The Stalin Constitution

The Cult of Stalin

Social & Cultural Policies

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 Constitution formed by Stalin
 Stalin Built his Structure of total Dictatorship, he also presented a new
Soviet constitution that promised the citizenry extensive personal freedom
& the provision of every material need. Officials explained that the
conversion of the USSR to a fully socialist economy necessitated the
replacement of the Constitution adopted during the NEP era.

 The Stalin Constitution, released in 1936, actually gave the Soviets none of
the liberty & little welfare program it described. It did contain one very
meaningful section; however the article that specified the supremacy of the
Communist Party in the USSR.

 Stalin claimed this constitution was the fairest in the world. Everyone
above 18 was allowed to vote every four years for a National Assembly
called The Supreme Soviet.

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 On February 7th 1935 the First session of the Central Executive
Committee of the U.S.S.R met & in pursuance of the decision
of the 7th Congress of Soviets of the U.S.S.R., set up the
Constitution Committee, consisting of 31 persons.
 This instructed the Constitution Commission to prepare a draft
of an amended Constitution of the U.S.S.R.
 What were the changes in the life of the people From the
period after the constitution was amended.?
 What were the essence of these changes?
 Now we shall look at all these is a deeper light……

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  At the first glance, it would appear that the citizens of the
USSR had more rights that their American counterparts.
 Stalin’s Constitution guaranteed the people the right to
work, the right to rest & leisure{ no overtime}, maintenance
in old age, right to educate, economic equality, right to form
unions, right to privacy, freedom of religion, freedom of
speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press.
 Unfortunately, the constitution doesn't explain exactly how
these freedoms are guaranteed.

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 This Assembly met for two weeks in a year. It elected a smaller
body, the Praesidium, to act on its behalf. It also chose a
Council of Ministers responsible for running the country.
 Stalin as Secretary or Leader of the Communist Party, led the
cabinet.
 Only members of the Communist Party could be elected t the
various posts. Stalin controlled party membership, & thus
chose those people who liked & supported him and his
position.
 Although the party was supposed to be democratic, it is
obvious that Stalin had the real power.
 Stalin & the Communist Party tried to make themselves look
good by recognizing the rights of the people to :
 FREE MEDICAL CARE.
 TO WORK.
 TO EDUCATION &
 TO POLITICAL RIGHTS
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The Soviet Constitution : 1936
 The Soviet Constitution was adopted on December 5th
1936; it was also known as “ STALIN CONSTITUTION”,
it redesigned the government of the Soviet Union.
 The Constitution repealed restrictions on voting & adding
universal direct suffrage and the right to work.
 The addition, the Constitution recognized collective social
& economic rights including the rights to work, rest &
leisure, health protection, care in old age & sickness,
housing education & cultural benefits.
 The Constitution also provided for the direct election of all
government bodies & their reorganization into single,
uniform system.

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 Draft of the Stalin Constitution

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 The Constitution of 1936 changed the name of the Central Executive
Committee to the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics.
 Like its predecessor, the Supreme Soviet contained two chambers:
1. Soviet of the Union.
2. Soviet of Nationalities.
 The constitution empowered the Supreme Soviet t elect commissions,
which performed most of the Supreme Soviets work.
 This constitution was seen as a personal triumph for Stalin; who on this
occasion was described by the Pravda as “ Genius of the New
World”, “The wisest man of the epoch”, “The great leader of
communism”.

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 Explanation of a Few Grants in the Soviet
Constitution
 1st e.g. The US Constitution grants freedom of speech with
the following paragraph:
 “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging freedom of speech, of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, & to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.”
 The USSR constitution grants in Citizens freedom of
speech with this message;
 “ In conformity with the interests of the working people, &
in order to strengthen the socialist system, the citizens of
the of the USSR are guaranteed by law

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1. Freedom of speech,
2. Freedom of the press,
3. Freedom of assembly, including the holding of mass
meetings;
4. Freedom of street processions & demonstrations,
 These civil rights are ensured by packing at the
disposal of the working people & their organizations
printing presses, stocks of paper, public buildings, the
streets, communications facilities & other material
requisites for the exercise of these rights.”

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 Assignment
 Do you notice the difference in the way
the Freedoms are granted in the two
countries?
 Research on three freedoms in each of

the countries and present a presentations

by 7th sept 2006.
 You can work in groups.

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Stalin Constitution 1936: Chapter I

 The First Chapter had a total of 12 Articles.

