CONSTITUTION of the
(Adopted at the Fourth Congress of All-Georgian
Soviets of Workers’ Peasants’ and Red Army Deputies on 3 April 1927)
Chapter I
General Provisions
2.
3. In
the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia the Congress of All-Georgian Soviets
of Workers’, Peasants’ and Red Army Deputies is the bearer of the supreme
power, and in the period of between Congresses – the All-Georgian Soviet
Central Executive Committee.
4. ... The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia,
in accordance with the Resolution of the Second Congress of All-Georgia is
voluntarily associated to the
5. The sovereignty of the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia is limited only in the matters indicated in the Basic laws
of the
Article 6. The Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia retains the right to feely secede from the Trans-Caucasus SFSR and from
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in conformity to the procedures
provided for in the Constitution of the Trans-Caucasus Soviet Federative
Socialist Republic.
Article 7. The territory of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia shall not be altered without its consent.
Article 8. A citizen of the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia at the same time is a citizen of the
(...)
Article 9. The Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia recognizes equality of citizens irrespective of their race or
nationality and finds inadmissible introduction of any privileges, or any
restriction of the rights of national minorities.
The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia also
recognizes the rights of other peoples residing on its territory to form the
autonomous republic or oblast upon admission of the highest organ of state
authority of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia
includes: the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Adjara
and the Autonomous oblast of
10. The state language of the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia shall be Georgian.
17. National
minorities, residing on the territory of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia shall have the right to free development and application of their
native language in national-cultural life, as well as at the state
organizations.
18. On the territory of the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia the land, its bowels, forests, water, mills and factories,
rail, water and air transport and communication means are state property of
workers and peasants.
Chapter II
The matters under the jurisdiction of the
organs
of supreme state authority of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia
19. The
following matters are under the sole jurisdiction of the All-Georgian Congress
of Soviets:
a) Introduction of basic principles of, changes
and amendments to the Constitution; approval of partial amendment of the
Constitution adopted by the All-Georgian Central Executive Committee between
the convocation of the Congresses of the All-Georgian Soviets;
b) Decision of the issues regarding
modification of the boundaries of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia in
conformity to the rules established by the Basic Law of the
c) Permission on forming the autonomous Soviet
socialist republics and the autonomous oblasts by the national minorities;
approval of changes and amendments to the Constitutions of the autonomous
Republics, and to the Regulations of Autonomous Oblast.
20. All maters of all-state importance shall be
under the jurisdiction of the All-Georgian Congress of Soviets unless they are
under jurisdiction of the supreme organs of the
The following matters shall be under the
jurisdiction of the All-Georgian Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive
Committee:
a) General guidance of the entire internal
policy and public economy of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia;
b) General administrative division of the
territory of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia and determination of the
boundaries of the
c) Endorsement of the Constitutions of the
Autonomous Republics and Regulations of the Autonomous Oblast, approval of
amendments and changes to them, resolution of disputes between the autonomous
entities and other state organs;
d) Introduction of plans of public economy and
its branches on the territory of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia in
compliance with the legislation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and
of the Trans-Caucasus Soviet Federative Socialist Republic;
e) Approval of the state budget of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia
and observance of its execution;
f) Adoption of the common-state laws of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia and the laws on the matters outside of the
competence of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and of the Trans-Caucasus
Soviet Federative Socialist Republic;
g) Right to amnesty and exercising the pardon
to citizens convicted by the Courts and administrative organs of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia, and rehabilitation of the political rights of
the citizens of the Republic.
h) Revoke and suspend decisions adopted by the
Congresses of the autonomous republics and autonomous oblasts and their Central
executive committees, district congresses of soviets and their executive
committees if those decisions violate the Constitution of the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia and the decisions of the higher organs of the state
authority;
i) The matters outside of jurisdiction provided
for by the Basic Law of the
21. In addition to the aforementioned matters
the Congress of All-Georgian Soviets and the Central Executive Committee of
All-Georgia deal with other issues provided for by the Basic law of the
22. The decisions of the highest organs of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and of the
Chapter III
Organization of the state power All-Georgian
Congress of Soviets
23. The Congress of All-Georgian Soviets is
composed of representatives of the congresses of soviets of the Abkhaz
SSR, the Autonomous SSR of Adjara, the Autonomous
Oblast of South Ossetia and of Districts’ soviets on
the basis of one deputy for 10000 inhabitants from the soviets where deputies
are elected in proportion of population, and one deputy for 2000 voters from
the soviets where deputies are elected in proportion of constituency.
24. The Congress of All-Georgian Soviets elects
the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia; the membership to the CEC shall
be decided by the Congress.
25. The
Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia convenes the Congress of All-Georgian
Soviets once a year.
(...)
26. The Special Congress of All-Georgian
Soviets may be convened by the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia upon
its own initiative, or at the request of District Soviet or District Congress
of Soviets having the population not less than one-third of the entire
population of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, or at the request of
the Congress of one of the Republics included within the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia.
b) The Central Executive committee of
All-Georgia and its presidium
27. The Central Executive Committee of
All-Georgia is the supreme legislative, administrative and controlling organ of
the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
28. The Central Executive Committee is
authorized to adopt the Codes, Decrees and Decisions upon its own initiative, and review and approve the draft-laws submitted
by the Council of People’s Commissars.
