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Soviet Union [USSR] Role of the Citizen
Article 59 of the Constitution stated that citizens' exercise
of their rights was inseparable from performance of their duties.
Articles 60 through 69 defined these duties. Citizens were obliged
to work and to observe labor discipline. The legal code labeled
evasion of work as "parasitism" and provided severe punishment for
this crime. The Constitution also obligated citizens to protect
socialist property and oppose corruption. All citizens performed
military service as a duty to safeguard and "enhance the power and
prestige of the Soviet state." Violation of this duty was a
betrayal of the motherland and the gravest of crimes. Finally, the
Constitution obligated parents to train their children for socially
useful work and to raise them as worthy members of socialist
society.
The Constitution and other legislation protected and enforced
Soviet citizenship. Legislation on citizenship granted equal rights
of citizenship to naturalized citizens as well as to the native
born. Laws also specified that citizens could not freely renounce
their citizenship. Citizens were required to apply for permission
to do so from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, which could
reject the application if the applicant had not completed military
service, had judicial duties, or was responsible for family
dependents. In addition, the Presidium could refuse the application
to protect national security. However, the Presidium could revoke
citizenship for defamation of the Soviet Union or for acts damaging
to national prestige or security.
Data as of May 1989
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