CONSTITUTION
(FUNDAMENTAL LAW)
OF
THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
Adopted at the Seventh (Special) Session of
the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
Ninth Convocation
On October 7, 1977
V.
HIGHER BODIES OF STATE AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE USSR
Chapter 15: THE SUPREME SOVIET OF
THE USSR
Article 108. The highest body of state authority of the USSR
shall be the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR is empowered to deal with all matters
within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as
defined by this Constitution.
The adoption and amendment of the Constitution of the USSR; admission
of new Republics to the USSR; endorsement of the formation of new Autonomous
Republics and Autonomous Regions; approval of the state plans for economic
an social development, of the Budget of the USSR, and of reports on their
execution; and the institution of bodies of the USSR accountable to it,
are the exclusive prerogative of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Laws of the USSR shall be enacted by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
or by a nationwide vote (referendum) held by decision of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR.
Article 109. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall consist of
two chambers: the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities.
The two chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall have equal
rights.
Article 110. The Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities
shall have equal numbers of deputies.
The Soviet of the Union shall be elected by constituencies with equal
populations.
The Soviet of Nationalities shall be elected on the basis of the following
representation: 32 deputies from each Union Republic, 11 deputies from
each Autonomous Republic, five deputies from each Autonomous Region, and
one deputy from each Autonomous Area.
The Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities, upon submission
by the credentials commissions elected by them, shall decide on the validity
of Deputies' credentials, and, in cases in which the election law has been
violated, shall declare the election of the Deputies concerned null and
void.
Article 111. Each chamber of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall
elect a Chairman and four Vice-Chairmen.
The Chairmen of the Soviet of the Union and of the Soviet of Nationalities
shall preside over the sittings of the respective chambers and conduct
their affairs.
Joint sittings of the chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall
be presided over alternately by the Chairman of the Soviet of the Union
and the Chairman of the Soviet of Nationalities.
Article 112. Sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall
be convened twice a year.
Special sessions shall be convened by the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR at its discretion or on the proposal of a Union Republic,
or of not less than one-third of the Deputies of one of the chambers.
A session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall consist of separate
and joint sittings of the chambers, and of meetings of the standing commissions
of the chambers or commissions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR held between
the sittings of the chambers. A session may be opened and closed at either
separate or joint sittings of the chambers.
Article 113. The right to initiate legislation in the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR is vested in the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet
of Nationalities, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the
Council of Ministers of the USSR, Union Republics through their highest
bodies of state authority, commissions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
and standing commissions of its chambers, Deputies of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR, the Supreme Court of the USSR, and the Procurator-General
of the USSR.
The right to initiate legislation is also vested in public organisations
through their All-Union bodies.
Article 114. Bills and other matters submitted to the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR shall be debated by its chambers at separate or joint
sittings. Where necessary, a bill or other matter may be referred to one
or more commissions for preliminary or additional consideration.
A law of the USSR shall be deemed adopted when it has been passed in
each chamber of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR by a majority of the total
number of its Deputies. Decisions and other acts of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR are adopted by a majority of the total number of Deputies of
the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Bills and other very important matters of state may be submitted for
nationwide discussion by a decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or
its Presidium taken on their own initiative or on the proposal of a Union
Republic.
Article 115. In the event of a disagreement between the Soviet
of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities, the matter at issue shall
be referred for settlement to a conciliation commission formed by the chambers
on a parity basis, after which it shall e considered for a second time
by the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities at a joint sitting.
If agreement is again not reached, the matter shall be postponed for debate
at the next session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or submitted by the
Supreme Soviet to a nationwide vote (referendum)
Article 116. Laws of the USSR and decisions and other acts of
the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall be published in the languages of the
Union Republics over the signatures of the Chairman and Secretary of the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Article 117. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR has the
right to address inquiries to the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and
to Ministers and the heads of other bodies formed by the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR. The Council of Ministers of the USSR, or the official to whom
the inquiry is addressed, is obliged to give a verbal or written reply
within three days at the given session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Article 118. A Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR may not
be prosecuted, or arrested, or incur a court-imposed penalty, without the
sanction of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or, between its sessions, of
the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Article 119. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR, at a joint sitting
of its chambers, shall elect a Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR,
which shall be a standing body of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, accountable
to it for all its work and exercising the functions of the highest body
of state authority of the USSR between sessions of the Supreme Soviet,
within the limits prescribed by the Constitution.