29. All decrees and decision defining the
general norms of the political and economic life of the Soviet Socialist Republic
of Georgia, the state budget, and the acts introducing the modifications in the
existing practices of state organs shall be submitted to the Central Executive
Committee of All-Georgia for consideration and approval.
30. The Central Executive Committee of Georgia
is entrusted to direct the work of all organs of the Workers’ and Peasants’
government of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, coordinate the activity
of legislative and administrative organs, observe the implementation of the
Constitution and
execution of decrees adopted by the Congress of All-Georgian
Soviets and of the highest organs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and
of the Trans-Caucasus Soviet Federative Socialist Republics.
31. The Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia
is responsible to the Congress of All-Georgian Soviets once a year submitting
to it the report on certain political issues and the matters of the all-state
significance.
32. The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee
of All-Georgia shall convoke the regular sessions of the Central Executive
Committee of All-George at least three times a year; the Presidium of the
Central executive Committee of All-Georgia convokes: a) upon its own
initiative; b) at the request of at least one-third of members of the Central
Executive Committee of All-Georgia, and c) at the request of the Central
Executive Committee of one of the Republics included within the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia.
33. The Central Executive Committee of
All-Georgia elects the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of
All-Georgia and determines the sphere of its competence.
34. The Central Executive Committee of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia is the supreme legislative, administrative
and controlling organ of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia.
35. In the periods between the convocation of
the sessions of the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia, the Presidium
is the supreme legislative, administrative and controlling authority of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
37. The
Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia observes the
enforcement of the Constitution of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia and
execution of all decisions of the Congress of All-Georgian Soviets and of the
Central executive Committee by all state organs. It is a supreme administrative
organ both in the centre and at the local level.
38. In the intervals between sessions of the
Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia, the Presidium of the Central
Executive Committee appoints the People’s Commissars on the recommendation of
the Council of People’s Commissars subject to subsequent confirmation by the
Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia.
39. The
Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia examines the
petition on pardon and rehabilitation in political rights.
40. The Presidium of the Central Executive
Committee of All-Georgia has the right to suspend and revoke the decrees and
ordinances issued by the Council of People’s Commissars, People’s Commissariats
and other organs of state authority, the decrees and decisions of the central
executive committees of the autonomous republics and oblasts, suspend the
execution of the resolutions of the congresses of Autonomous Republic and
District Soviets.
41. The Presidium of the Central Executive
Committee of All-George is authorized to settle the disputes between the organs
of Central and local authorities.
c) The Council of People’s Commissars
43. The Council of People’s Commissars is the
legislative and administrative organ of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia. The issues of administration of
the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia are under the competence of the
People’s Commissars of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
44. The Council of People’s Commissars of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia is appointed by the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia
and consists of: the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, vice-chairmen,
chairman of the supreme economic council, and people’s commissars of Internal
Affairs, Justice, Education, Health-Care, Finance, Labour
and Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate.
The Council of People’s Commissars also includes the Plenipotentiary
Representative of the People’s Commissariat of Internal Trade of the
45. The Council of People’s Commissars of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia operates on the basis of the Regulation
and within the competence determined by the Central Executive Committee; it is authorized
to issue decrees and decisions that are binding on the entire territory of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
46. The Economic Council shall be established
at the Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia that operates in pursuance of the Special Regulations and under the
guidance of the Supreme Economic Council of the
47. The
Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia is
responsible to the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia and its
Presidium.
49. The
Supreme Economic Council, and the Commissariats of Finance, Labour
and Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate
are subordinate to the Central Executive Committee and the Council of the
People’s Commissars of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia and execute the
instructions of the Supreme Economic Council of the Trans-Caucasus Soviet
Federative Socialist Republic and of the relevant People’s Commissariat.
50. The People’s Commissariats are led by the
People’s Commissars;
they are the members of the Council of People’s Commissars of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
Chapter Four
The Autonomous
74. The Central and Local organs of state
authority of the
75. The Constitutions of the
76. The
Supreme organ on the territory of the
77. The Central Executive Committees of the
78. The Central Executive Committees of the
The Councils of Public Economy of the
Autonomous Republics are subordinate to the central executive committees of the
autonomous republics and execute the directives of the Supreme Council of
public Economy of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia; Plenipotentiary
Representatives of the People’s Commissariats of Finance, Labour
and Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia are also subordinate to the central executive committee of the
Autonomous Republic; they are obliged to submit the reports on their activity
to the central executive committees and the council of people’s commissariats
of the Autonomous republics.
