BASIC LAW (THE CONSTITUTION) of the union of the soviet socialist republics

BASIC LAW (THE CONSTITUTION) of the union of the soviet socialist republics

Part II

The Treaty on Forming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

The Soviet Socialist Federative Republic of Russia (RSFSR), the Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine (USSR), the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia (BSSR), Trans-Caucasus Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (TCSFSR: Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan, Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia) associate into one state – the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

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Chapter III

Congress of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics

8. The supreme power of the state authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics belongs to the Congress of Soviets, and in periods between the convocation of congress to the Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics consisting of the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of the Nationalities.

10. The Congress of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics is composed of delegates of the provincial (Gubernia) congresses of soviets. In the Republics where the Gubernia is not formed, he delegates shall be elected directly at the Congress of the respective republic.

Chapter IV

Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

13. The Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics consists of the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of the Nationalities.

14. The Congress of Soviets of the USSR elects the Soviet of the Union from the representatives of Union Republics proportionate to the population of each of the Union Republic in total 414 people.

15. The Soviet of Nationalities is formed from representatives of the Union republics and autonomous republics – 5 representatives from each, and from the autonomous oblasts of the RSFSS – one representative from each. The composition of the Soviet of the Nationalities shall be approved by the Congress of the Soviets of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Note: the Autonomous Republics of Adjara and Abkhazia, and the Autonomous Oblasts of Nagorny Karabakh and South Ossetia shall send to the Soviet of the Nationalities one representative each.

Article 26. In the period between convocation of the sessions of the Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic shall exercise the function of the highest body of state authority; the Presidium shall be formed by the Central Executive Committee consisting of 21 members, which includes the all members of the Presidiums of the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of the Nationalities.

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Article 34. Decrees and resolutions of the Central Executive Committee, its Presidium and of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall be published in a language widely used in the Union Republics (Russian, Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Georgian, Armenian, Turk-Tatarian).

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31 January, 1924, Moscow

(The Constitution and the Constitutional acts of the USSR (1922-1936). Collection of Documents. Moscow, 1940, p. 41-49/in Russian)