personal property. Its source was socially useful labor. The 1977 Constitution laid down the basic provisions of the legal status of all forms of ownership without exception, indicating their subjects.

Rights and obligations

The new basic law guaranteed the citizens of the USSR. The Constitution enshrines the right to work, rest, education, material compensation in case of loss of a breadwinner or disability. The document also spoke about freedom of speech and the press, demonstrations and street processions, rallies and meetings, etc.

It was the duty of the Soviet people to comply with the laws of the USSR, to be worthy of the title of a citizen of the USSR, as well as to work conscientiously and be disciplined at work, to protect the interests of the state and in every possible way to strengthen its authority and power, etc.

Separately, they spoke about the sacred duty of every Soviet person - the defense of the socialist Fatherland. Treason to the motherland is the gravest crime against one's own people. The honorable duty of a Soviet citizen was military service in the armed forces of the country.

Adoption of the Constitution

At an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council on October 4, an Editorial Commission was created, whose duties included the preparation of the final draft of the basic law. The meeting also discussed the adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism". Brezhnev made a report on the results of the development of the project and its popular approval. 92 deputies spoke on this occasion. As a result, we decided to make changes on eight points, as well as add a new article.

Three days later, a parliamentary vote was held, and then the adoption of the Constitution of "developed socialism". The date October 7, 1977 was declared a public holiday.

