Constitution of the USSR/The Constitution

This is the content of "Constitution (Basic Law) of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics" as adopted at the First Special Session (S-1) of the Supreme Council of the USSR 13th Convocation on 26 April 2015.

PREAMBLE
We, the multinational people of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics, hereby affirm the principles of 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 Soviet state and its aims, and proclaim these in this Constitution.
 * united by a common fate on our land,
 * establishing human rights and freedoms, civil peace and accord,
 * proud of resplendent histories and traditions dating from time immemorial,
 * re-establishing the historic State unity of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan and Estonia, and striving to ensure the well-being and prosperity of democracy, justice, humanitarianism and brotherly love,
 * proceeding from the responsibility for our Fatherland before present and future generations,
 * taking into account the international position of the USSR as part of the world community,
 * revering the memory of ancestors who have conveyed to us love and respect the Fatherlands,

Chapter 1. Political Provisions
Article 1. The Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is a Federal, Socialist, Law-Governed, Democratic, and Secular State with a Presidential-Republican Form of Government.

Article 2. The bearer of sovereignty and the only source of power in the USSR shall be its multinational people.

The people shall exercise their power directly, and also through the bodies of state power and local self-government, such as Councils of People's Deputies.

The supreme direct expression of the power of the people shall be referendums and free elections.

No one may usurp power in the USSR - Seizure of power or usurping state authority shall be prosecuted under all-union law.

Article 3. No state or obligatory ideology, religion and/or political party may be established as one. Therefore, ideological diversity shall be recognized and the plural party system shall be guaranteed.

Article 4. Public officials shall be servants of the people and shall be responsible to the people.

Chapter 2. Socioeconomic Provisions
Article 5. The monetary unit in the USSR shall be the ruble, with its subdivision, the kopeck. Money issues related to the Ruble shall be carried out exclusively by the Central Bank of the USSR. Excluding the European Union's Currency, Introduction and issue of other currencies in the USSR shall not be allowed.

Article 6. Protecting and ensuring the stability of the ruble shall be the major task of the Central Bank of the USSR, which it shall fulfill independently of the other bodies of state authority.

Article 7. The economy of the USSR shall be a free market, albeit with limited government control.

Article 8. The USSR shall be a social state whose policy is aimed at creating conditions ensuring a worthy life and a free development of Man.

Article 9. In the USSR the labor and health of people shall be protected, a guaranteed minimum wage shall be established, State support shall be provided for the family, maternity, fatherhood and childhood, to the disabled and to elderly citizens, the system of social services shall be developed and State pensions, allowances and other social security guarantees shall be established.

Chapter 3. Diplomatic Provisions
Article 10. The USSR steadfastly pursues a policy of peace and stands for strengthening of the security of nations and broad international co-operation. The foreign policy of the USSR is aimed at ensuring international conditions favorable for the USSR, safeguarding the state interests of the Soviet Union, preventing wars of aggression, achieving universal and complete disarmament, and consistently implementing the principle of the peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems. In the USSR war propaganda is banned.

Article 11. The USSR's relations with other states are based on observance of the following principles: sovereign equality; mutual renunciation of the use or threat of force; inviolability of frontiers; territorial integrity of states; peaceful settlement of disputes; non-intervention in internal affairs; respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; the equal rights of peoples and Their right to decide their own destiny; co-operation among states; and fulfillment in good faith of obligations arising from the generally recognized principles and rules of international law, and from the international treaties signed by the USSR.

Article 12. The USSR, as part of the European Union, promotes and strengthens friendship, co-operation, and mutual assistance with other European Union countries, and takes an active part in participating in EU organs.

Chapter 4. Military Provisions
Article 13. Defense of the Motherland is one of the most important functions of the state, and is the concern of the whole people. In order to protect soviet state interests and to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, the USSR maintains armed forces and has instituted universal military service. The duty of the Armed Forces of the USSR to the people is to provide reliable defense of the Motherland and to be in constant combat readiness, guaranteeing that any aggressor is instantly repulsed.

Article 14. The state ensures the security and defense capability of the country, and supplies the Armed Forces of the USSR with everything necessary for that purpose. The duties of corporations, state organs, officials, and citizens in regard to safeguarding the country's security and strengthening its defense capacity are defined by the legislation of the USSR.

Chapter 5. Solidity of General Provisions
Article 15. Articles 1 to 14 comprise the General Provisions of the Constitution of the USSR, and may not be changed otherwise than according to the rules established by the present Constitution. No part of the present Constitution may contradict the general provisions of the constitution of the USSR.

Chapter 6. Citizenship of the USSR and Equality of Citizens' Rights
Article 16. Uniform federal citizenship is established for the USSR. Every citizen of a Union Republic is a citizen of the USSR. The grounds and procedure for acquiring or forfeiting Soviet citizenship are defined by the Law on Citizenship of the USSR. When abroad, citizens of the USSR enjoy the protection and assistance of the Soviet state.

Article 17. Citizens of the USSR are equal before the law, without distinction of origin, social or property status, race or nationality, sex, sexual orientation, education, language, religion, attitude to religion, type and nature of occupation, domicile, or other status. Persecution on the grounds of these distinctions is prohibited.

Article 18. Citizens of other countries and stateless persons in the USSR are guaranteed the rights and freedoms provided by law, including the right to apply to a court and other state bodies for the protection of their personal property, family, and other rights. Citizens of other countries and stateless persons, when in the USSR, are obliged to respect the Constitution of the USSR and observe Soviet laws.

Article 19. The USSR grants the right of asylum to foreigners persecuted for defending the cause of peace or for progressive social and political, scientific, or other creative activity.

Article 20. The equal rights of citizens of the USSR are inalienable, guaranteed in all fields of life since birth and are to be repressed solely in case of necessity for reasons of national defense and security, social order, safety and morality and community well-being.

The enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution, shall not be used to deny or disparage rights that are not enumerated in this Constitution.

Chapter 7. Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article 21. Citizens of the USSR have the right to work, including the right to choose their trade or profession, type of job and work or not work in accordance with their wants, inclinations, abilities, training and education. Workers shall be entitled to strike over a labor dispute, and employers shall be entitled to a lockout, as prescribed by the Law on Strike and Lockout in the USSR.

