User:Kalivyah/1977 (1981 amendment) Soviet Constitution

This is the Constitution and Fundamental Law of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1977) as it was amended in 1981.

PREAMBLE
The Great October Socialist Revolution, made by the workers and peasants of Russia under the leadership of the Communist Party headed by Lenin, overthrew capitalist and landowner rule, broke the fetters of oppression, established the dictatorship of the proletariat, and created the council (Rus: Soviet) state, a new type of state, the basic instrument for defending the gains of the revolution and for building socialism and communism. Humanity thereby began the epoch-making turn from capitalism to socialism. After achieving victory in the Civil War and repulsing imperialist intervention, the Soviet government carried through far-reaching social and economic transformations, and put an end once and for all to exploitation of man by man, antagonisms between classes, and strife between nationalities. The unification of the Soviet Republics in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics multiplied the forces and opportunities of the peoples of the country in the building of socialism. Social ownership of the means of production and genuine democracy for the working masses were established. For the first time in the history of mankind a socialist society was created. The strength of socialism was vividly demonstrated by the immortal feat of the Soviet people and their Armed Forces in achieving their historic victory in the Great Patriotic War. This victory consolidated the influence and international standing of the Soviet Union and created new opportunities for growth of the forces of socialism, national liberation, democracy, and peace throughout the world.

Continuing their creative endeavors, the working people of the Soviet Union have ensured rapid, all-round development of the country and steady improvement of the socialist system. They have consolidated the alliance of the working class, collective-farm peasantry, and people's intelligentsia, and friendship of the nations and nationalities of the USSR. Socio-political and ideological unity of Soviet society, in which the working class is the leading force, has been achieved. The aims of the dictatorship of the proletariat having been fulfilled, the Soviet state has become a state of the whole people. The leading role of the Communist Party, the vanguard of all the people, has grown.

In the USSR a developed socialist society has been built. At this stage, when socialism is developing on its own foundations, the creative forces of the new system and the advantages of the socialist way of life are becoming increasingly evident, and the working people are more and more widely enjoying the fruits of their great revolutionary gains.

It is a society in which powerful productive forces and progressive science and culture have been created, in which the well-being of the people is constantly rising, and more and more favourable conditions are being provided for the all-round development of the individual.

It is a society of mature socialist social relations, in which, on the basis of the drawing together of all classes and social strata and of the juridical and factual equality of all its nations and nationalities and their fraternal co-operation, a new historical community of people has been formed--the Soviet people.

It is a society of high organisational capacity, ideological commitment, and consciousness of the working people, who are patriots and internationalists.

It is a society in which the law of life is concern of all for the good of each and concern of each for the good of all.

It is a society of true democracy, the political system of which ensures effective management of all public affairs, ever more active participation of the working people in running the state, and the combining of citizen'scitizens' [sic] real rights and freedoms with their obligations and responsibility to society.

Developed socialist society is a natural, logical stage on the road to communism.

The supreme goal of this Soviet state is the building of a classless communist society in which there will be public, communist self-government. The main aims of the people's socialist state are: to lay the material and technical foundation of communism, to perfect socialist social relations and transform them into communist relations, to mould the citizen of communist society, to raise the people's living and cultural standards, to safeguard the country's security, and to further the consolidation of peace and development of international co-operation.

the Soviet people,


 * guided by the ideas of scientific communism and true to their revolutionary traditions,
 * relying on the great social, economic, and political gains of socialism,
 * striving for the further development of socialist democracy,
 * taking into account the international position of the USSR as part of the world system of socialism, and conscious of their internationalist responsibility,
 * preserving continuity of the ideas and principles of the first Soviet Constitution of 1918, the 1924 Constitution of the USSR and the 1936 Constitution of the USSR,

hereby affirm the principle so the social structure and policy of the USSR, and define the rights, freedoms and obligations of citizens, and the principles of the organisation of the socialist state of the whole people, and its aims, and proclaim these in this Constitution.

