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

                     Novosti Press Agency Publishing House
                                 Moscow, 1985


Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

     The Great October Socialist Revolution, made by the workers and peasants 
of Russia under the leadership of the Communist Party headed by Lenin, 
overthrew capitalist and landowner rule, broke the fetters of oppression, 
established the dictatorship of the proletariat, and created the Soviet state, 
a new type of state, the basic instrument for defending the gains of the 
revolution and for building socialism and communism.  Humanity thereby began 
the epoch-making turn from capitalist to socialism.

     After achieving victory in the Civil War and repulsing imperialist 
intervention, the Soviet government carried through far-reaching social and 
economic transformations, and put an end once and for all to exploitation of 
man by man, antagonisms between classes, and strive between nationalities.  
THe unification of the Soviet Republics in the Union of Soviet Socialist 
Republics multiplied the forces and opportunities of the peoples of the 
country in the building of socialism.  Social ownership of the means of 
production and genuine democracy for the working masses were established.  For 
the first time in the history of mankind a socialist society was created. 

     The strength of socialism was vividly demonstrated by the immortal feat 
of the Soviet people and their Armed Forces in achieving their historic 
victory in the Great Patriotic War.  This victory consolidated the influence 
and international standing of the Soviet Union and created new opportunities 
for growth of the forces of socialism, national liberation, democracy, and 
peace throughout the world. 

     Continuing their creative endeavors, the working people of the Soviet 
Union have ensured rapid, all-round development of the country and steady 
improvement of the socialist system.  They have consolidated the alliance of 
the working class, collective-farm peasantry, and people's intelligentsia, and 
friendship of the nations and nationalities of the USSR.  Socio-political and 
ideological unity of Soviet society, in which the working class is the leading 
force, has been achieved.  THe aims of the dictatorship of the proletariat 
having been fulfilled, the Soviet state has become a state of the whole 
people.  The leading role of the Communist Party, the vanguard of all the 
people, has grown. 

     In the USSR a developed socialist society has been built.  At this stage, 
when socialism is developing on its own foundations, the creative forces of 
the new system and the advantages of the socialist way of life are becoming 
increasingly evident, and the working people are more and more widely enjoying 
the fruits of their great revolutionary gains. 

     It is a society in which powerful productive forces and progressive 
science and culture have been created, in which the well-being of the people 
is constantly rising, and more and more favourable conditions are being 
provided for the all-round development of the individual. 

     It is a society of mature socialist social relations, in which, on the 
basis of the drawing together of all classes and social strata and of the 
juridical and factual equality of all its nations and nationalities and their 
fraternal co-operation, a new historical community of people has been formed--
the Soviet people. 

     It is a society of high organisational capacity, ideological commitment, 
and consciousness of the working people, who are patriots and 
internationalists. 

     It is a society in which the law of life is concern of all for the good 
of each and concern of each for the good of all. 

     It is a society of true democracy, the political system of which ensures 
effective management of all public affairs, ever more active participation of 
the working people in running the state, and the combining of citizen's real 
rights and freedoms with their obligations and responsibility to society. 

     Developed socialist society is a natural, logical stage on the road to 
communism. 

     The supreme goal af the Soviet state is the building of a classless 
communist society in which there will be public, communist self-government.  
The main aims of the people's socialist state are: to lay the material and 
technical foundation of communism, to perfect socialist social relations and 
transform them into communist relations, to mould the citizen of communist 
society, to raise the people's living and cultural standards, to safeguard the 
country's security, and to further the consolidation of peace and development 
of international co-operation. 

     The Soviet people, 

     guided by the ideas of scientific communism and true to their 
revolutionary traditions, 

     relying on the great social, economic, and political gains of socialism, 

     striving for the further development of socialist democracy, 

     taking into account the international position of the USSR as part of the 
world system of socialism, and conscious of their internationalist 
responsibility, 

     preserving continuity of the ideas and principles of the first Soviet 
Constitution of 1918, the 1924 Constitution of the USSR and the 1936 
Constitution of the USSR, 

     hereby affirm the principle so the social structure and policy of the 
USSR, and define the rights, freedoms and obligations of citizens, and the 
principles of the organisation of the socialist state of the whole people, and 
its aims, and proclaim these in this Constitution. 