Article 22. Citizens of the USSR have the right to rest and leisure.

Article 23. Citizens of the USSR have the right to self-defense.

Article 24. Citizens of the USSR have the right to health protection and maintenance in old age, in sickness, and in the event of complete or partial disability or loss of the breadwinner.

Article 25. Citizens of the USSR have the right to hold private property.

Article 26. Citizens of the USSR have the rights to housing and education.

Article 27. Citizens of the USSR have the right to enjoy cultural benefits.

Article 28. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of scientific, technical, and artistic work. The rights of authors, inventors and innovators are protected by the state.

Article 29. Citizens of the USSR have the right to take part in the management and administration of state and public affairs and in the discussion and adoption of laws and measures of All-Union and local significance.

Article 30. Every citizen of the USSR has the right to submit proposals to state bodies for improving their activity, and to criticize shortcomings in their work. Officials are obliged, within established time-limits, to examine citizens' proposals and requests, to reply to them, and to take appropriate action. Persecution for criticism is prohibited. Persons guilty of such persecution shall be called to account.

Article 31. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of speech, of the press, and of mobility, residence, assembly, meetings, street processions and demonstrations. All people are guaranteed freedom to leave Soviet territory and Citizens of the USSR have the right to enter Soviet territory from aboard.

Article 32. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of conscience, thought, and belief, and freedom of religion (the right to profess or not to profess any religion, and to conduct religious worship or atheistic propaganda). Incitement of hostility or hatred on political, ideological or religious grounds is prohibited. In the USSR, the church is separated from the state, and the school from the church.

Article 33. The family enjoys the protection of the state. Marriage is based on the free consent of the spouses; the spouses are completely equal in their family relations; Spouses may marry each other regardless of their Gender; Existing Same-Sex Marriages are protected by law.

Article 34. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the person and of property. No one may be arrested except by a court decision or on the warrant of a procurator, that are judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause, and list the place to be searched, the persons to be arrested, and the things to be seized.

Article 35. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the home. No one may, without lawful grounds, enter a home against the will of those residing in it.

Article 36. The privacy of citizens and of their communications is protected by law. Monitoring of correspondence, telephone conversations, telegraphic communications, internet-based communications, and other communication methods that may exist in the future, shall only be done on basis of a court decision or on the warrant of a procurator, that are judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause, and list the medium to be monitored and the criteria of monitoring said medium.

Article 37. Respect for the individual and protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens are the duty of everyone in the USSR. Citizens of the USSR have the right to protection by the courts against encroachments on their honor and reputation, life and health, and personal freedom and property.

Article 38. Citizens of the USSR have the right to lodge a complaint against the actions of officials, state bodies and public bodies. Complaints shall be examined according to the procedure and within the time-limit established by law. Actions by officials that contravene the law or exceed their powers, and infringe the rights of citizens, may be appealed against in a court in the manner prescribed by law. Citizens of the USSR have the right to compensation for damage resulting from unlawful actions by state bodies in the performance of their duties, and from unlawful actions by corporations.

Article 39. Citizens' exercise of their rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of their duties and obligations. Citizens of the USSR are obliged to observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws, comply with the standards of socialist conduct, and uphold the honor and dignity of Soviet citizenship.

Article 40. Citizens of the USSR are obliged to preserve and protect private and public property.

Article 41. Citizens of the USSR are obliged to safeguard the interests of the Soviet state, and to enhance its power and prestige.

Article 42. Military service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR is an honorable duty of Soviet citizens.

Article 43. It is the duty of every citizen of the USSR to respect the national dignity of other citizens, and to strengthen friendship of the nations and nationalities of the multinational Soviet state.

Article 44. A citizen of the USSR is obliged to respect the rights and lawful interests of other persons, to be uncompromising toward anti-social behavior, and to help maintain public order.

Article 45. Citizens of the USSR are obliged to pay taxes.

Article 46. Citizens of the USSR are obliged to protect nature and conserve its riches.

Article 47. Concern for the preservation of historical monuments and other cultural values is a duty and obligation of citizens of the USSR.

Chapter 8. The USSR - Federal State
Article 48. The Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics consists of the following Soviet Sovereign Republics, or SSRs:


 * 1) Russia,
 * 2) Ukraine,
 * 3) Belarus,
 * 4) Uzbekistan,
 * 5) Kazakhstan,
 * 6) Georgia,
 * 7) Azerbaijan,
 * 8) Lithuania,
 * 9) Moldova,
 * 10) Latvia,
 * 11) Kyrgyzstan,
 * 12) Tajikistan,
 * 13) Armenia,
 * 14) Turkmenistan,
 * 15) Estonia.

Article 49. Each Union Republic shall retain the right to freely secede from the USSR.

Article 50. The jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics, as represented by its highest bodies of state authority and administration, shall cover:


 * 1) the admission of new republics to the USSR;
 * 2) endorsement of the formation of new autonomous republics and autonomous regions within Union Republics;
 * 3) determination of the state boundaries of the USSR and approval of changes in the boundaries between Union Republics;
 * 4) establishment of the general principles for the organisation and functioning of republican and local bodies of state authority and administration;
 * 5) the insurance of uniformity of legislative norms throughout the USSR and establishment of the fundamentals of the legislation of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics and Union Republics;
 * 6) pursuance of a uniform social and economic policy;
 * 7) the drafting and approval of the Budget of the USSR, and endorsement of the report on its execution;
 * 8) management of a single monetary and credit system;
 * 9) determination of the taxes and revenues forming the Budget of the USSR, and the formulation of prices and wages policy;
 * 10) issues of war and peace, defense of the sovereignty of the USSR and safeguarding of its frontiers and territory, and organisation of defense;
 * 11) direction of the Armed Forces of the USSR;
 * 12) state security;
 * 13) representation of the USSR in international relations (the USSR's relations with other states and with international organisations);
 * 14) establishment of the general procedure for, and co-ordination of, the relations of Union Republics with other states and with international organisations;
 * 15) foreign trade and other forms of external economic activity;
 * 16) control over observance of the Constitution of the USSR;
 * 17) and settlement of other matters of All-Union importance.

