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Part III State Structure
Chapter 8 Federal State
Article 70
(1) The
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is an
integral,
federal,
multinational state formed on the principle of
socialist federalism as a result of the free
self-determination of nations and the voluntary association of equal
Soviet Socialist Republics.
(2) The USSR embodies the state unity of the Soviet people and draws all its nations and nationalities together for the purpose of jointly building
communism.
Article 71
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics unites:
- the
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic,
- the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Azerbeijan Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Moldovian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,
- the
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, and
- the
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Article 72
Each Union Republic shall retain the right freely to
secede from the USSR.
Article 73
The jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as represented by its highest bodies of state authority and administration, shall cover:
1. the admission of new republics to the USSR; endorsement of the formation of new autonomous republics and autonomous regions within Union Republics;
2. determination of the state boundaries of the USSR and approval of changes in the boundaries between Union Republics;
3. establishment of the general principles for the organization and functioning of republican and local bodies of state authority and administration;
4. the ensurance of uniformity of
legislative norms throughout the USSR and establishment of the fundamentals of the legislation of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Union Republics;
5. pursuance of a uniform social and economic policy; direction of the country's economy; determination of the main lines of scientific and technological progress and the general measures for rational exploitation and conservation of natural resources; the drafting and approval of state plans for the economic and social development of the USSR, and endorsement of reports on their fulfillment;
6. the drafting and approval of the consolidated
Budget of the USSR, and endorsement of the report on its execution; management of a single monetary and credit system; determination of the taxes and revenues forming the Budget of the USSR; and the formulation of prices and wages policy;
7. direction of the sectors of the economy, and of enterprises and amalgamations under Union jurisdiction, and general direction of industries under
Union-Republican jurisdiction;
8. issues of war and peace, defence of the
sovereignty of the
USSR and safeguarding of its frontiers and territory, and organization of defence; direction of the
Armed Forces of the USSR;
9.
state security;
10. representation of the
USSR in international relations; the USSR's relations with other states and with
international organizations; establishment of the general procedure for, and co-ordination of, the relations of Union Republics with other states and with international organizations; foreign trade and other forms of external economic activity on the basis of state monopoly;
11. control over observance of the
Constitution of the USSR, and ensurance of conformity of the
Constitutions of Union Republics to the
Constitution of the USSR;
12. and settlement of other matters of All-Union importance.
Article 74
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 75
(1) The territory of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a single entity and comprises the territories of the Union Republics.
(2) The
sovereignty of the USSR extends throughout its territory.
Chapter 9 Union Republics
Article 76
(1) A Union Republic is a sovereign Soviet socialist state that has united with other Soviet Republics in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
(2) Outside the spheres listed in Article 73 of the Constitution of the USSR, a Union Republic exercises independent authority on its territory.
(3) A Union Republic shall have its own Constitution conforming to the
Constitution of the USSR with the specific features of the Republic being taken into account.
Article 77
(1) Union Republics take part in decision-making in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Government of the USSR, and other bodies of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
(2) 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.
(3) In matters that come within its jurisdiction, a Union Republic shall co-ordinate and control the activity of enterprises, institutions, and organizations subordinate to the Union.
Article 78
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 Socialist Republics.
Article 79
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 80
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 organizations.
Article 81
The sovereign rights of Union Republics shall be safeguarded by the USSR.
Chapter 10 Autonomous Republics
Article 82
(1) An
Autonomous Republic is a constituent part of a Union Republic.
(2) In spheres not within the jurisdiction of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Union Republic, an Autonomous Republic shall deal independently with matters within its jurisdiction.
(3) An autonomous Republic shall have its own Constitution conforming to the
Constitutions of the USSR and the Union Republic with the specific features of the Autonomous Republic being taken into account.
Article 83
(1) 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.
(2) An Autonomous Republic shall ensure comprehensive economic and social development on its territory, 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.
(3) In matters within its jurisdiction, an Autonomous Republic shall co-ordinate and control the activity of enterprises, institutions, and organizations subordinate to the Union or the Union Republic.
Article 84
The territory of an Autonomous Republic may not be altered without its consent.
Article 85
(1) The
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic includes the
Bashkir,
Buryat,
Daghestan,
Kabardin-Balkar,
Kalmyk,
Karelian,
Komi,
Mari,
Mordovian,
North Ossetian,
Tatar,
Tuva,
Udmurt,
Chechen-Ingush,
Chuvash, and
Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics.
(2) The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic includes the
Kara-Kalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
(3) The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic includes the
Abkhasian and
Adzhar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics.
(4) The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic include the
Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
Chapter 11 Autonomous Regions and Areas
Article 86
An
Autonomous Region is a constituent part of a Union Republic or Territory. The Law on an Autonomous Region, upon submission by the
Soviet of People's Deputies of the Autonomous Region concerned, shall be adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic.
Article 87
(1) The
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic includes the
Adygei,
Gorno-Altai,
Jewish,
Karachai-Circassian, and
Khakass Autonomous Regions.
(2) The
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic includes the
South Ossetian Autonomous Region.
(3) The
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic include the
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region.
(4) The
Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic includes the
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.
Article 88
An
autonomous Area is a constituent part of a Territory or Region. The Law on an Autonomous Area shall be adopted by the
Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic concerned.
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