I. PRINCIPLES OF THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND POLICY OF THE USSR

Chapter 1: THE POLITICAL SYSTEM

     Article 1.  The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a socialist state 
of the whole people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, 
peasants, and intelligentsia, the working people of all the nations and 
nationalities of the country. 

     Article 2.  All power in the USSR belongs to the people. 
     The people exercise state power through Soviets of People's Deputies, 
which constitute the political foundation of the USSR. 
     All other state bodies are under the control of, and accountable to, the 
Soviets of People's Deputies. 

     Article 3.  The Soviet state is organised and functions on the principle 
of democratic centralism, namely the electiveness of all bodies of state 
authority from the lowest to the highest, their accountability to the people, 
and the obligation of lower bodies to observe the decisions of higher ones.  
Democratic centralism combines central leadership with local initiative and 
creative activity and with the responsibility of the each state body and 
official for the work entrusted to them. 

     Article 4.  The Soviet state and all its bodies function on the basis of 
socialist law, ensure the maintenance of law and order, and safeguard the 
interests of society and the rights and freedoms of citizens. 
     State organisations, public organisations and officials shall observe the 
Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws. 

     Article 5.  Major matters of state shall be submitted to nationwide 
discussion and put to a popular vote (referendum). 

     Article 6.  The leading and guiding force of the Soviet society and the 
nucleus of its political system, of all state organisations and public 
organisations, is the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.  The CPSU exists 
for the people and serves the people. 
     The Communist Party, armed with Marxism-Leninism, determines the general 
perspectives of the development of society and the course of the home and 
foreign policy of the USSR, directs the great constructive work of the Soviet 
people, and imparts a planned, systematic and theoretically substantiated 
character to their struggle for the victory of communism 
     All party organisations shall function within the framework of the 
Constitution of the USSR. 

     Article 7.  Trade unions, the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League 
co-operatives, and other public organisations, participate, in accordance with 
the aims laid down in their rules, in managing state and public affairs, and 
in deciding political, economic, and social an cultural matters. 

     Article 8.  Work collectives take part in discussing and deciding state 
and public affairs, in planning production and social development, in training 
and placing personnel, and in discussing and deciding matters pertaining to 
the management of enterprises and institutions, and the use of funds allocated 
both for developing production and for social and cultural purposes and 
financial incentives. 
     Work collectives promote socialist emulation, the spread of progressive 
methods of work, and the strengthening of production discipline, educate their 
members in the spirit of communist morality, and strive to enhance their 
political consciousness and raise their cultural level and skills and 
qualifications. 

     Article 9.  The principal direction in the development of the political 
system of Soviet society is the extension of socialist democracy, namely ever 
broader participation of citizens in managing the affairs of society and the 
state, continuous improvement of the machinery of state, heightening of the 
activity of public organisations, strengthening of the system of people's 
control, consolidation of the legal foundations of the functioning of the 
state and of public life, greater openness and publicity, and constant 
responsiveness to public opinion. 

Chapter 2: THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM

     Article 10.  The foundation of the economic system of the USSR is 
socialist ownership of the means of production in the form of state property 
(belonging to all the people), and collective farm-and-co-operative property. 
     Socialist ownership also embraces the property of trade unions and other 
public organisations which they require to carry out their purposes under 
these rules. 
     The state protects socialist property and provides conditions for its 
growth. 
     No one has the right to use socialist property for person gain or other 
selfish ends. 

     Article 11.  State property, i. e. the common property of the Soviet 
people, is the principal form of socialist property. 
     The land, its minerals, waters, and forests are the exclusive property of 
the state.  The state owns the basic means of production in industry, 
construction, and agriculture; means of transport and communication; the 
banks; the property of state-run trade organisations and public utilities, and 
other state-run undertakings; most urban housing; and other property necessary 
for state purposes. 

