CHAPTER XI THE CONSTITUTION OF THE RUSSIAN SOCIALIST FEDERATED SOVIET REPUBLIC File No. 861.00/2817 The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State No. 9 Moscow, August 20, 1918. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith four copies of a translation of the constitution of the Russian Socialistic Federated Republic of Soviets, as it appeared in the official Bolshevik journal, the Izvestia, of July 19, 1918.1 I have [etc.] DEW. C. POOLE, Jr. [Enclosure-Translation] CONSTITUTION OF THE RUSSIAN SOCIALIST FEDERATED SOVIET REPUBLIC" SECTION I.-DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE LABORING AND EXPLOITED PEOPLE 1. Russia is proclaimed a Republic of the Soviets of Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies. All the central and local authority is in the hands of these Soviets. 2. The Russian Soviet Republic is constituted on the basis of the free union of free nations, as a federation of national Soviet republics. Chapter II 3. Setting as its main object the destruction of every kind of exploitation of one man by another, the abolishment of class distinction, the merciless suppression of exploiters, the establishment of a socialistic organization of society and the victory of socialism in all countries, the III All-Russia Congress of the Soviets of Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, further decrees: (a) In order to realize socialization of land, private holding of land is abolished and the entire agrarian fund is declared national property and is given over to the laboring people without redemption on the basis of equal use. 1 The constitution was adopted July 10, 1918; a later constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was adopted July 6, 1923. The translation has been left substantially in the form in which it was received. A few brief omitted passages have been supplied and a few verbal corrections made upon comparison with the Russian text issued July 19, 1918, as No. 151, "Izvestii Vseros. Tsentr. Ispoln. Komiteta" (Izdatelstvo Vserossiiskago Tsentralkago Ispolnitelnago Komiteta Sovetov R.,S.,K. i K. Deputatov, Moscow), and the translation published by the Department of Foreign Political Literature of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. (b) All woods, minerals and waters of a general state significance as well as all live and immovable stock, model farms and agricultural institutions are declared national property. (c) The Soviet law regarding labor control and a Supreme Council for National Economy is confirmed as the first step towards the entire transfer of works, mills, mines, railways and other means of production and transport into the possession of the Workmen's and Peasants' Republic of Soviets, for the purpose of insuring the authority of the working people over the exploiters. (d) The III Congress of Soviets regards the Soviet law of annulment of loans made by the government of the Tsar, landowners and bourgeoisie, as the first blow to international banking and financial capital, and expresses the certainty that the Soviet authority will firmly follow this course until the absolute victory of the international workmen's rebellion against the yoke of capital. (e) The transfer of all banks into the possession of the Workmen's and Peasants' Republic is confirmed as one of the conditions towards the liberation of the working masses from the yoke of capital. (f) In order to destroy the parasite elements of society and to organize the economy of the country, compulsory labor service is introduced. (g) In the interest of insuring authority for the working class and to remove every possibility of the reestablishment of the authority of exploiters, the arming of the laboring class, the formation of a socialistic Red Army of workmen and peasants and the complete disarmament of the propertied classes are decreed. Chapter III 4. Expressing its firm decision to wrench mankind from the clutches of capitalism and imperialism which, in this most criminal war, have drenched the world in blood, the III Congress of Soviets joins the Soviet authority in the policy it is carrying out with regard to the breaking off of secret agreements. the organization of the widest fraternization with the workmen and peasants of the armies at war, and the achievement of democratic peace through revolutionary measures without annexations and contributions on the basis of the self-determination of nations. 5. For the same purpose the III Congress of Soviets insists on the absolute breaking off of the barbaric policy of bourgeois civilization, which builds up the well-being of exploiters in a few chosen nations on the enslavement of hundreds of millions of the working population of Asia, the colonies in general and of small countries. 