• The subject and method of the history of the national state and law
  • The subject of the history of the national state and law
  • Method of the history of the national state and law
  • Periodization of the history of the domestic state and law
• Old Russian state and law (IX - beginning of XII century)
  • Formation of the Old Russian state
    • Historical factors in the formation of the Old Russian state
  • The social system of the Old Russian state
    • Feudal-dependent population: sources of education and classification
  • State system of the Old Russian state
  • The system of law in the Old Russian state
    • Ownership in the Old Russian state
    • Obligation Law in the Old Russian State
    • Marriage, family and inheritance law in the Old Russian state
    • Criminal law and litigation in the Old Russian state
• The state and law of Russia in the period of feudal fragmentation (beginning of the XII-XIV centuries)
  • Feudal fragmentation in Russia
  • Features of the socio-political system of the Galicia-Volyn principality
  • Socio-political structure of the Vladimir-Suzdal land
  • Socio-political system and law of Novgorod and Pskov
  • State and Law of the Golden Horde
• Formation of the Russian centralized state
  • Prerequisites for the formation of the Russian centralized state
  • Social system in the Russian centralized state
  • State system in the Russian centralized state
  • Development of law in the Russian centralized state
• Estate-representative monarchy in Russia (mid-16th - mid-17th centuries)
  • Social system in the period of estate-representative monarchy
  • State system in the period of estate-representative monarchy
    • Police and Prisons in Ser. XVI - ser. 17th century
  • The development of law in the period of a class-representative monarchy
    • Civil law all R. XVI - ser. 17th century
    • Criminal law in the Code of 1649
    • Legal proceedings in the Code of 1649
• Formation and development of absolute monarchy in Russia (second half of the 17th-18th centuries)
  • Historical prerequisites for the emergence of absolute monarchy in Russia
  • The social system of the period of absolute monarchy in Russia
  • State system of the period of absolute monarchy in Russia
    • Police in absolutist Russia
    • Prison institutions, exile and hard labor in the 17th-18th centuries.
    • Era reforms palace coups
    • Reforms during the reign of Catherine II
  • Development of law under Peter I
    • Criminal law under Peter I
    • Civil law under Peter I
    • Family and inheritance law in the XVII-XVIII centuries.
    • Emergence of environmental legislation
• The state and law of Russia during the period of the disintegration of the feudal system and the growth of capitalist relations (the first half of the 19th century)
  • The social system in the period of the decomposition of the feudal system
  • State system of Russia in the nineteenth century
    • State reform authorities
    • His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery
    • The system of police bodies in the first half of the XIX century.
    • Russian prison system in the nineteenth century
  • Development of a form of state unity
    • Status of Finland within the Russian Empire
    • Incorporation of Poland into the Russian Empire
  • Systematization of the legislation of the Russian Empire
• The state and law of Russia during the period of the establishment of capitalism (the second half of the 19th century)
  • Abolition of serfdom
  • Zemstvo and city reforms
  • Local government in the second half of the XIX century.
  • Judicial reform in the second half of the 19th century.
  • Military reform in the second half of the XIX century.
  • Reform of the police and prison system in the second half of the 19th century.
  • Financial reform in Russia in the second half of the XIX century.
  • Reforms of the education system and censorship
  • Church in the system of state administration of tsarist Russia
  • Counter-reforms of the 1880s-1890s
  • The development of Russian law in the second half of the XIX century.
    • Civil law of Russia in the second half of the XIX century.
    • Family and inheritance law in Russia in the second half of the 19th century.
• The state and law of Russia during the period of the first Russian revolution and before the start of the First World War (1900-1914)
  • Background and course of the first Russian revolution
  • Changes in the social structure of Russia
    • Agrarian reform P.A. Stolypin
    • Formation of political parties in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • Changes in state system Russia
    • Reforming state bodies
    • institution State Duma
    • Punitive measures P.A. Stolypin
    • The fight against crime at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • Changes in law in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
• The state and law of Russia during the First World War
  • Changes in the state apparatus
  • Changes in the field of law during the First World War
• The state and law of Russia during the period of the February bourgeois-democratic republic (February - October 1917)
  • February Revolution of 1917
  • Dual power in Russia
    • Solving the issue of the state unity of the country
    • Reforming the prison system in February - October 1917
    • Changes in the state apparatus
  • Activities of the Soviets
  • Legal activities of the Provisional Government
• Creation of the Soviet state and law (October 1917 - 1918)
  • All-Russian Congress of Soviets and its decrees
  • Fundamental changes in the social system
  • The demolition of the bourgeois and the creation of a new Soviet state apparatus
    • Powers and activities of the Councils
    • Military Revolutionary Committees
    • Soviet armed forces
    • Working militia
    • Changes in the judicial and penitentiary systems after the October Revolution
  • Nation-state building
  • Constitution of the RSFSR 1918
  • Creation of the foundations of Soviet law
• Soviet State and Law during the Civil War and Intervention (1918-1920)
  • Civil war and intervention
  • Soviet state apparatus
  • Armed Forces and Law Enforcement
    • Reorganization of the militia in 1918-1920.
    • The activities of the Cheka during the civil war
    • Judiciary during the Civil War
  • Military Union of Soviet Republics
  • The development of law in the context of the Civil War
• Soviet State and Law during the New Economic Policy (1921-1929)
  • Nation-state building. Formation of the USSR
    • Declaration and Treaty on the Formation of the USSR
  • The development of the state apparatus of the RSFSR
    • Restoration of the national economy after the civil war
    • Judiciary during the NEP period
    • Creation of the Soviet prosecutor's office
    • Police of the USSR during the NEP
    • Correctional labor institutions of the USSR during the NEP period
    • Codification of law during the NEP period
• The Soviet state and law in the period of a radical break in social relations (1930-1941)
  • Public administration economy
    • Kolkhoz construction
    • Planning of the national economy and reorganization of the governing bodies
  • State management of socio-cultural processes
  • Law enforcement reforms in the 1930s
  • Reorganization of the armed forces in the 1930s
  • Constitution of the USSR 1936
  • The development of the USSR as a union state
  • Development of law in 1930-1941
• Soviet state and law during the Great Patriotic War
  • The Great Patriotic War and the restructuring of the work of the Soviet state apparatus
  • Changes in the organization of state unity
  • The development of Soviet law during the Great Patriotic War
• The Soviet state and law in the post-war years of the restoration of the national economy (1945-1953)
  • Internal political situation and foreign policy of the USSR in the first post-war years
  • The development of the state apparatus in the postwar years
    • The system of correctional labor institutions in the post-war years
  • The development of Soviet law in the postwar years
• Soviet state and law in the period of liberalization of public relations (mid-1950s - mid-1960s)
  • Development of the external functions of the Soviet state
  • The development of a form of state unity in the mid-1950s.
  • Restructuring of the state apparatus of the USSR in the mid-1950s.
  • The development of Soviet law in the mid-1950s - mid-1960s.
• The Soviet state and law in the period of slowing down the pace of social development (mid-1960s - mid-1980s)
  • Development of external functions of the state
  • USSR Constitution 1977
  • Form of state unity according to the 1977 Constitution of the USSR
    • Development of the state apparatus
    • Law enforcement agencies in the mid-1960s - mid-1980s.
    • Authorities of justice of the USSR in the 1980s.
  • The development of law in the middle. 1960s - ser. 1900s
  • Correctional labor institutions in the middle. 1960s - ser. 1900s
• Formation of the state and law of the Russian Federation. The collapse of the USSR (mid-1980s - 1990s)
  • The policy of "perestroika" and its main content
  • The main directions of development of the political regime and state system
  • The collapse of the USSR
  • External consequences of the collapse of the USSR for Russia. Commonwealth of Independent States
  • The formation of the state apparatus new Russia
  • Development of the form of state unity of the Russian Federation
  • Development of law during the collapse of the USSR and the formation of the Russian Federation

