"15. For the purpose of enabling the workers to hold free meetings, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic offers to the working class and to the poorest peasantry furnished halls, and takes care of their heating and lighting appliances.

"16. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, having crushed the economic and political power of the propertied classes, and having thus abolished all obstacles which interfered with the freedom of organization and action of the workers and peasants, offers assistance, material and other, to the workers and the poorest peasantry in their effort to unite and organize.

"17. For the purpose of guaranteeing to the workers real access to knowledge, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic sets itself the task of furnishing full and general free education to the workers and the poorest peasantry.

"18. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic considers work the duty of every citizen of the Republic, and proclaims as its motto: 'He shall not eat who does not work.'

"19. For the purpose of defending the victory of the great peasants' and workers' revolution, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic recognizes the duty of all citizens of the Republic to come to the defense of their Socialist Fatherland, and it therefore introduces universal military training. The honor of defending the revolution with arms is accorded only to the workers, and the non-working elements are charged with the performance of other military duties.

"20. In consequence of the solidarity of the workers of all nations, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic grants all political rights of Russian citizens to foreigners who live in the territory of the Russian Republic and are engaged in work and who belong to the working class. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic also recognizes the right of local Soviets to grant citizenship to such foreigners without complicate formality.

"21. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic offers shelter to all foreigners who seek refuge from political or religious persecution.

"22. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, recognizing the equal rights of all citizens, irrespective of their racial or national connections, proclaims all privileges on this ground, as well as oppression of national minorities, to be contrary to the fundamental laws of the Republic.

"23. Being guided by the interests of the working class as a whole, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic deprives all individuals and groups of rights which could be utilized by them to the detriment of the Socialist Revolution.

"The All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers', Peasants', Cossacks' and Red Army Deputies

"24. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets is the supreme power of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"25. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets is composed of representatives of urban Soviets (one delegate for 25,000 voters) and of representatives of the provincial (Gubernia) congresses of Soviets (one delegate for 125,000 inhabitants).

"Note 1.- In case the Provincial Congress is not called before the All-Russian Congress is convoked, delegates for the latter are sent directly from the County (Ouezd) Congress.

"Note 2. In case the Regional (Oblast) Congress is convoked indirectly, previous to the convocation of the All-Russian Congress, delegates for the latter may be sent by the Regional Congress.

"26. The All-Russian Congress is convoked by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee at least twice a year.

"27. A special All-Russian Congress is convoked by the AllRussian Central Executive Committee upon its own initiative, or upon the request of local Soviets having not less than one-third of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"28. The All-Russian Congress elects an All-Russian Central Executive Committee of not more than 200 members.

"29. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee is entirely responsible to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets.

"30. In the periods between the convocation of the Congresses, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee is the supreme power of the Republic.

CHAPTER SEVEN

"The All-Russian Central Executive Committee

"31. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee is the supreme legislative, executive, and controlling organ of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"32. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee directs in a general way the activity of the Workers' and Peasants' Government and of all organs of the Soviet authority in the country, and it co-ordinates and regulates the operation of the Soviet Constitution and of the resolutions of the All-Russian Congresses and of the central organs of the Soviet power.

"33. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee considers and enacts all measures and proposals introduced by the Soviet of People's Commissars or by the various departments, and it also issues its own decrees and regulations.

"34. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee convokes the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, at which time the Executive Committee reports on its activity and on general questions.

"35. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee forms a Council of People's Commissars for the purpose of general management of the affairs of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, and it also forms departments (People's Commissariats) for the purpose of conducting various branches.

"36. The members of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee work in the various departments (People's Commissariats) or execute special orders of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

(6 CHAPTER EIGHT

"37. The Council of People's Commissars is entrusted with the general management of the affairs of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"38. For the accomplishment of this task the Council of People's Commissars issues decrees, resolutions, orders, and, in general, takes all steps necessary for the proper and rapid conduct of government affairs.

"39. The Council of People's Commissars notifies immediately the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of all its orders and resolutions.

"40. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee has the right to revoke or suspend all orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars.

"41. All orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars of great political significance are referred for consideration and final approval to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

"Note.- Measures requiring immediate execution may be enacted directly by the Council of People's Commissars.

"42. The members of the Council of People's Commissars stand at the head of the various People's Commissariats.

"43. There are seventeen People's Commissars: (a) Foreign Affairs; (b) Army, (c) Navy, (d) Interior, (e) Justice, (f) Labor, (g) Social Welfare, (h) Education, (i) Post and Telegraph, (j) National Affairs, (k) Finances, (1) Ways of Communications, (m) Agriculture, (n) Commerce and Industry, (o) National Supplies, (p) State Control, (q) Supreme Soviet of National Economy, (r) Public Health.

"44. Every Commissar has a Collegium (committee) of which he is the president, and the members of which are appointed by the Council of People's Commissars.

"45. A People's Commissar has the individual right to decide on all questions under the jurisdiction of his Commissariat, and he is to report on his decision to the Collegium. If the Collegium does not agree with the Commissar on some decisions, the former may, without stopping the execution of the decision, complain of it to the executive members of the Council of People's Commissars or to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

"Individual members of the Collegium have this right also. "46. The Council of People's Commissars is entirely responsible to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

"47. The People's Commissars and the Collegia of the People's Commissariats are entirely responsible to the Council of People's Commissars and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

"48. The title of People's Commissar belongs only to the members of the Council of People's Commissars, which is in charge of general affairs of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, and it cannot be used by any other representative of the Soviet power, either central or local.

"CHAPTER NINE

"Affairs in the Jurisdiction of the All-Russian Congress and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee

"49. The All-Russian Congress and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee deal with questions of state, such as:

"(a) Ratification and amendment of the Constitution of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"(b) General direction of the entire interior and foreign policy of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. "(c) Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"(d) Establishing boundaries for regional Soviet unions belonging to the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, also settling disputes among them.

"(e) Admission of new members to the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic, and recognition of the secession of any parts of it.

"(f) The general administrative division of the territory of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, and the approval of regional unions.

"(g) Establishing and changing weights, measures, and money denominations in the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"(h) Foreign relations, declaration of war, and ratification of peace treaties.

"(i) Making loans, signing commercial treaties and financial agreements.

"(j) Working out a basis and a general plan for the national economy and for its various branches in the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"(k) Approval of the budget of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.

"(1) Levying taxes and establishing the duties of citizens to the State.

"(m) Establishing the bases for the organization of armed forces.

"(n) State legislation, judicial organization and procedure, civil and criminal legislation, etc.