79. The
Central Executive Committee of the Autonomous Oblast do not form the Council of
People’s Commissars and administers the governance through the Supreme Council
of the Public Economy and the following people’s commissariats led by the
people’s commissars: Internal Affairs, Justice, Education, Health-Care,
Agriculture, Finance, Labour and Workers’ and Peasants’
Inspectorate. The representatives of the aforementioned
Commissariats of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia are appointed in the
Autonomous Oblast. The Economic Councils
of the Autonomous Oblast are under the direct subordination of the Supreme
Economic Council of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia and execute the
decisions and ordinances of the latter through their executive committees; the
plenipotentiary representatives of the
Commissariats of Finance, Labour and Workers’
and peasants’ Inspectorate are in direct subordination to the relevant central
organs of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia and shall submit the reports
on their activity to the central executive committee of the autonomous oblast.
80. The Central Executive Committees of the
81. The Codes, Decrees and Decisions
promulgated by the highest organs of the state authority of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia are binding on the territory of the autonomous
republics and oblasts.
82. The Central Executive Committees of the
Note: The Central Executive Committees of the
autonomous oblasts have the right to adopt decisions within the limits of this
Article that shall be binding on the territory of autonomous oblast after
approval by the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia or its presidium.
Chapter five
The
83. The Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia
enters the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia on the basis on special Union
treaty, and through it, to the
84. The representatives of the Congress of
Soviets of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia participate in the
Congress of All-Georgian Soviets. The
number of delegates to the Congress is determined under Article 23 of this
Constitution.
85. The Congress of All-Georgian Soviets elects
the representatives from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia to the
Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia; the number of representatives shall
be determined by the Congress of All-Georgian Soviets.
86. The Congress of Soviets of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Abkhazia, the Central Executive Committee and its
Presidium, as well as the local organs of the state authority of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Abkhazia shall be organized on the basis of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Abkhazia.
87. The Central Executive Committee of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia shall form the Council of People’s
Commissars consisting of the Chairman and People’s Commissars leading the
following Commissariats: Internal Affairs, Justice, Education, Health-Care,
Agriculture and Social Protection; the Council of People’s Commissars also
includes the representatives of the Commissariats of Finance, Labour and Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia;
they may have casting or deliberative vote under the decision of the
Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia.
The People’s Commissariats of Internal Affairs,
Justice, Education, Health-Care, Agriculture and Social Protection act
independently from the relevant People’s Commissariats of the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Georgia only providing each-other the information about their
activity.
The Supreme Economic Council is subordinate to
the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia
and to the Council of People’s Commissars and executes the directives of the
Supreme Economic Council of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.
The Plenipotentiary Representatives of the Commissariats
of Finance, Labour, and Workers’ and peasants’
Inspectorates represent the organs of the relevant Commissariats of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia and they are under the direct subordination to
them; the Representatives shall submit the report on their activity to the
Central Executive committee and the Council of People’s Commissars of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia.
88. The
highest organs of the state authority of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Abkhazia shall independently adopt the acts outside of the competence of joint
administration (Internal Affairs, Justice, Education, Health-Care, Agriculture
and Social protection) that have the binding force on the territory of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia.
89. All
decrees and ordinances of the Central Executive Committee, its presidium and of
the Council of Peoples Commissars of All-Georgia concerning the issues under
the joint state administration (Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate, Public
Economy) shall be binding on the
territory of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia; the highest organs of
state authority of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia shall have the
right to adopt the legal acts within the limits of joint state administration
aimed at developing the legislation of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia; those legal acts shall be binding on the territory of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Abkhazia.
90. The Congress of All-Georgian Soviets and the
Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia shall have the right to revoke the
decisions of the Congress Soviets, the Central Executive Committee and of the
Council of people’s Commissars of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia if
they contravene this Constitution.
91. The budget of the Soviet Socialist Republic
of Abkhazia, after it has been approved by the Central Executive Committee of
Abkhazia, shall be incorporated into the all-state budget of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia in conformity to Article 104 of this
Constitution.
In accordance with the All-Union and
Trans-Caucasus SFSR legislation, all local revenues and expenditures on the
territory of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia are combined in the
local budget.
Chapter Seven
The Budgetary Rights of the
100. All state revenues and expenditures of the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, together with the revenues and
expenditures of the autonomous republics included within the Georgian SSR, are
combined in the common state budget of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia.
101. The common state budget of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia is consolidated into the budget of the
104. The procedure for drawing-up,
consideration and adoption of the state budget of the Soviet Socialist Republic
of Georgia shall be determined by the Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia
within the limits established by the All-Union and Trans-Caucasus SFSR
legislation.
105. The parts of all-state revenues and
expenditures of the budget of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia shall be
determined in pursuance of the law on All-Union Budget.
106. All taxes and duties on the territory of
the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia shall be introduced in compliance with
the All-Union legislation.
109. All local revenues and expenditures shall
be combined in the local budget on the basis of legislation of the
Trans-Caucasus Federation and in pursuance of laws adopted in the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia.
110. In conformity to the legislation of
All-Union and of the Trans-Caucasus Federation, and on the basis of legislation
of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia adopted for development of the said
legislation, the revenue sources for local needs shall be provided in the local
budgets.
111. The Central Executive Committee of All-Georgia
shall approve the report on implementation of the state budget of the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Georgia.
(…)
(The Collection of the Constitutional Acts of the Georgian SSR.
(1921-1978).