6. The III Congress of Soviets welcomes the policy of the Council of People's Commissars, which has proclaimed the absolute independence of Finland, has commenced the withdrawal of troops from Persia and given Armenia the right to self-determination. Chapter IV 7. The III Congress of Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies considers that at this moment of decisive struggle of the proletariat against its exploiters, there can be no place for the exploiters in any of the organs of government. Authority must belong entirely and exclusively to the working masses and their plenipotentiary representatives, the Soviets of Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies. 8. At the same time, striving towards the establishment of a really free and voluntary union, therefore a fuller and more stable one, of the working classes of all the nationalities of Russia, the III Congress of Soviets limits itself to the establishment of the fundamental points of the federation of the Soviet republics of Russia, allowing the workmen and peasants of each nationality to decide themselves at their Soviet Congress if they desire to take part in the federal government and in other federal Soviet institutions and on what conditions. SECTION II.—GENERAL STATUTES OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE RUSSIAN SOCIAL- 9. The essential object of the Constitution of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, at the present transitory stage, consists in the establishment of the dictatorship of the town and village proletariat and the poorest peasants in the form of a powerful All-Russia Soviet authority for the purpose of crushing the bourgeoisie, destroying the exploitation of one man by another and the establishment of socialism which will admit of no class distinction and no monarchical power. 10. The Russian Republic is a free socialistic community of all the working people of Russia. All the authority within the bounds of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic belongs to all the working inhabitants of the country, who are united in the town and village Soviets. 11. The Soviets of provinces where there is a different mode of life and which are composed of different nationalities, may unite into autonomous provincial unions with the provincial congress of Soviets and their executive organs at the head. These autonomous provincial unions belong to the federation of the Russian Socialist Federated Republic of Soviets. 12. The supreme authority in the Russian Socialist Federated Republic of Soviets belongs to the All-Russia Congress of Soviets and during the period between the Congresses to the All-Russia Central Executive Committee. 13. For the purpose of insuring real freedom of conscience to the labor ing people, the church is separated from the state and the schools from the church, and all citizens are permitted the liberty of religious or antireligious propaganda. 14. For the purpose of insuring real freedom of opinion to the laboring people, the R.S.F.S. Republic abolishes the dependence of the press on capital and gives the workpeople and the poorer peasants all the technical and material means for the publication of newspapers, pamphlets, books and all other printed matter, and guarantees their free circulation in the whole country. 15. For the purpose of insuring real freedom of meetings to the laboring people, the R.S.F.S. Republic, recognizing the right of citizens of the Soviet Republic to organize meetings, processions, etc., places at the disposal of the workpeople and poorer peasants all premises suitable for the arrangement of meetings, with light and heat. 16. To insure real freedom of unions, the R.S.F.S. Republic, having broken down the economic and political authority of the propertied classes and having thereby removed all obstacles which until now prevented the workmen and peasants from enjoying freedom of organization and action in bourgeois so ciety, will offer the workmen and poorest peasants every support for their organization and union. 17. For the purpose of making knowledge accessible to the working class, the R.S.F.S. Republic will make it possible for the workmen and poorest peasants to have a free general complete education. 18. The R.S.F.S. Republic considers work the duty of all citizens of the republic and proclaims its motto: "He who does not work, does not eat!" 19. For the purpose of defending the conquests of the great workmen's and peasants' revolution, the R.S.F.S. Republic considers the defense of the socialist fatherland to be the duty of all citizens of the republic and introduces general compulsory military service. The honorable right of defending the revolution is only given to the working class, the non-working elements being charged with different military duties. 20. Basing itself on the solidarity of the working classes of all nations, the R.S.F.S. Republic gives all the political rights of Russian citizens to foreigners residing on the territory of the Russian Republic who belong to the working class or are peasants not employing hired labor, and authorizes the local Soviets to give the right of Russian citizenship to all such foreigners without any formalities. 21. The R.S.F.S. Republic gives the right of sanctuary to all foreigners who are subject to persecution for political or religious crimes. 