 These were for the benefit of the Russian public.
 We shall now go through a few articles stated in the
Chapter I of the Stalin Constitution

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 Chapter I: The Organization Of the Soviet
Society
 Article 1: The Union of the soviet Socialist Republics is a
Socialist State of workers & peasants.
 Article 2: The Soviets of Workings People’s Deputies, which
grew & attained strength as a result of the overthrow of the
landlords & capitalist & achievement of dictatorship of the
proletariat, constitute the political foundation of the USSR.
 Article 3: In the USSR, all power belongs to the working
people of the town and country as represented by the Soviets
of the Working People’s Deputies.
 Article 6: The land, its natural deposits, water, forests, mills,
factories, mines, rail, water and air transport, banks, post,
telegraph & telephones, large state organized agricultural
enterprises, as well as municipal enterprises, & bulk of the
dwelling houses & in the cities & industrial localities; are
state property, that is they belong to the people.

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 Article 11: The economic life of the U.S.S.R, is
determined & directed by state national economic plan
with the aim of increasing the public wealth, of steadily
improving the material conditions of the working people
and raising their cultural level, of consolidating the
independence of the U.S.S.R. and strengthening its
defensive capacity.
 ARTICLE 12: IN THE U.S.S.R. WORK IS A DUTY AND A
MATTER OF HONOUR FOR EVERY ABLE BODIED
CITIZEN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCPLE : “
HE WHO DOES NOT WORK, NEITHER SHALL HE EAT”
 The principle applied in U.S.S.R. is that of Socialism “
FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, TO
EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORK”

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 Chapter IV: The Highest Organs Of State Authority
Of the Union Republics
 Article 57: The highest organ of state authority of a Union
Republic is the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic.
 Article 58: The Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic is elected by
the citizens of the republic for a term of 4 years.
 Article 59: The Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic is sole
legislative organ of the Republic.
 Article 60: The Supreme Soviet of a union Republic:
 Adopts the constitution of the Republican & amends it in conformity with
Article 16 of the Constitution of the USSR;
 Confirms the constitution of the Autonomous Republics forming part of it &
defines the boundaries of their territories;
 Approves the national economic plan & also the budget of the Republic;
 Exercises the right of amnesty & pardon of citizens sentenced by the Judicial
organs of The Union Republic.

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 Chapter X: Fundamental Rights & Duties Of
Citizens
 Article 118: Citizens of the USSR have the right to work,
that is guaranteed the right to employment & payment for
their work in accordance, with its quality & quantity.
 Article 120: Citizens of the USSR have the right to
maintenance in old age & also in case of sickness or loss of
capacity to work. This right is ensured by extensive
development of social insurance of workers & employees at
state expense, free medical service for the working people
and the provision of a wide network of health resorts for
the use of the working people.
 Article 122: Women in the USSR; are accorded equal rights
with men in all spheres of economic, state, cultural,

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social & political life. The possibility of exercising these
rights is ensured to women by granting them an equal
right to work with men, equal payment for work done,
rest & leisure, social insuransce & education, and by
state protection of interests mother & child, pre-
maternity & maternity leave with full pay, & the
province of a wide network of maternity homes,
nurseries & kindergartens.
 Article 123: Equality of rights of citizens of the USSR.,

irrespective of their nationality or race, in all spheres of

economic, state, cultural, social and political life, is an
indefeasible law. Any direct privileges for, citizens on
account of their race or nationality, as well as any
advocacy of racial or national exclusiveness or hatred &
contempt, punishable by law.

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 Article 124: In order to ensure to citizens freedom of
conscience the church in the USSR. separated from the
state, and the school from the church. Freedom of
religious worship & freedom of anti religious
propaganda is recognized for all citizens.
 Article 130: It is the duty of every citizen of the USSR, to
abide by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, to
observe the laws, to maintain labor discipline, honestly
to perform public duties, and to respect the rules of
socialist intercourse
 Article 132: Universal military service is law. Military
service in workers and peasants Red Army is an
honorable duty of every citizens of the U.S.S.R.

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 Article 133: To defend the fatherland is the sacred duty
of every citizen of U.S.S.R. Treason to the
country….violation of the oath of allegiance, desertion
to the enemy, impairing the military power of the state,
espionage is punishable with all the severity of the law
as the most heinous of crimes.

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 Chapter XII : Arms, Flag, Capital
 The Arms of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
consist of a Sickle & hammer against a globe depicted
in the rays of the sun & surrounded by ears of grain
with the inscription “ workers of all Countries, Unite!”
in the languages of the union republics.
 On the top of the arms is a five pointed star.

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 The Socialist Republics is of red cloth with the Sickle
& Hammer depicted in gold in the upper corner near
the staff & above them a five pointed red star bordered
in gold.

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The Russian Capital
 The CAPITAL of the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republic is
the City of Moscow.
 It was the base of all operation of the Bolshevik Party.

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Test for 8th September 2006.

 Test will be on the constitution and its

formation also research on the American
constitution as a source may be on
comparisons.
 No alteration will be done as far as test and

Assignment dates are concerned.

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