Outside of the USSR's jurisdiction, a Union Republic exercises independent authority on its territory

Article 51. The laws of the USSR shall have the same force in all Union Republics. In the event of a discrepancy between a Union Republic law and an All-Union law, the law of the USSR shall prevail.

Article 52. The territory of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is a single entity and comprises the territories of the Union Republics. The sovereignty of the USSR extends throughout its territory.

Article 53. A Union Republic is a sovereign state that has united with other Union Republics in the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics. A Union Republic shall have its own Constitution.

Article 54. Union Republics take part in decision-making in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Government of the USSR, and other bodies of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics. A Union Republic shall ensure comprehensive economic and social development on its territory, facilitate exercise of the powers of the USSR on its territory, and implement the decisions of the highest bodies of state authority and administration of the USSR. In matters that come within its jurisdiction, a Union Republic shall co-ordinate and control the activity of enterprises, institutions, and organisations subordinate to the Union.

Article 55. The territory of a Union Republic may not be altered without its consent. The boundaries between Union Republics may be altered by mutual agreement of the Republics concerned, subject to ratification by the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics.

Article 56. A Union Republic shall determine its division into territories, regions, areas, and districts, and decide other matters relating to its administrative and territorial structure.

Article 57. A Union Republic has the right to enter into relations with other states, conclude treaties with them, exchange diplomatic and consular representatives, and take part in the work of international organisations.

Article 58. The sovereign rights of Union Republics shall be safeguarded by the USSR.

Chapter 9. ASSRs and Autonomous Regions
Article 59. An Autonomous Republic is a constituent part of a Union Republic. In spheres not within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics and the Union Republic, an Autonomous Republic shall deal independently with matters within its jurisdiction. An autonomous Republic shall have its own Constitution.

Article 60. An Autonomous Republic takes part in decision-making through the highest bodies of state authority and administration of the USSR and of the Union Republic respectively, in matters that come within the jurisdiction of the USSR and the Union Republic. An Autonomous Republic shall facilitate exercise of the powers of the USSR and the Union Republic on its territory, and implement decisions of the highest bodies of state authority and administration of the USSR and the Union Republic. In matters within its jurisdiction, an Autonomous Republic shall co-ordinate and control the activity of bodies subordinate to the Union or the Union Republic.

Article 61. The territory of an Autonomous Republic may not be altered without its consent.

Article 62. The Russian Soviet Federal Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Soviet Sovereign Republics of: Adygea, Altai, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Chechnya, Chuvashia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Karelia, Khakassia, Komi, Mari El, Mordovia, North Ossetia–Alania, Sakha, Tatarstan, Tuva, Udmurtia.

The Ukrainian Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Soviet Sovereign Republic of: Crimea.

The Uzbekistani Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Soviet Sovereign Republics of: Karakalpakstan.

The Georgian Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Soviet Sovereign Republics of: Adjara, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia.

The Azerbaijani Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Soviet Sovereign Republics of: Nagorno-Karabakh and Nakhchivan.

The Moldovan Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Soviet Sovereign Republics of: Transnistria and Gagauzia.

Article 63. An Autonomous Region is a constituent part of a Union Republic or Territory. The Law on an Autonomous Region, upon submission by the Council of People's Deputies of the Autonomous Region concerned, shall be adopted by the Supreme Council of the Union Republic.

Article 64. The Russian Soviet Federal Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Regions/Areas of: Birobijan, Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi, Nenets, and Yamalo-Nenets.

The Ukrainian Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Regions/Areas of: Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Tajikistani Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the Autonomous Regions/Areas of: Gorno-Badakhshan.

Chapter 10. Cities of Union Importance
Article 65. A City of Union Importance is a City in a Union Republic declared important enough to be administrated directly by the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics. In spheres not within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics, a City of Union Importance shall deal independently with matters within its jurisdiction. A City of Union Importance shall have its own Charter. The Law on a City of Union Importance, upon submission by the Council of People's Deputies of the City considered for elevation, shall be adopted by the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union.

Article 66. The Russian Soviet Federal Sovereign Republic includes the City of Union Importance of: Moscow.

Article 67. The Kazakhstani Soviet Sovereign Republic includes the City of Union Importance of: Baikonur.

Chapter 11. The System of Councils of Peoples' Deputies and the Principles of Their Work
Article 68. The Councils of People's Deputies, i.e. the Supreme Council of the USSR, the Supreme Councils of Union Republics, the Supreme Councils of Autonomous Republics, the Councils of People's Deputies of Territories and Regions, the Councils of People's Deputies of Autonomous Regions and Autonomous Areas, and the Councils of People's Deputies of districts, cities, city districts, settlements and villages shall constitute a single system of bodies of state authority.

Article 69. The term of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the Supreme Councils of Union Republics, and the Supreme Councils of Autonomous Republics shall be four years. The term of local Councils of People's Deputies shall be two years. Elections to Councils of People's Deputies shall be called not later than two months before the expiry of the term of the Council concerned.

Article 70. The most important matters within the jurisdiction of the respective Councils of People's Deputies shall be considered and settled at their sessions. Councils of People's Deputies shall elect standing commissions and form executive-administrative, and other bodies accountable to them.

Article 71. Councils of People's Deputies shall function publicly on the basis of collective, free, constructive discussion and decision-making, of systematic reporting back to them and the people by their executive-administrative and other bodies, and of involving citizens on a broad scale in their work.

Chapter 12. The Electoral System
Article 72. Deputies to all Councils shall be elected on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot by the citizens.

Article 73. Elections shall be universal: all citizens of the USSR who have reached the age of 18 shall have the right to vote and to be elected, with the exception of persons who have been certified insane. To be eligible for election to the office of President of a Union Republic and to the Supreme Council of the USSR a citizen of the USSR must have reached the age of 21. To be eligible for election to the office of President of the USSR a citizen of the USSR must have reached the age of 25 and must have a permanent residence record in the USSR of not less than 10 years.

Article 74. Elections shall be equal: each citizen shall have one vote; all voters shall exercise the franchise on an equal footing.