USSR Constitution 1977

The need to create a new Constitution of the USSR. The question of the development and adoption of a new Constitution of the USSR was first raised by H.C. Khrushchev at the Extraordinary XXI Congress of the CPSU. Then, in the materials of the XXII Party Congress, held in 1961, this was given a more complete justification. It boiled down to the fact that the Soviet state had grown from a state of the dictatorship of the proletariat into a state of the whole people, proletarian democracy into a democracy of the whole people. This provision was enshrined in the Party Program adopted by the XXII Congress of the CPSU.

The congress recognized the need to consolidate the new qualitative structure of Soviet society and the state in the Basic Law and decided to start developing a draft Constitution of the USSR.

In accordance with this, on April 25, 1962, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted a resolution "On the development of a draft Constitution of the USSR." At the same time, the Constitutional Commission headed by N.S. Khrushchev.

Nine subcommittees were created within the commission, which worked on various sections of the draft of the future Basic Law.

After the October 1964 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, at which L.I. Brezhnev, there have been significant changes in the composition of the Constitutional Commission. On December 11, 1964, by a resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, L.I. Brezhnev. This circumstance, however, did not lead to increased activity in the work on the draft Constitution. For more than ten years, the commission has been virtually inactive. During this decade, there have been changes in the characteristics of the social system that existed in the country.

In November 1967, in a report dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, L.I. Brezhnev announced the construction of a developed socialist society in the USSR. Naturally, it took time to work out and substantiate the theory of developed socialism and, taking it into account, to develop a draft Constitution. Special attention was paid to this at the 25th Congress of the Communist Party held in 1971. After the Congress, the work of the Constitutional Commission intensified.

The May 1977 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU considered the draft Constitution of the USSR submitted by the Constitutional Commission and approved it in the main. Following this, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted a decree on submitting the draft for a nationwide discussion. On June 4, 1977, the draft of the new Constitution of the USSR was published in the central and local press. Its nationwide discussion began, which lasted about four months. More than 140 million people, or more than 4/5 of the adult population of the country, took part in the discussion.

The project was considered and approved by 1.5 million meetings of labor collectives, military units and citizens at the place of residence, 450 thousand party and 465 thousand Komsomol meetings. The draft Constitution was discussed and approved at sessions of more than 50,000 local Soviets and at sessions of the Supreme Soviets of all Union and Autonomous Republics. During the discussion, 180,000 letters were received from the working people of the country. In general, during the nationwide discussion, about 400 thousand proposals were received aimed at clarifying, improving and supplementing the draft Constitution.

All proposals received were studied and summarized, and then considered at meetings of the Constitutional Commission and the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Many proposals made during the nationwide discussion were taken into account and used in finalizing the draft Constitution. At an extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the ninth convocation, the draft of the new Basic Law of the USSR was subjected to a comprehensive discussion, and amendments were made to 18 articles and one more article was added. On October 7, 1977, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR unanimously approved the Constitution of the USSR. It was divided into a preamble, 21 chapters, 9 sections and contained 174 articles.