     Article 12.  The property of collective farms and other co-operative 
organisations, and of their joint undertakings, comprises the means of 
production and other assets which they require for the purposes laid down in 
their rules. 
     The land held by collective farms is secured to them for their free use 
in perpetuity. 
     The state promotes development of collective farm-and-co-operative 
property and its approximation to state property. 
     Collective farms, like other land users, are obliged to make effective 
and thrifty use of the land and to increase its fertility. 

     Article 13.  Earned income forms the basis of the personal property of 
Soviet citizens.  THe personal property of citizens of the USSR may include 
articles of everyday use, personal consumption and convenience, the implements 
and other objects of a small-holding, a house, and earned savings.  The 
personal property of citizens and the right to inherit it are protected by the 
state. 
     Citizens may be granted the use of plots of land, in the manner 
prescribed by law, for a subsidiary small-holding (including the keeping of 
livestock and poultry), for fruit and vegetable growing or for building an 
individual dwelling.  Citizens are required to make rational use of the land 
allotted to them.  THe state, and collective farms provide assistance to 
citizens in working their small-holdings. 
     Property owned or used by citizens shall not serve as a means of deriving 
unearned income or be employed to the detriment of the interests of society. 

     Article 14. The source of the growth of social wealth and of the well-
being of the people, and of each individual, is the labour, free from 
exploitation, of Soviet people. 
     The state exercises control over the measure of labour and of consumption 
in accordance with the principle of socialism: "From each according to his 
ability, to each according to his work".  It fixes the rate of taxation on 
taxable income. 
     Socially useful work and its results determine a person's status in 
society.  By combining material and moral incentives and encouraging 
innovation and a creative attitude to work, the state helps transform labour 
into the prime vital need of every Soviet citizen. 

     Article 15.  The supreme goal of social production under socialism is the 
fullest possible satisfaction of the people's growing material, and cultural 
and intellectual requirements. 
     Relying on the creative initiative of the working people, socialist 
emulation, and scientific and technological progress, and by improving the 
forms and methods of economic management, the state ensures growth of the 
productivity of labour, raising of the efficiency of production and of the 
quality of work, and dynamic, planned, proportionate development of the 
economy. 

     Article 16.  The economy of the USSR is an integral economic complex 
comprising all the elements of social production, distribution, and exchange 
on its territory. 
     The economy is managed on the basis of state plans for economic and 
social development, with due account of the sectoral and territorial 
principles, and by combining centralised direction with the managerial 
independence and initiative of individual and amalgamated enterprises and 
other organisations, for which active use is made of management accounting, 
profit, cost, and other economic levers and incentives. 

     Article 17.  In the USSR, the law permits individual labour in 
handicrafts, farming, the provision of services for the public, and other 
forms of activity based exclusively on the personal work of individual 
citizens and members of their families.  The state makes regulations for such 
work to ensure that it serves the interest of society. 

     Article 18.  In the interests of the present and future generations, the 
necessary steps are taken in the USSR to protect and make scientific, rational 
use of the land and its mineral and water resources, and the plant and animal 
kingdoms, to preserve the purity of air and water, ensure reproduction of 
natural wealth, and improve the human environment. 

Chapter 3: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE

     Article 19.  The social basis of the USSR is the unbreakable alliance of 
the workers, peasants, and intelligentsia. 
     The state helps enhance the social homogeneity of society, namely the 
elimination of class differences and of the essential distinctions between 
town and country and between mental and physical labour, and the all-round 
development and drawing together of all the nations and nationalities of the 
USSR. 

     Article 20.  In accordance with the communist ideal--"The free 
development of each is the condition of the free development of all"--the 
state pursues the aim of giving citizens more and more real opportunities to 
apply their creative energies, abilities, and talents, and to develop their 
personalities in every way. 

     Article 21.  The state concerns itself with improving working conditions, 
safety and labour protection and the scientifi