Article 75. Elections shall be direct: deputies to all Councils of People's Deputies shall be elected by direct vote. The President of the USSR and Presidents of Union Republics shall be elected as follows:

If there are two candidates or more, the candidate who has received the majority of votes is elected. If no candidate receives such a majority, a second ballot shall be held. At the second ballot only the two candidates who received the largest number of votes at the first ballot shall stand for election. The candidate who at the second ballot receives the majority of votes is elected. If the two candidates receive the same number of votes, the candidate who receives the greatest number of votes in an open session of the upper house of the competent Supreme Council, attended by a majority of its total members, shall be elected.

If there is only one candidate, the ballot will be in favor or against him/her and he is elected if the number of votes in his/her favor outweighs the number of votes against him/her. If the number of votes in his/her favor equals the number of votes against him/her, a second ballot shall be held.

Article 76. Voting at elections shall be secret: control over voters' exercise of the franchise is inadmissible.

Article 77. Registered political parties shall have the right to nominate candidates. Citizens of the USSR and public organisations are guaranteed the right to free and all-round discussion of the political and personal qualities and competence of candidates, and the right to campaign for them at meetings, in the press, online, and on television and radio.

Article 78. Deputies to Councils of People's Deputies shall be elected according to the D'Hondt method of Party-list proportional representation. A citizen of the USSR may not, as a rule, be elected to more than two Councils of People's Deputies. Elections to the Councils shall be conducted by electoral commissions consisting of representatives. The procedure for holding elections to Councils of People's Deputies shall be defined by the laws of the USSR, and of Union and Autonomous Republics.

Article 79. Electors give mandates to their Deputies. The appropriate Councils of People's Deputies shall examine electors' mandates, organize implementation of the mandates, and inform citizens about it.

Chapter 13. People's Deputies
Article 80. Deputies are the plenipotentiary representatives of the people in the Councils of People's Deputies. Deputies shall be guided in their activities by the interests of their Council of People's Deputies, and shall take the needs of their constituents into account and work to implement their electors' mandates.

Article 81. Deputies shall exercise their powers without discontinuing their regular employment or duties. During sessions of the Council, and so as to exercise their deputy's powers in other cases stipulated by law, Deputies shall be released from their regular employment or duties, with retention of their average earnings at their permanent place of work.

Article 82. A Deputy has the right to address inquiries to the appropriate state bodies and officials, who are obliged to reply to them at a session of the Council.

Article 83. Deputies shall be ensured conditions for the unhampered and effective exercise of their rights and duties. The immunity of Deputies, and other guarantees of their activity as Deputies, are defined in the Law on the Status of Deputies and other legislative acts of the USSR and of Union and Autonomous Republics.

Article 84. Deputies shall report on their work and on that of the Council to their constituents, and to the party that nominated them. Deputies who have not justified the confidence of their constituents may be recalled at any time by decision of a majority of the electors in accordance with the procedure established by law.

Chapter 14. Legislative Branch - The Supreme Council of the USSR
Article 85. Legislative power shall be vested in the Supreme Council of the USSR.

The Supreme Council of the USSR shall:
 * 1) adopt and amend the Constitution of the USSR;
 * 2) oversee, investigate, and make the rules for the government and its officers;
 * 3) admit new Republics to the USSR;
 * 4) endorse the formation of new Autonomous Republics and Autonomous Regions;
 * 5) approve the Budget of the USSR, and of reports on it's execution;
 * 6) lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises in order to pay the debts of the USSR and to provide for it's common defense and general welfare;
 * 7) ratify and denounce international treaties of the USSR signed by the President of the USSR;
 * 8) borrow money on the credit of the USSR;
 * 9) give advice and consent to some executive decisions, such as appointment of judges and ambassadors;
 * 10) initiate revenue-raising bills;
 * 11) raise, support, and regulate the Armed Forces of the USSR;
 * 12) and exercise other powers vested in it by the Constitution and laws of the USSR.

Article 86. The Supreme Council of the USSR shall consist of two chambers: the upper house shall be the Council of the Union and the lower house shall be the Council of the Deputies.

Only the Council of the Deputies may impeach the Executive Branch of the USSR.

Only the Council of the Union may try impeachments against the Executive Branch of the USSR.

In all other matters, The two chambers of the Supreme Council of the USSR shall have equal rights.

Article 87. The Council of the Deputies shall be composed of members elected by universal, equal, direct and secret ballot by the citizens as defined in Chapter 12, according to the D'Hondt method of Party-list proportional representation.

The Council of the Union shall be composed of members appointed by the Legislatures of each Union Republic, City of Union Importance, Autonomous Republic, or Autonomous Region.

The Council of the Deputies shall have 1500 seats. The Council of the Union shall have 32 seats per Union Republic, 24 seats per City of Union Importance, 16 seats per Autonomous Republic, and 8 seats per Autonomous Region. The Council of the Union and the Council of the Deputies, upon submission by the credentials commissions elected by them, shall decide on the validity of their Members' credentials, and, in cases in which the election law has been violated, shall declare the election of the Members concerned null and void.

Article 88. The Council of the Union shall elect one Speaker and four Vice-Speakers.

The Council of the Deputies shall elect one Chairman and four Vice-Chairmen.

The Speaker of the Council of the Union and the Chairman of the Council of the Deputies shall preside over the sittings of the respective chambers and conduct their affairs. Joint sittings of the chambers of the Supreme Council of the USSR shall be presided over either by the Speaker of the Council of the Union or by the Chairman of the Council of the Deputies.

Article 89. Bills and other matters submitted to the Supreme Council 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.

Laws of the USSR and Decisions and other acts of the Supreme Council of the USSR, excluding those marked for readopting by the President of the USSR, are passed by a majority of the total number of Deputies of the Supreme Council of the USSR, and then presented to the President of the USSR for approval.

Laws of the USSR and Decisions and other acts of the Supreme Council of the USSR marked for readopting by the President of the USSR, are passed by a majority of the total number of Deputies of the Supreme Council of the USSR, and then adopted.

Bills and other very important matters of state may be submitted for nationwide discussion by a decision of the Supreme Council or The President of the USSR taken on their own initiative or on the proposal of a Union Republic, and they shall be adopted by referendum.

