|
Soviet Union [USSR] The 1918 Constitution
The first constitution, which governed the Russian Soviet
Federated Socialist Republic, described the regime that assumed
power in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917
(see Soviet Union USSR - Revolutions and Civil War
, ch. 2). This constitution formally recognized the
Bolshevik (see Glossary) party organization as the ruler of Russia
according to the principle of the dictatorship of the
proletariat (see Glossary). The constitution also stated that under the
leadership of the Bolsheviks the workers formed a political
alliance with the peasants. This constitution gave broad guarantees
of equal rights to workers and peasants. It denied, however, the
right of social groups that opposed the new government or supported
the White armies in the Civil War (1918-21) to participate in
elections to the soviets or to hold political power.
Supreme power rested with the All-Russian Congress of Soviets,
made up of deputies from local soviets across Russia. The steering
committee of the Congress of Soviets--known as the Central
Executive Committee--acted as the "supreme organ of power" between
sessions of the congress and as the collective presidency of the
state.
The congress recognized the Council of People's Commissars
(Sovet narodnykh kommissarov--Sovnarkom) as the administrative arm
of the young government. (The Sovnarkom had exercised governmental
authority from November 1917 until the adoption of the 1918
constitution.) The constitution made the Sovnarkom responsible to
the Congress of Soviets for the "general administration of the
affairs of the state." The constitution enabled the Sovnarkom to
issue decrees carrying the full force of law when the congress was
not in session. The congress then routinely approved these decrees
at its next session.
Data as of May 1989
|