Continuity and features of the Constitution of the USSR in 1977 Describing the distinctive features of the Constitution of the USSR in 1977, it should be noted that it retained continuity in relation to the previously existing Soviet constitutions. At the same time, it differed significantly from previous Soviet constitutions and contained a lot of new things. For the first time in Soviet constitutional history, the preamble became an integral part of the Basic Law. It traced the historical path of Soviet society, as a result of which a developed socialist society was considered. The preamble gave a description of the main features of this society.

The 1977 Constitution of the USSR expanded the range of issues relating to the political and economic systems. The section "Fundamentals of the social system and policy of the USSR" is devoted to them.

In Art. 1 spoke of the Soviet state as a socialist state of the whole people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, peasants and intelligentsia, the working people of all nations and nationalities of the country.

As in the Constitution of the USSR of 1936, the Soviets were fixed as a political basis in the new Constitution. However, under the conditions of a nationwide state, they received the name of the Soviets of People's Deputies.

As an economic basis, the Constitution retained socialist property.

One of the characteristic features of the Constitution of the USSR in 1977 was the expansion of the limits of constitutional regulation. It deals with issues related to the protection of nature, ensuring the reproduction of natural resources and improving the human environment.

Of great importance was also the formulation in the Constitution of the principles of the policy of the state, all its bodies. This is expressed in such new chapters as "Social Development and Culture", "Foreign Policy", "Defence of the Socialist Fatherland". The Constitution presented the political system of the USSR (the state of the Soviets, public organizations, labor collectives) as a single mechanism for the implementation of democracy under the leadership of the Communist Party, which is the core of this system.

For the first time in the history of Soviet Constitutions, the Basic Law of 1977 directly enshrined the principle of socialist legality as one of the basic principles of the activity of the state, its bodies and officials (Article 4).

A special article was devoted to strengthening the leading role of the Communist Party in the political system of the USSR (Article 6).

Unlike the Constitution of the USSR of 1936, where the rights and obligations of citizens were discussed only in the tenth chapter (after the chapters on the organs of the state), the section "The State and the Individual" in the Constitution of the USSR of 1977 follows the section "Fundamentals of the social system and politics of the USSR ".

At the same time, the Constitution of the USSR of 1977 significantly expanded the set of rights and freedoms of citizens. To the previously established rights were now added the right to health protection, the right to housing, the right to use cultural heritage, the right to participate in the management of state and public affairs, to make proposals to State bodies, to criticize shortcomings in their work.

It is especially important to note that the 1977 Constitution of the USSR for the first time in Soviet constitutional legislation provided for the right of citizens to appeal against the actions of any officials in court (Article 58). True, neither the Constitution nor subsequent legislation established a mechanism for exercising this right, which, of course, could not but affect the reality of this constitutional right of citizens.

The duties of citizens have received a more detailed interpretation. The main duties of citizens were to observe the Constitution and laws, work conscientiously and maintain labor discipline, protect the interests of the state and help strengthen its power, strengthen the friendship of nations and nationalities of the country, protect socialist property, fight waste and promote the protection of public order, protect nature and cultural monuments. . The Constitution established the obligation to carry with dignity the high title of a citizen of the USSR, to defend the socialist Fatherland, to promote the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between peoples.

Section I of the Constitution also contains new chapters on social development and culture, on the foreign policy of the USSR and the defense of the socialist Fatherland.

The chapters devoted to national-state relations are combined into the section "national-state structure", which more accurately reflects the essence of the norms that made up the content of the section.

A special section of the 1977 Constitution of the USSR is devoted to the Soviets of People's Deputies and the procedure for their election. It is followed by sections that define the system of state authorities and administration, as well as the foundations for building republican and local government bodies. This was followed by a section on justice, arbitration and prosecutorial supervision.

The sections (not divided into chapters) complete the Constitution of the USSR: on the emblem, flag, anthem and capital of the USSR, on the operation of the Constitution and the procedure for changing it.

Shortly after the adoption of the Constitution of the USSR in 1978, new Basic Laws of the Union and Autonomous Republics were adopted, which corresponded to the Constitution of the USSR and took into account the peculiarities of the republics. The Constitution of the RSFSR was adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation on April 12, 1978.