Article 90. In the event of a disagreement between the Council of the Union and the Council of Deputies, 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 be considered for a second time by the Council of the Union and the Council of Deputies at a joint sitting. If agreement is again not reached, the matter shall be postponed for debate at the next session of the Supreme Council of the USSR.

Article 91. Laws of the USSR and decisions and other acts of the Supreme Council of the USSR shall be published in the languages of the Union over the signatures of the President of the USSR, the Prime Minister of the USSR, The Speaker of the Council of the Union of the USSR, The Chairman of the Council of the Deputies of the USSR, and the Competent ministers.

Article 92. A Deputy of the Supreme Council of the USSR may not be prosecuted, or arrested, or incur a court-imposed penalty, without the sanction of the Supreme Council or The President of the USSR.

Article 93. Sessions of the Supreme Council of the USSR shall be convened twice a year.

Special sessions shall be convened by the President of the USSR at his/her 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 Council 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 Council 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.

The period of regular session shall not exceed a hundred days, and that of a special session, thirty days.

If the President requests convening of an special session, period of the session and reasons for the request shall be clearly specified.

Article 94. The Council of the Union and the Council of the Deputies shall elect standing commissions from among the Deputies to make a preliminary review of matters coming within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the USSR, to promote execution of the laws of the USSR and other acts of the Supreme Council and the President of the USSR, and to check on the work of state bodies and organizations. The chambers of the Supreme Council of the USSR may also set up joint commissions on a parity basis. When it deems necessary, the Supreme Council of the USSR sets up commissions of inquiry and audit, and commissions on any other matter.

The Supreme Council of the USSR shall form a Committee of Audit and Inspection 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 Audit and Inspection in the USSR.

Article 95. The President of the USSR may, with the approval of a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Deputies of the Council of the Union, dissolve the Council of the Deputies.

The Council of the Deputies may not be dissolved in the period of a state of emergency or martial law, during the last six months of the President's term, as well as within a year after a previous dissolution.

Article 96. The procedure of the Supreme Council of the USSR and of its bodies shall be defined in the Rules and Regulations of the Supreme Council of the USSR and other laws of the USSR enacted on the basis of the Constitution of the USSR.

Chapter 15. Executive Branch - The President of the USSR
Article 97. Executive power shall be vested in the President, the Presidium, the State Council, and the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The President of the USSR shall be the head of the State and head of the Council of Ministers.

The President of the USSR shall be guarantor of the Constitution of the USSR, of the rights and freedoms of human and citizen. According to the rules established by the Constitution of the USSR, he shall adopt measures to protect the sovereignty of the USSR, its independence and state integrity, ensure coordinated functioning and interaction of all the bodies of state power.

The President of the USSR shall determine the guidelines of the internal and foreign policies of the State.

As the head of the State the President of the USSR represent the USSR within the country and in international relations.

Article 98. The President of the USSR shall be elected by universal, equal, direct and secret ballot by the citizens as defined by Chapter 12, for two four-year terms.

Article 99. If the Office of President of the USSR is vacant or the President of the USSR is dead, has resigned, was impeached, or is unable to discharge the powers and duties for any other reason, the Prime Minister of the USSR, the Speaker of the Council of the Union, the Chairman of the Council of the Deputies, and the members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, in the order of priority as determined by law, shall act for him/her. The Acting president may not dissolve the Council of the Deputies or announce a referendum.

Article 100. When taking office the President of the USSR shall take the following oath of loyalty to the people:

"I, [name], do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics, and will to the best of my Ability to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to respect and defend the Constitution of the USSR, to protect the sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state, to faithfully serve the people.".

The oath shall be taken in a solemn atmosphere in the presence of members of the Supreme Council and judges of the Constitutional Court.

Article 101. The President of the USSR shall:


 * 1) name the date of elections to the Supreme Council of the USSR;
 * 2) convene sessions of the Supreme Council of the USSR;
 * 3) co-ordinate the work of the standing commissions of the chambers of the Supreme Council of the USSR;
 * 4) ensure observance of the Constitution of the USSR and, starting from 2018, conformity of the Constitutions and laws of Union Republics to the Constitution and laws of the USSR;
 * 5) ratify and denounce international treaties of the USSR;
 * 6) 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;
 * 7) institute military and diplomatic ranks and other special titles; and confer the highest military and diplomatic ranks and other special titles;
 * 8) 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.
 * 9) grant citizenship of the USSR, and rule on matters of the renunciation or deprivation of citizenship of the USSR and of granting asylum;
 * 10) issue All-Union acts of amnesty and exercise the right of pardon;
 * 11) appoint and recall diplomatic representatives of the USSR to other countries and to international organisations;
 * 12) receive the letters of credence and recall of the diplomatic representatives of foreign states accredited to it;
 * 13) form the Council of Defense of the USSR and confirm its composition; appoint and dismiss the high command of the Armed Forces of the USSR;
 * 14) proclaim martial law in particular localities or throughout the country in the interests of defense of the USSR;
 * 15) order general or partial mobilization;
 * 16) 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 defense against aggression;
 * 17) approve changes in the boundaries between Union Republics;
 * 18) submit bills to the Supreme Council of the USSR;
 * 19) by advice and contest of the Supreme Council of the USSR, 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 Judiciary of the USSR of their responsibilities and appoint persons to the Judiciary of the USSR, and amend existing legislative acts of the USSR when necessary;
 * 20) by advice and contest of the Supreme Council of the USSR and on the recommendation of the Prime Minister 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 of the USSR;
 * 21) perform recess appointments to fill vacancies that may happen when the Supreme Council of the USSR is not in Session;
 * 22) deliver information on the state of the union and recommend any measures that he believes are necessary and expedient to the Supreme Council of the USSR annually;
 * 23) and exercise other powers vested in him/her by the Constitution and laws of the USSR.

Article 102. The President of the USSR promulgates decrees and adopts decisions.

Article 103. All decisions made by the Supreme Council of the USSR, excluding decisions marked for readopting by the President of the USSR and decisions submitted for nationwide discussion by the Supreme Council of the USSR, must be presented to the President of the USSR. Once the decisions have been presented, the President of the USSR has three options.