Article 120. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
shall be elected from among the Deputies and shall consist of a Chairman,
First Vice-Chairman, 15 Vice-Chairmen (one from each Union Republic), a
Secretary, and 21 members.
Article 121. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
shall:
- name the date of elections to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
- convene sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
- co-ordinate the work of the standing commissions of the chambers of
the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;
- ensure observance of the Constitution of the USSR and conformity of
the Constitutions and laws of Union Republics to the Constitution and laws
of the USSR;
- interpret the laws of the USSR;
- ratify and denounce international treaties of the USSR;
- revoke decisions and ordinances of the Council of Ministers of the
USSR and of the Councils of Ministers of Union Republics should they fail
to conform to the law;
- institute military and diplomatic ranks and other special titles; and
confer the highest military and diplomatic ranks and other special titles;
- institute orders and medals of the USSR, and honorific titles of the
USSR; award orders and medals of the USSR; and confer honorific titles
of the USSR.
- grant citizenship of the USSR, and rule on matters of the renunciation
or deprivation of citizenship of the USSR and of granting asylum;
- issue All-Union acts of amnesty and exercise the right of pardon;
- appoint and recall diplomatic representatives of the USSR to other
countries and to international organisations;
- receive the letters of credence and recall of the diplomatic representatives
of foreign states accredited to it;
- form the Council of Defence of the USSR and confirm its composition;
appoint and dismiss the high command of the Armed Forces of the USSR;
- proclaim martial law in particular localities or throughout the country
in the interests of defence of the USSR;
- order general or partial mobilisation;
- between sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, proclaim a state
of war in the event of an armed attack on the USSR, or when it is necessary
to meet international treaty obligations relating to mutual defence against
aggression;
- and exercise other powers vested in it by the Constitution and laws
of the USSR.
Article 122. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR,
between sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and subject to submission
for its confirmation at the next session, shall:
- amend existing legislative acts of the USSR when necessary;
- approve changes in the boundaries between Union Republics;
- form and abolish Ministries and State Committees of the USSR on the
recommendation of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
- relieve individual members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR
of their responsibilities and appoint persons to the Council of Ministers
on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the
USSR.
Article 123. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
promulgates decrees and adopts decisions.
Article 124. On expiry of the term of the Supreme Soviet of the
USSR, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall retain its
powers until the newly elected Supreme Soviet of the USSR has elected a
new Presidium.
The newly elected Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall be convened by the
outgoing Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR within two months
of the elections.
Article 125. The Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities
shall elect standing commissions from among the Deputies to make a preliminary
review of matters coming within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR, to promote execution of the laws of the USSR and other acts
of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its Presidium, and to check on the
work of state bodies and organisations. The chambers of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR may also set up joint commissions on a parity basis.
When it deems necessary, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR sets up commissions
of inquiry and audit, and commissions on any other matter.
All state and public bodies, organisations and officials are obliged
to meet the requests of the commissions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
and of its chambers, and submit the requisite materials and documents to
them.
The commissions' recommendations shall be subject to consideration
by state and public bodies, institutions and organisations. The commissions
shall be informed, within the prescribed time-limit, of the results of
such consideration or of the action taken.
Article 126. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall supervise the
work of all state bodies accountable to it.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall form a Committee of People's Control
of the USSR to head the system of people's control.
The organisation and procedure of people's control bodies are defined
by the Law on People's Control in the USSR.
Article 127. The procedure of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
and of its bodies shall be defined in the Rules and Regulations of the
Supreme Soviet of the USSR and other laws of the USSR enacted on the basis
of the Constitution of the USSR.
Chapter 16: THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
OF THE USSR
Article 128. The Council of Ministers of the USSR, i.e. the Government
of the USSR, is the highest executive and administrative body of state
authority of the USSR.
Article 129. The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall be formed
by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR at a joint sitting of the Soviet of the
Union and the Soviet of Nationalities, and shall consist of the Chairman
of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, First Vice Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen,
Ministers of the USSR, and Chairmen of State Committees of the USSR.