Chapter 1. The Political System
Article 1. The USSR is a socialist state of the entire people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, farmers, and intelligentsia of all the working people of the nations and nationalities in the country.

Article 2. All power in the USSR belongs to the people.

The people exercise state power through councils made up of people's deputies, which form the political foundation of the USSR.

Article 3. The organisation and functions of the Soviet state are based in accordance with the principle of democratic centralism: the election of all bodies of state power from bottom to top, their accountability to their people, and the binding of decisions made by higher authorities for lower ones. Democratic centralism combines cohesive leadership with initiative and creative activity on the job, with the responsibility of every government body and official for their assigned work.

Article 4. The Soviet state and all its bodies operate on the basis of socialist legality, ensures the protection of law and order, the interests of society, and the rights and freedoms of citizens.

State and public organizations and their officials are obliged to comply with the constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws.

Article 5. The most important issues of state and public life are brought to the attention of the public for discussion, and also put to a popular vote (referendum)

Article 6. The leading and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of its political system, state and public organizations is the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The CPSU exists for the people, and serves the people.

Under Marxist-Leninist doctrine, the Communist Party determines the general prospects for the development of society, the line of internal and foreign policy of the USSR, manages the grand constructive activities of the Soviet people, and gives a systematic, scientifically-based character to its fight for the triumph of communism.

All party organizations operate within the framework of the Soviet constitution.

Article 7. Trade unions, the All-Union Lenin Communist Youth Organization, cooperatives and other public organizations, in accordance with their statutory objectives, participate in the management of state and public affairs and in decisions both political, economic and socio-cultural.

Article 8. Work collectives participate in discussions and decisions of state and public affairs, in the planning of production and social development, in training and arrangement of personnel, in discussing and solving issues of managing enterprises and institutions, in improvements to working and living conditions, the use of funds intended for the development of production, as well as for socio-cultural affairs and material promotion.

Work collectives develop socialist emulation, contribute to the spread of advanced working methods, the strengthening of the discipline of labor, educate their members in the spirit of communist ethics, tends to the increase of their political consciousness, and their cultural and professional qualifications.

Article 9. The main direction of the development of the Soviet political system is the continuous development of socialist democracy: of the ever-broader involvement of citizens in administration of state and public affairs, improving the state apparatus, the promotion of the activities of public organizations, reinforcing people's control, strengthening the legal foundations of state and public life, the expansion of publicity, and the continuous consideration of public opinion.

Chapter 2. The Economic System
Article 10. The basis of the economic system of the USSR is the socialist ownership of the means of production in the form of state (public) and collective farms or cooperative property.

Socialist ownership includes the assets of trade unions and other public organizations that are necessary for the fulfillment of their statutory tasks.

The state protects socialist property and establishes conditions for its multiplication.

Nobody has the right to use socialist property for the purposes of private profit and other selfish purposes.

Article 11. State property is the common property of all Soviet people and the main form of socialist ownership.

The exclusive property of the state includes the land (soil), its minerals, its water and its forests. The state owns the means of production in industry, construction and agriculture, the means of transportation and communication, banks, the assets of state-organized trade, public and other enterprises, the main urban housing stock, as well as other assets necessary to carry out the tasks of the state.

Article 12. The property of collective farms and other cooperative organizations and their associations are the means of production and other assets they need to carry out statutory tasks. The land borrowed by collective farms is assigned to them for their free and perpetual use.

The state promotes the development of collective farm and cooperative assets and its convergence with the state. Collective farms, like other land users, are obliged to use the land effectively, treat it with care, and enhance its fruitfulness.

Article 13. The basis of personal possessions of the citizens of the USSR is earned income. Personal possessions may include everyday items, personal consumption, amenities and household farms, houses and earned savings. The personal possessions of citizens and the right to inherit it are guaranteed by the state. Citizens may use plots of land provided to them by established law for the running of subsidiary farming (including keeping livestock and poultry), fruit-growing and vegetable growing, as well as individual housing construction. Citizens have a duty to rationally utilize the land plots provided to them. State and collective farms provide assistance to citizens in managing their farms.