 * 1) If the President of the USSR approves said decisions, he/she shall sign the decisions at any given time within 15 days after said decisions have been presented; the decisions are then adopted.
 * 2) If the President of the USSR does not approve said decisions or particular provisions within them, he/she shall state his/her objections and on which provisions they apply to the Supreme Council of the USSR in writing at any given time within said 15 day period, and either mark them for readopting or veto them. The Supreme Council of the USSR is required to consider the objections, and to rewrite the unapproved provisions in decisions marked for readopting.
 * 3) If the President of the USSR vetoes decisions, the Supreme Council of the USSR may not lift the veto.
 * 4) If the President of the USSR submits said decisions for nationwide discussion within said 15 day period, they shall be adopted by referendum.
 * 5) If the President of the USSR takes no action regarding said decisions within said 15 day period, and the Supreme Council of the USSR is in session when said period ends, the decisions shall be adopted unmodified.
 * 6) If the President of the USSR takes no action regarding said decisions within said 15 day period, and the Supreme Council of the USSR is not in session when said period ends, thus preventing the return of said decisions, the decisions shall not be adopted.

Article 104. The President of the USSR may not use inhumane means to enforce policy and may not attempt to limit political freedoms.

Article 105. The President of the USSR and the Union-Republican Heads of State are members of the State Council of the USSR, an administrative body which implements the basis of the USSR's domestic and foreign policy and ensures state security. The State Council is the USSR's major policy-making body, and its decisions have the force of law.

Article 106. The President of the USSR is head of the Security Council of the USSR, which develops recommendations to implement the all-union policy on national defense, state security, economic and environmental security, coping with natural disasters and other emergencies, to ensure stability and legal order in Soviet society.

Article 107. Selected elder statesmen of the USSR are members of the Advisory Council of the USSR, a body which advises the President on important affairs of state and issues of the highest importance to the state as a whole.

The immediate former President of the USSR shall become the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the USSR when a new president is elected.

If the immediate former President of the USSR is incapacitated or dead, the current President of the USSR shall appoint the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the USSR.

The competence of the Advisory Council of the USSR, the procedure for its work, organization, function and other necessary matters pertaining to it, are determined, on the basis of the Constitution, in the Law on the Advisory Council of the USSR.

Chapter 16. Executive Branch - The Council of Ministers of the USSR
Article 108. 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 109. The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall be formed by the President of the USSR after taking office, and shall consist of the President of the USSR, the Prime Minister, First Vice Prime Minister, and Vice Prime Ministers of the USSR, Ministers of the USSR, and Chairmen of State Committees of the USSR.

The Prime Ministers of Union Republics shall be ex officio members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The Supreme Council of the USSR, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of the USSR, may include in the Government of the USSR the heads of other bodies and organizations of the USSR.

The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall tender its resignation to the President of the USSR.

Article 110. The Council of Minister of the USSR shall be responsible and accountable to the President of the USSR.

The Council of Ministers of the USSR shall report regularly on its work to the President of the USSR.

Article 111. 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 Sovereign Republics insofar as, under the Constitution, they on not come within the competence of the Supreme Council of the USSR or the President of the USSR.

Powers vested in the Council of Ministers yet not executed by a Minister shall be executed by the President of the USSR.

Within its powers the Council of Ministers of the USSR shall:


 * 1) draft the Budget of the USSR, and submit it to the Supreme Council of the USSR; take measures to execute the Budget; and report to the Supreme Council of the USSR on the implementation of the Budget;
 * 2) implement measures to defend the interests of the state and maintain public order, and guarantee and protect citizens' rights and freedoms;
 * 3) take measures to ensure state security;
 * 4) determine the annual contingent of citizens to be called up for active military service;
 * 5) 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;
 * 6) take measures to ensure fulfillment of the USSR's international treaties;
 * 7) ratify and denounce intergovernmental international agreements;
 * 8) and when necessary, form committees, central boards and other departments under it.

Article 112. The Presidium of the USSR, consisting of the Prime Minister, the First Vice Prime Minister, and Vice Prime Ministers of the USSR, shall function as a standing body of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The Members of the Presidium shall be elected from among the members of the Supreme Council of the USSR by the President of the USSR.

Article 113. 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 Council and the President of the USSR, 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 114. The Council of Ministers of the USSR has the right, in matters within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Sovereign 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 115. 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.

Article 116. The competence of the Council of Ministers and the Presidium of the USSR, 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 Ministers of the USSR.

Chapter 17. Government of a Union Republic
Article 117. The highest body of state authority of a Union Republic shall be the Supreme Council of that Republic, and legislative power shall be vested in it. The Supreme Council of a Union Republic is empowered to deal with all matters within the jurisdiction of the Republic under the Constitutions of the USSR and the Republic. Adoption and amendment of the Constitution of a Union Republic; endorsement of the Republic's Budget, and of reports on it's fulfillment; and the formation of bodies accountable to the Supreme Council of the Union Republic are the exclusive prerogative of that Supreme Council. Laws of a Union Republic shall be enacted by the Supreme Council of the Union Republic or by a popular vote (referendum) held by decision of the Republic's Supreme Council.

Article 118. The Executive branch of the Republic shall consist of a President of the Union Republic and a Council of Ministers of the Union Republic. The powers of the President of a Union Republic shall be defined in the Constitution of the Union Republic. The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic shall be responsible and accountable to the President of that Republic.

Article 119. The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic issues decisions and ordinances on the basis of, and in pursuance of, the legislative acts of the USSR and of the Union Republic, and of decisions and ordinances of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and shall organize and verify their execution.

Article 120. The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic has the right to suspend the execution of decisions and ordinances of the Councils of Ministers of Autonomous Republics, to rescind the decisions and orders of the Executive Committees of Councils of People's Deputies of Territories, Regions, and cities (i.e. cities under Republic jurisdiction) and of Autonomous Regions, and in Union Republics not divided into regions, of the Executive Committees of district and corresponding city Councils of People's Deputies.