The Chairmen of the Councils of Ministers of Union Republics shall
be ex officio members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR, on the recommendation of the Chairman
of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, may include in the GOvernment
of the USSR the heads of other bodies and organisations of the USSR.
The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall tender its resignation to
a newly elected Supreme Soviet of the USSR at its first session.
Article 130. The Council of Minister of the USSR shall be responsible
and accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and, between sessions
of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR.
The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall report regularly on its
work ot the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Article 131. The Council of Ministers of the USSR is empowered
to deal with all matters of state administration within the jurisdiction
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics insofar as, under the Constitution,
they on not come within the competence of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
or the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Within its powers the Council of Ministers of the USSR shall:
- ensure direction of economic, social and cultural development; draft
and implement measures to promote the well-being and cultural development
of the people, to develop science and engineering, to ensure rational exploitation
and conservation of natural resources, to consolidate the monetary and
credit system, to pursue a uniform prices, wages, and social security policy,
and to organise state insurance and a uniform system of accounting and
statistics; and organise the management of industrial, constructional,
and agricultural enterprises and amalgamations, transport and communications
undertakings, banks, and other organisations and institutions of All-Union
subordination;
- draft current and long-term state plans for the economic and social
development of the USSR and the Budget of the USSR, and submit them to
the Supreme Soviet of the USSR; take measures to execute the state plans
and Budget; and report to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the implementation
of the plans and Budget;
- implement measures to defend the interests of the state, protect socialist
property and maintain public order, and guarantee and protect citizens'
rights and freedoms;
- take measures to ensure state security;
- exercise general direction of the development of the ARmed Forces of
the USSR, and determine the annual contingent of citizens to be called
up for active military service;
- provide general direction in regard to relations with other states,
foreign trade, and economic, scientific, technical, and cultural co-operation
of the USSR with other countries; take measures to ensure fulfilment of
the USSR's international treaties; and ratify and denounce intergovernmental
international agreements;
- and when necessary, form committees, central boards and other departments
under the Council of Ministers of the USSR to deal with matters of economic,
social and cultural development, and defence.
Article 132. A Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR,
consisting of the Chairman, the First Vice-Chairmen, and Vice-Chairmen
of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, shall function as a standing body
of the Council of Ministers of the USSR to deal with questions relating
to guidance of the economy, and with other matters of state administration.
Article 133. The Council of Ministers of the USSR, on the basis
of, and in pursuance of, the laws of the USSR and other decision of the
Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its Presidium, shall issue decisions and
ordinances and verify their execution. The decisions and ordinances of
the Council of Ministers of the USSR shall be binding throughout the USSR.
Article 134. The Council of Ministers of the USSR has the right,
in matters within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
to suspend execution of decisions and ordinances of the Councils of Minister
of Union Republics, and to rescind acts of ministries and state committees
of the USSR, and of the other bodies subordinate to it.
Article 135. The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall co-ordinate
and direct the work of All-Union and Union-Republican ministries, state
committees of the USSR, and other bodies subordinate to it.
All-Union ministries and state committees of the USSR shall direct
the work of the branches of administration entrusted to them, or exercise
inter-branch administration, throughout the territory of the USSR directly
or through bodies set up by them.
Union-Republican ministries and state committees of the USSR direct
the work of the branches of administration entrusted to them, or exercise
inter-branch administration, as a rule, through the corresponding ministries
and state committees, and other bodies of Union Republics, and directly
administer individual enterprises and amalgamations of Union subordination.
The procedure for transferring enterprises and amalgamations from Republic
or local subordination to Union subordination shall be defined by the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Ministries and state committees of the
USSR shall be responsible for the condition and development of the spheres
of administration entrusted to them; within their competence, they issue
orders and other acts on the basis of, and in execution of, the laws of
the USSR and other decisions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its
Presidium, and of decisions and ordinances of the Council of Ministers
of the USSR, and organise and verify their implementation.
Article 136. The competence of the Council of Ministers of the
USSR and its Presidium, the procedure for their work, relationships between
the Council of Ministers and other state bodies, and the list of All-Union
and Union-Republican ministries and state committees of the USSR are defined,
on the basis of the Constitution, in the Law on the Council of Minister
of the USSR.
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Translation by Novosti Press Agency
Publishing House
Moscow
1985