This Constitution declared Russia “a Republic of Soviets of Workers, Soldiers and Peasants Deputies” and gave it the name of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic (R.S.F.S.R.). This constitution remained operative till 1936 when it was replaced by a new constitution.
The Constitution was mainly a statement of the principles based on the Communist Manifesto and a confirmation of what had been done by the Bolsheviks since the assumption of power. The Constitution started with the Declarations of the Rights of the Toiling and Exploited Peoples and asserted that the objective of the Soviet Government was to establish socialist not only in Russia but also in other countries.
It sought to suppress the bourgeoisie and prevent exploitation of man by man. It accepted the principle of compulsory labour for all and reaffirmed the decrees on nationalization, workers control and renunciation of government debts etc. already made. It also granted to the Soviet citizens certain civil rights including the right to freedom of religious and anti-religious propaganda, freedom of assembly, right of the workers and peasants to have free education etc.
The Constitution retained the existing political structure based on Soviet system. AH authority remained with the soviets elected through open voting by all persons above the age of eighteen. The clergymen, members of Romanov family, former police agents, high officials, private businessmen, criminals etc. were not granted any franchise.
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It also gave more weight age to the urban population and authorized them to send one delegate for every 25,000 voters as against one representative to be sent by the rural people for every 125,000 inhabitants.
The chief legislative authority of the country was vested by the Constitution in the All-Russian Congress of Soviets. In between the sessions of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets the legislative work was looked after by the Central Executive Committee elected by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets.
But in reality the real power rested with the eighteen People’s Commissars chosen by the Central Executive Committees. Thus the Constitution, though it created a force of democracy, concentrated all the authority in the hands of the Bolsheviks (now known as Communists).