Article 121. The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic shall co-ordinate and direct the work of the Union-Republican and Republican ministries and of state committees of the Union Republic, and other bodies under its jurisdiction. The Union-Republican ministries and state committees of a Union Republic shall direct the branches of administration entrusted to them, or exercise inter-branch control and shall be subordinate to both the Council of Ministers of the Union Republic and the corresponding Union-Republican ministry or state committee of the USSR. Republican ministries and state committees shall direct the branches of administration entrusted to them, or exercise inter-branch control, and shall be subordinate to the Council of Ministers of the Union Republic.

Chapter 18. Government of a City of Union Importance
Article 122. The highest body of state authority of a City of Union Importance shall be the Supreme Council of that City, and legislative power shall be vested in it. Adoption and amendment of the Charter of a City of Union Importance; endorsement of the City's Budget; and the formation of bodies accountable to the Supreme Council of the City of Union Importance are the exclusive prerogative of that Supreme Council. Laws of a City of Union Importance shall be enacted by the Supreme Council of the City of Union Importance.

Article 123. The Executive branch of the City of Union Importance shall consist of a Mayor of the City of Union Importance and Council of Ministers of the City of Union Importance. The President of the USSR shall appoint the Mayor of the City of Union Importance.

Article 124. The Mayor of the City of Union Importance shall solely follow orders from the President of the USSR.

Chapter 19. Government of an Autonomous Republic
Article 125. The highest body of state authority of an Autonomous Republic shall be the Supreme Council of that Republic, and legislative power shall be vested in it. Adoption and amendment of the Constitution of an Autonomous Republic; endorsement of the Republic's Budget; and the formation of bodies accountable to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic are the exclusive prerogative of that Supreme Council. Laws of an Autonomous Republic shall be enacted by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic.

Article 126. The Executive branch of the Republic shall consist of a Governor of the Autonomous Republic and Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic. The President of the Union Republic shall appoint the Governor of the Autonomous Republic.

Chapter 20. Local Governments
Article 127. The bodies of state authority in Territories, Regions, Autonomous Areas, districts, cities, city districts, settlements, and rural communities shall be the corresponding Councils of People's Deputies.

Article 128. Local Councils of People's Deputies shall deal with all matters of local significance in accordance with the interest of the whole state and of the citizens residing in the area under their jurisdiction, implement decisions of higher bodies of state authority, guide the work of lower Councils of People's Deputies, take part in the discussion of matters of Republican and All-Union significance, and submit their proposals concerning them. Local Councils of People's Deputies endorse the local budget; ensure observance of the laws, maintenance of law and order, and protection of citizens' rights; and help strengthen the country's defense capacity.

Article 129. Local Councils of People's Deputies shall decide matters within the powers accorded them by the legislation of the USSR and of the appropriate Union Republic and Autonomous Republic.

Article 130. The executive branches of local Governments shall be the Executive Committees elected by them from among their deputies. Executive Committees shall report on their work at least once a year to the Councils that elected them and to meetings of citizens at their places of work or residence.

Article 131. Executive Committees of local Governments shall be directly accountable both to the Council that elected them and to the higher executive and administrative body.

Chapter 21. Basic Principles
Article 132. In the USSR justice is administered only by the courts. In the USSR there are the following courts: the Constitutional and Supreme Court of the USSR, the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Union Republics, the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Autonomous Republics, Territorial, Regional, and city courts, courts of Autonomous Regions/Areas, district (city) courts, military tribunals in the Armed Forces. The Courts are independent from the Executive and the Legislative branches.

Article 133. The Supreme Court of the USSR shall be the supreme judicial body for civil, criminal, administrative and other cases under the jurisdiction of regular courts, and for settling economic disputes and other cases examined by courts of arbitration. It shall carry out judicial supervision over their activities according to procedural forms envisaged in all-union law and provide explanations on issues of court proceedings.

Article 134. Justice is administered in the USSR on the principle of the equality of citizens before the law and the court.

Article 135. Proceedings in all courts shall be open to the public. Hearings in camera are only allowed in cases provided for by law, with observance of all the rule of judicial procedure.

Article 136. A defendant in a criminal action is guaranteed the right to legal assistance.

Article 137. Judicial proceedings shall be conducted in the language of the Union Republic, City of Union Importance, Autonomous Republic, Autonomous Region, or Autonomous Area, or in the language spoken by the majority of the people in the locality. Persons participating in court proceedings, who do not know the language in which they are being conducted, shall be ensured the right to become fully acquainted with the materials in the case; the services of an interpreter during the proceedings; and the right to address the court in their own language.

Article 138. No one may be adjudged guilty of a crime and subjected to punishment as a criminal except by the sentence of a court and in conformity with the law.

Chapter 22. Constitutional Court
Article 139. The Constitutional Court of the USSR consists of 19 judges.

Article 140. The Constitutional Court of the USSR, upon requests of the President of the USSR, the Supreme Council of the USSR, one fifth of the members of either chamber of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Supreme Court of the USSR, the bodies of legislative and executive power of the subjects of the USSR shall consider cases on the correspondence to the Constitution of the USSR and the UN declaration of Human rights of:

Acts or their provisions recognized as unconstitutional shall become invalid; international treaties and agreements not corresponding to the Constitution of the USSR shall not be liable to enforcement and application.
 * 1) all-union laws, normative acts of the President of the USSR, the Supreme Council of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
 * 2) the constitutions of republics, and the laws and other normative acts of subjects of the USSR adopted on issues under the jurisdiction of the bodies of state authority of the USSR or under the joint jurisdiction of the bodies of state authority of the USSR and the bodies of state authority of the subjects of the USSR;
 * 3) treaties concluded between the bodies of state authority of the USSR and the bodies of state authority of the subjects of the USSR, treaties concluded between the bodies of state authority of the subjects of the USSR;
 * 4) international treaties and agreements of the USSR which have not come into force.

Article 141. The Constitutional Court of the USSR shall resolve disputes on jurisdiction:


 * 1) between the all-union bodies of state authority;
 * 2) between the bodies of state authority of the USSR and the bodies of state authority of the subjects of the USSR;
 * 3) between the higher bodies of state authority of the subjects of the USSR.

Article 142. The Constitutional Court of the USSR, upon complaints about violations of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens and upon court requests shall check, according to the rules fixed by all-union law, the constitutionality of a law applied or subject to be applied in a concrete case.

