Brezhnev on the Draft Constitution

Leonid Brezhnev, Report to the Plenary Session of the Central Committee. May 24, 1977

 

Original Source: Pravda, 5 June 1977.

Now for the main features of the content of the draft of the new Constitution.

First of all, one should mention that it gives a detailed description of the guiding and directing role of the Communist Party and clearly reflects our Party’s actual place in Soviet society and the Soviet state. Unlike the 1936 Constitution, this role is treated more broadly, in a special article.

The draft of the new Constitution also states that a developed socialist society has been created in the USSR and that the supreme goal of the Soviet state is the building of communism. It is emphasized that our state is a state of all the people and that it expresses the will and interests of the working class, the peasantry and the intelligentsia, of all the country’s nations and nationalities. In this connection, it is proposed to call our soviets, Soviets of People’s Deputies.

The draft retains the fundamental provision to the effect that socialist ownership of the means of production is the basis of the USSR’s economic system. At the same time, it is proposed that some clarifications, suggested by life itself, be made in the new Constitution. Along with state and collective farm – cooperative forms of ownership, ownership by trade union and other public organizations is now listed as well.

In general, it can be said that the main guideline of the new elements contained in the draft is the broadening and deepening of socialist democracy.

Above all, the democratic principles of the formation and activity of the soviets have received further development. Provision has been made for increasing their role in the resolution of the most important questions in the life of society.

Art. 106 states that the USSR Supreme Soviet is empowered to resolve all questions placed within the jurisdiction of the USSR- The local soviets not only resolve all questions of local importance but also, within the limits of their powers, control and coordinate the activity of all organizations in their territories. Special emphasis is given to the systematic nature of control by the soviets over executive and administrative agencies and over the activity of organizations and officials.

The term of office of the Supreme Soviet has been increased to five years, and that of the local soviets to two and a half years. Courts will be elected for the same terms.

The draft defines the main ways of strengthening the tics between the soviets and their deputies and the masses. The former arc obliged to regularly inform the population about their activity, to report to the voters, and to consider carefully every proposal made by the working people …

The draft gives significantly fuller formulation to the political rights and liberties of USSR citizens.

The right of every Soviet citizen to participate in the administration of state and public affairs is proclaimed, and the specific forms of such participation are indicated.

Freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of mass meetings and of street processions and demonstrations, which arc included in the Constitution now in effect, are restated in full. The right of citizens to submit proposals to state and public agencies, to criticize shortcomings in work and to protest the actions of officials to court, as well as the right to legal protection against attempts on one’s life, health, property, personal freedom, honor and dignity, are a significant addition to the constitutional guarantees of the rights of the individual.

Needless to say, comrades, the draft Constitution proceeds from the premise that the rights and liberties of citizens cannot and must not be used against our social system or to the detriment of the Soviet people’s interests. Therefore, the draft clearly states, for example, that the exercise by citizens of their rights and liberties must not injure the interests of society and the state or the rights of other citizens and that political liberties are granted in accordance with the working people’s interests and for the purpose of strengthening the socialist system.

Every Soviet person should clearly realize that, in the final analysis, the chief guarantee of his rights is the might and prosperity of the homeland. To tills end, every citizen should have a sense of his responsibility to society and should conscientiously fulfill his duty to the state and to the people.

Source: Current Digest of the Soviet Press, Vol. XXIX, No. 23 (July 6, 1977), pp. 7-8.

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