22. The R.S.F.S. Republic recognizing the equal rights of citizens regardless of their race and nationality declares all privileges and advantages on this basis, as well as all oppression and limitation of the rights of smaller nationalities, contradictory to the fundamental laws of the Republic. 23. Being guided by the interests of the working class as a whole, the R.S.F.S. Republic deprives different persons and groups of rights which they make use of in detriment to the interests of the socialist revolution. SECTION III.-CONSTRUCTION OF SOVIET AUTHORITY A. ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY Chapter VI.-Regarding the All-Russia Congress of the Soviets of Workmen's, Peasants', Cossack and Red Army Deputies 24. The All-Russia Congress of Soviets is the supreme authority of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. 25. The All-Russia Congress of Soviets is composed of the representatives of the town Soviets, one deputy for every 25,000 electors, and representatives of the guberniya congresses of Soviets, one deputy for every 125,000 inhabitants. Remark 1: In case the guberniya congress of Soviets does not precede the All-Russia Congress, the delegates for the latter are sent directly by the uezd congresses. Remark 2: In case the provincial congress of Soviets immediately precedes the All-Russia Congress, the delegates for the latter may be sent by the provincial congress. 26. The All-Russia Congress of Soviets is convoked by the All-Russia Central Executive Committee not less seldom than twice a year. 27. The Extraordinary All-Russia Congress is convoked by the All-Russia Central Executive Committee on its own initiative or at the demand of Soviets of a territory comprising not less than one-third of the whole population of the Republic. 28. The All-Russia Congress of Soviets elects not more than 200 persons to the All-Russia Central Executive Committee. 29. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee is entirely responsible to the All-Russia Congress of Soviets. 30. During the period between the Congresses the supreme authority of the Republic belongs to the All-Russia Central Executive Committee. Chapter VII.-Regarding the All-Russia Central Executive Committee 31. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee is the supreme legislative, executive and controlling organ of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. 32. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee directs the work of the workmen's and peasants' government and of all the organs of government of the Soviet authority in the country, unites and coordinates the legislative and administrative work and supervises the carrying out of the Soviet constitution and the decisions of the All-Russia Congresses of Soviets and of the central organs of Soviet authority. 33. The Central Executive Committee examines and approves projects of decrees or other propositions introduced by the Council of People's Commissars or by different departments, and also issues its own decrees and regulations. 34. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee convokes the All-Russia Congress of Soviets to which it gives an account of its activity and presents reports on the general policy and on different questions. 35. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee forms the Council of People's Commissars for the general administration of the affairs of the R.S.F.S. Republic and departments for the administration of different branches of government (the People's Commissariats). 36. The members of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee work in the People's Commissariats or carry out special commissions of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee. Chapter VIII.-—Regarding the Council of People's Commissars 37. The Council of People's Commissars has the general management of the affairs of the R.S.F.S. Republic. 38. For this purpose the Council of People's Commissars issues decrees, orders, instructions and in general takes all measures necessary to the regular and quick course of state life. 39. The Council of People's Commissars immediately informs the All-Russia Central Executive Committee of all its orders and decisions. 40. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee has the right to abolish or to veto any order or decision of the Council of People's Commissars. 41. All orders and decisions of the Council of People's Commissars having an important general political significance are submitted for examination and approval to the All-Russia Central Executive Committee. Remark: Measures requiring immediate execution may be carried out directly by the Council of People's Commissars. 42. Members of the Council of People's Commissars are at the head of the different People's Commissariats. 43. There are eighteen People's Commissariats, viz.: (a) For Foreign Affairs; (d) For Home Affairs; (e) For Justice; (f) For Labor; (g) For Social Insurance; (h) For Education; (i) For Post and Telegraph: (j) For Nationalities; (k) For Finance; (1) For Ways of Communication; (m) For Agriculture; (n) For Trade and Industry; (0) For National Food Supply; (p) For State Control; (q) The Supreme Council of National Economy; |