Possessions, both personal and public, should not serve to extract unearned profit or to be used to the detriment of the interests of society.

Article 14. The source of the growth of social wealth and the well-being of the Soviet people and every individual is the labor, free from exploitation, of the Soviet people.

In accordance with the socialist principle "from each according to his ability, to each according to his work", the state exercises control over the measure of work and consumption. It determines the rate of taxation on income subject to taxation.

Socially useful work and its results determines a person's position in society. The state, combining material and moral incentives, encourages innovation, a creative attitude to work, and contributes to the transformation of labor into the first vital need of every Soviet person.

Article 15. The supreme goal of social production under socialism is the most complete satisfaction of the growing material and inner needs of the people.

By guiding the creative activity of workers, socialist emulation, achievements of scientific and technological progress and improving the forms and methods of economic management, the state ensures an increase in labor productivity, an increase in production efficiency and quality of work, and a dynamic, planned, and proportional development of the national economy.

Article 16. The economy of the USSR constitutes a single national economic complex, including all branches of social production, distribution and exchange on the territory of the country.

Economic management is carried out on the basis of the state planning of economic and social development, taking into account industrial and territorial principles, with a combination of centralized management with the economic independence and initiative of enterprises, unions, and other organizations. In this case, economic calculations of profit, cost, and other economic levers and incentives are considered.

Article 17. In the USSR, in accordance with the law, individual labor in the fields of handicrafts, farming, consumer services, as well as other types of activities are permitted based exclusively on the personal labor of citizens and members of their family. The state regulates the activity of individual labor and ensures it serves the interests of society.

Article 18. In the interests of generations both present and future, the USSR adopts the necessary steps taken for the protection of, and scientifically based, rational use of the land and its minerals and waters, the plant and animal kingdoms, the preservation of the purity of water and air, the reproduction of natural wealth, and the improvement of the human environment.

Chapter 3. Social Development and Culture
Article 19.. The social foundation of the USSR is the unbreakable union between the workers, farmers, and intelligentsia. The state contributes to the strengthening of the social homogenity of society - the erasure of class differences, differences between urban and rural, mental and physical labor, and a comprehensive development and rapproachment of all nations and nationalities of the USSR.

Article 20. In accordance with the communist ideal of "Free development of each is the condition for the free development of all", the state pursues as its goal the expansion of real opportunities for citizens to use their creative abilities and talents for the comprehensive development of the individual.

Article 21. The state cares for the improvement of working condition, the protection of labor and its scientific organization, with the goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating all arduous physical labor through complex mechanizatoin and automation of production processes in all sectors of the national economy.

Article 22. The USSR implements a consistent program of the transformation of agricultural labor into a form of industrial labor, the extension of the network of educational, cultural and medical institutions, public catering, services and utilities to rural areas, and the transformation of hamlets and villages into comfortable settlements.

Article 23. Based on the growth of the productivity of labor, the state pursues a policy of increasing the wages and real income of workers.

In order to more completely satisfy the needs of the Soviet people, public consumption funds are created. The state, with the broad participation of public organizations and work collectives, ensures the growth and fair distribution of these funds.

Article 24. In the USSR, state systems of healthcare, social security, services and public catering, consumer services and public utilities are operated and developed. The state promotes and encourages the activities of co-operatives and other public organizations for the providing of all types of services for the population. The state promotes the development of mass physical culture and sports.

Article 25. In the USSR, there exists a constantly improving unified system of public education which provides general educational and professional training of citizens, serves communist education, the cultural and physical development of youth, and prepares them for work and social activities.

Article 26. In accordance with the needs of society, the state provides for the systematic development of the sciences and training of scientific personnel and organizes the introduction of the conclusions of scientific research into the national economy and other spheres of life.

Article 27. The state concerns itself with the protection, enhancement, and augmenting of cultural values for the moral and aesthetic education of the Soviet people, raising their cultural level. In the USSR, the development of professional and folk art is encouraged in every way.