Stalin and the USSR

jobless.

When did Stalin introduce a new constitution

1936 → built on earlier constitutions of 1918 and 1924

What did Stalin’s new constitution suggest however

That there would be more freedom for the peoples of the USSR

1918 constitution had created the

RSFSR

1924 constitution had created the

USSR

Introduction of the Supreme Soviet

Splits All-Russia Congress of Soviets in two

Meets 2x a year

Delegates given the opportunity to find out about government policies, debate their implications and give them a stamp of approval

Republics were given the right to

Administer their own education systems, could break away from the Soviet Union

Communist party

Still dominated the union + republican governments → dissent from party line not tolerated

Who joined USSR 1939-40

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova

Continuity under Khrushchev

Virtually same up to 1964; only in 1977 did the constitution introduce elements of liberalism (demands of individual republics to secede would be listened to)

More on the Supreme Soviet

• Sole power to make laws for whole union

• Elected members of the Council of People’s Commissars (Sovnarkom)

• Headed by a Presidium

• Two houses → impression of genuine federal form of gov

Soviet of the Union

• Representatives of people of whole USSR

• Elected by electoral districts, 1 member per 30,000

• Elections every 4 years

Soviet of Nationalities

• 25 members per union republic → clearly most important

• 11 per autonomous republic

• 5 per autonomous region

• 1 per national area

• Union republics dominate

Presidium

Top committee

Heads the supreme Soviet of the ussr

Stalin headed this → POWER