The Main Features of the Soviet Constitution of Ninteteen-Thirty Six

The Main Features of the Soviet Constitution of Ninteteen-Thirty Six

In 1936, Stalin judged the time ripe for drafting a new

constitution which would preserve his autocratic power in the country.

It was adopted by popular vote the following year and went into effect

on January 1st 1938.

Main features of the Constitution

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According to the Constitution, Communist Russia called itself the

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. There were 11 republics,

representing the different racial groups and possessing limited powers

over their own affairs. Of these the Russian Socialist Federated

Soviet Republic was the largest and the dominant one.

On paper, the 1936 Constitution had all the democratic features of the

Western European parliamentary governments.

It provided for universal suffrage for every man and woman aged 18 or

over. They voted by secret ballot. They had the right to vote for the

various soviets, high and low, including the Soviet of the Union.

For the whole country, the highest organ of state power was the

Supreme Soviet :

1. It was composed of 2 houses : the Soviet of Union, representing

the people of Russia and elected them in the proportion of 1

deputy for 300,000 electors; the Union of Nationalities

representing the Union republics and elected by the union

republics (each republic elected 25 members). Both chambers had

equal legislative powers. No bill could become law without the

approval of both chambers. The Supreme Soviet met twice a year

(usually for more than a week at a time).

2. When the Supreme Soviet was not sitting, the ...

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...eing fostered by

'wreckers' with the aim of discrediting him. 'It is manifestly irksome

to Stalin to be worshipped as he is, and from time to time he makes

fun of it. Of all the men I know who have power, Stalin is the most

unpretentious. I spoke frankly to him about the vulgar and excessive

cult made of him, and he replied with equal candour. He thinks it is

impossible even that 'wreckers' may be behind it in an attempt to

discredit him'. (Feuchtwanger. Moscow 1937).

Hence we need to be cautious in concluding that Stalin`s cult of

personality was the key factor in his control of the Soviet Union

between 1929-41 - particularly in light of evidence which appears to

contradict the stereotyped view portraying Stalin as an egoistic

dictator and which rather reveals the leader as a modest and

self-effacing individual.