Article 143. The Constitutional Court of the USSR, upon the requests of the President of the USSR, the Supreme Council of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the bodies of the legislative power of the subjects of the USSR, shall give its interpretation of the Constitution of the USSR.

Article 144. The Constitutional Court of the USSR upon requests of the President of the USSR, the Supreme Council of the USSR, one fifth of the members of either chamber of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Supreme Court of the USSR, the bodies of legislative and executive power of the subjects of the USSR shall consider cases on the corrspondence of purposes or activities of political parties to the democratic basic order

Article 145. The Constitutional Court of the USSR, upon the request of the Supreme Council of the USSR, shall provide a conclusion on the observance of the fixed procedure for advancing charges of treason or of another grave crime against the President of the USSR.

Chapter 23. Name, Language, Calendar, and Motto
Article 146. The Nation's official name will be the "Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics." The Official Name, the Short name "Soviet Union", and the Acronym "USSR" shall be legally equal.

Article 147. The Official Languages of the USSR are English, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Uzbek, Kazakh, Georgian, Azeri, Lithuanian, Romanian, Latvian, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Armenian, Turkmen and Estonian.

The English Language is the Language of Inter-Ethnic Communication as well as the language of the Soviet Constitution and its amendments and replacements.

Article 148. The Official Calendar of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is the Gregorian Calendar.

Article 149. The Motto of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is "Workers of All Countries, Unite!"

Chapter 24. Emblem, Flag, Anthem, and Capital
Article 150. The State Emblem of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is a globe containing the emblem/coat of arms of Russia in the center, surrounded by the emblems/coats of arms of (Clockwise from the top) Estonia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, depicted in the rays of the sun and framed by ears of wheat, with the inscription "Workers of All Countries, Unite!" in the languages of the Union Republics. At the top of the Emblem is a five-pointed star.

Article 151. The State Flag of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is a rectangle colored blue with a horizontal red stripe spanning the lowest third of the flag, with a five-pointed red star edged in gold in the canton. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 1:2.

Article 152. The State Anthem of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is the "National March of the USSR".

Article 153. The Capital of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is the city of Moscow.

Chapter 25. Constitutional Conformity
Article 154. All Union Republics shall have new Constitutions, conforming to the Constitution of the USSR with the specific features of the Republics being taken into account, no later than 2018.

Article 155. All Autonomous Republics shall have new Constitutions, conforming to the Constitutions of the USSR and the Appropriate Union Republic with the specific features of the Autonomous Republics being taken into account, no later than 2018.

Chapter 26. Legal Force and Amendment Procedure of the Constitution
Article 156. The Constitution of the USSR shall have supreme legal force. All laws and other acts of state bodies shall be promulgated on the basis of and in conformity with it.

Article 157. The English Version of the Constitution of the USSR shall have supreme legal force. All Translations of The Constitution of the USSR shall be made on the basis of and in conformity with it.

Article 158. The Constitution of the USSR may be amended by a decision of the Supreme Council of the USSR adopted by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Deputies of each of its chambers.

Article 159. Amendments shall be seperate from the Constitution of the USSR. If Amendments affect the Constitution of the USSR, the constitution text shall not be reframed to fit the Amendments.

Chapter 27. First Amendment
Article 160. Article 49 of the Constitution, which provides that "Each Union Republic shall retain the right to freely secede from the USSR," shall be amended as: "Union Republics may not secede unanimously from the USSR, But may regain Independence if two-thirds of the members of the houses of the Supreme Council approve it, or be expelled in case of fundamental differences between the Union and the Republic."

Chapter 28. Second Amendment
Article 161. Article 23 of the Constitution, which provides that "Citizens of the USSR have the right to self defense," shall be amended as: "Citizens of the USSR have the right to self defense, and to bear and keep arms not reserved to army and police use or explicitly prohibited."

Chapter 31. Fifth Amendment
Article 1. Chapter 15 of the Constitution shall be renamed from "Executive Branch - The President of the USSR" to "Ceremonial Head of State - The President of the USSR" Article 2. The First Section of Article 97 of the Constitution, which provides that "Executive power shall be vested in the President, the Presidium, the State Council, and the Council of Ministers of the USSR," shall be amended as: "Executive power shall be vested in the Presidium, the State Council, and the Council of Ministers of the USSR." Article 2. The Second Section of Article 97 of the Constitution, which provides that "The President of the USSR shall be the head of the State and head of the Council of Ministers," shall be amended as: "The President of the USSR shall be the head of the State, and the Position of head of the State is ceremonial."

In Articles The Acting president may not dissolve the Council of the Deputies, announce a referendum or propose amendments to the Constitution of the USSR.

Chapter 38. Twelfth Amendment Proposal 1 (UNADOPTED)
''Article 1. Article 1 of the Constitution, which provides that "The Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is a Federal, Socialist, Law-Governed, Democratic, and Secular State with a Presidential-Republican Form of Government," shall be amended as: "The New Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a Federal and 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. Article 3 of the Constitution, which provides that "No state or obligatory ideology, religion and/or political party may be established as one. Therefore, ideological diversity shall be recognized and the plural party system shall be guaranteed," shall be amended as: "The leading and guiding force of the Soviet society and the nucleus of its political system, of all state organizations and public organisations, is the Communist Party of the New Soviet Union, the only permitted political party. The New USSR is founded on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Latyeskovism, and no religion may be established as one."''

''Article 3. Article 7 of the Constitution, which provides that "The economy of the USSR shall be a free market, albeit with limited government control," shall be amended as: "The economy of the New USSR shall be a planned economy. There is no limit to what the state can own."''

''Article 4. Article 12 of the Constitution, which provides that "The USSR, as part of the European Union, promotes and strengthens friendship, co-operation, and mutual assistance with other European Union countries, and takes an active part in participating in EU organs," shall be repealed.''

''Article 5. Article 12 of the Constitution, which provides that "The USSR, as part of the European Union, promotes and strengthens friendship, co-operation, and mutual assistance with other European Union countries, and takes an active part in participating in EU organs," shall be repealed.''

''Article 6. Article 12 of the Constitution, which provides that "," shall be amended as: "".''