Article 6 of the Soviet Constitution
Encyclopedia
Article 6 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution
placed limitations on the political rights of Soviet citizens. While the rest of the constitution theoretically assured the public freedom of speech
, freedom of assembly
and freedom of press these rights were rendered less meaningful by the reservation of article 6 that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
was the "leading and guiding force of the Soviet society".
The text of the article follows in English translation.
The "leading role" of the CPSU was first enshrined in Article 126 of the Stalin Constitution
, which described the Party as "the vanguard of the working people in their struggle to strengthen and develop the socialist system and is the leading core of all organizations of the working people, both public and state."
On March 14, 1990 Article 6 was amended by the 3rd Extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR
,to read as follows:
This move was introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev
in tandem with the creation of the office of the president of the USSR
, and as a means to formalize the transition to a multi-party political system
.
1977 Soviet Constitution
At the Seventh Session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Ninth Convocation on October 7, 1977, the third and last Soviet Constitution, also known as the "Brezhnev Constitution", was unanimously adopted...
placed limitations on the political rights of Soviet citizens. While the rest of the constitution theoretically assured the public freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
and freedom of press these rights were rendered less meaningful by the reservation of article 6 that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
was the "leading and guiding force of the Soviet society".
The text of the article follows in English translation.
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.
The "leading role" of the CPSU was first enshrined in Article 126 of the Stalin Constitution
1936 Soviet Constitution
The 1936 Soviet constitution, adopted on December 5, 1936, and also known as the "Stalin" constitution, redesigned the government of the Soviet Union.- Basic provisions :...
, which described the Party as "the vanguard of the working people in their struggle to strengthen and develop the socialist system and is the leading core of all organizations of the working people, both public and state."
On March 14, 1990 Article 6 was amended by the 3rd Extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR
Congress of Soviets
The Congress of Soviets was the supreme governing body of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and several other Soviet republics from 1917–36 and again from 1989-91. After the creation of the Soviet Union, the Congress of Soviets of the Soviet Union functioned as its legislative branch...
,to read as follows:
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union, other political parties as well as labor, youth and other public
organisations and mass movements, through their representatives elected to the Councils of People's DeputiesSoviet (council)Soviet was a name used for several Russian political organizations. Examples include the Czar's Council of Ministers, which was called the “Soviet of Ministers”; a workers' local council in late Imperial Russia; and the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union....
and in other forms participate in the policy-making of the Soviet state, in the management of state and public
affairs.
This move was introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
in tandem with the creation of the office of the president of the USSR
President of the Soviet Union
The President of the Soviet Union , officially called President of the USSR was the Head of State of the USSR from 15 March 1990 to 25 December 1991. Mikhail Gorbachev was the only person to occupy the office. Gorbachev was also General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between...
, and as a means to formalize the transition to a multi-party political system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
.