The beginning of the 1920s was marked by the emergence of a new world power in the political arena - the USSR. The first Constitution of the USSR was adopted 2 years after the creation of the Soviet Union.
The very first set of laws of the new state was signed in January 1924. It was then that at the second congress of Soviets they adopted the first Constitution of the USSR, which legislated the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Also, the first fundamental law reflected the multinational structure of the Soviet Union and the powerful base of Soviet power. It is worth noting that the first Constitution of the USSR was adopted by foreign powers without any contradictions.
What accelerated the creation of this code of laws? As you know, the Declaration on the creation of the USSR was approved at the first Congress of Soviets , and already in January 1923, exactly one year before the adoption of the first Constitution, 6 commissions were founded to develop and prepare the text of the future code of laws. The first constitution has the following structure:
- first section: Declaration on the formation of the Soviet Union ;
- second section: Treaty on the formation of the Soviet Union.
The first section described the principles of other republics entering the Soviet Union. The principles were as follows: voluntariness and equality.
In addition to these principles, the Constitution explicitly stated the possibility of a world revolution, the division of the world into two camps: the capitalist and the camp of socialism. The second section of the Constitution of the USSR included 11 chapters, which affirmed the coat of arms, flag and capital of the Soviet Union, the rights of sovereign republics, regulations on the executive committee, the presidium, and other authorities.
The first Constitution of the USSR had the following exclusive subjects of reference:
- foreign policy and trade;
- development of basic laws;
- leadership / planning of the state budget and economy;
- issues of war / peace.
The second Constitution of the USSR was adopted 12 years later and lasted until 1977.
It had its name: "Stalin's Constitution," or "The Constitution of Victorious Socialism." What did the new document of the Soviet Union proclaim? Firstly, he talked about the fact that socialism triumphed in the USSR. Secondly, he affirmed the destruction of private property and the introduction of equal universal suffrage. Oddly enough, but the 1936 Constitution granted people freedom of the press, assembly, speech and rallies and the inviolability of
secret correspondence. The representative of all public and state organizations under the 1936 Constitution was the All-Union Bolshevik Communist Party. It is worth noting that until 1977, the day of the Constitution was considered December 5th - this day was celebrated as a holiday by all the people. In 1962, Khrushchev created a commission to review the country's main law.
The first Constitution of the USSR was published in early 1924. It was the first code of laws of a new state, a new great power. But her story was very small: for only 12 years, the first Constitution of the USSR had the highest legal force in the Soviet Union, after which it was revised and repealed.