CONSTITUTION (BASIC LAW) of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia

Chapter I

Political System

Article 1. The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia is a socialist state of the whole people.

Chapter 5.

Citizenship of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia. Equality of Citizens

Article 31. According to the uniform federal citizenship established in the USSR, a citizen of the Georgian SSR is a citizen of the USSR.

The ground and procedure for acquiring or forfeiting Soviet citizenship are defined by the Law on Citizenship of the USSR.

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Article 32. Citizens of the Georgian SSR are equal before the law without distinction of origin, social or property status, race or nationality, sex, education, language, attitude to religion, type and nature of occupation, domicile, or other status.

The equal rights of citizens of the Georgian SSR are guaranteed in all fields of economic, political, social, and cultural life.

Article 34.  Citizens of different races and nationalities have equal rights.

Exercise of these rights is ensured by a policy if all-round development and drawing together of all the nations and nationalities of the USSR, by education of citizens in the spirit of Soviet patriotism and socialist internationalism, and by the possibility to use their native language and the languages of other peoples in the USSR.

Any direct or indirect limitation of the rights of citizens or establishment of direct or indirect privileges on grounds of race or nationality, and any advocacy of racial or national exclusiveness, hostility, or contempt, are punished by law.

III

National-state and Administrative-

territorial Arrangement of the Georgian SSR

Chapter 7

Georgian SSR is the Union Republic within the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics

Article 68. The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia is a sovereign Soviet socialist state. . . . The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia as a result of the free self-determination of nations voluntarily associated with equal Soviet Socialist Republics in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – the unified multinational state.

Article 69. The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia retains the right to freely secede from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Article 70. The territory of Georgia shall not be altered without its consent.  The boundaries between the Georgian SSR and other Union Republic may be altered by mutual agreement of the Republics concerned, subject to ratification by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Article 71. The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia includes: the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia, the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Adjara and the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia.

Article 72.The jurisdiction of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, as represented by its highest bodies of state authority and administration, shall cover:

Adoption and amendment of the Constitution of the Georgian SSR;

2) Control over observance of the Constitution of the Georgian SSR and insurances of conformity of the Constitutions of the Abkhaz SSR and of Adjarian SSR to the Constitution of the Georgian SSR;

3) Forming the new autonomous republics and autonomous oblasts within the Georgian SSR subject endorsement by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR;

4) The legislation of the Georgian SSR;

5) Safeguarding the public order, rights and freedoms of citizens;

6) Establishment of rules for organization and functioning of republican and local bodies of state authority and administration;

7)  Pursuance of a uniform social and economic policy; direction of the economic sector of the Georgian SSR; promotion of scientific and technological progress and the general measures for rational exploitation and conservation of natural resources;

8) Drafting and approval of state plans for the economic and social development of the Georgian SSR; drafting and approval of the state budget of the Georgian SSR; direct the execution of the budgets of the Abkhaz ASSR, Adjarian ASSR and the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia, as well as of district and city budgets of the state subordination;

9) Determination of income subject to be accommodated in the budget of the Georgian SSR in pursuance the legislation of the USSR;

10) Direction of the sectors of economy, and of enterprises and amalgamations under Republican or Union-Republican jurisdiction, and general direction of industries and enterprises under Republican jurisdiction;

11) Establishment of the rules for the use of land, its bowels, water and forest. 

12) Administration of housing and municipal improvements, trade and public catering, public utilities, construction and services, and direction of the road and transport construction in the cities and other settlements;

13) Administration of public education, cultural and scientific institutions and organizations, health-care, physical training and sport, directing the social security; protection of historical and cultural monuments;

14) Issuing the act of amnesty and pardon for citizens convicted by the Courts of the Georgian SSR;

15) Representation of the Georgian SSR in international relations;

16) Dealing with other issues under the jurisdiction of the Republic.

Article 73.  The Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia decides the issues of district division and the other issues relating to the administrative-territorial settlement of the Georgian SSR.

Article 75. The State language of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic shall be Georgian.

The Georgian SSR shall secure the comprehensive development of Georgian language and safeguards its application in the state and public organs, as well as in the cultural, educational and other institutions.

Free application of Russian and other languages, used by the population, shall be secured in the above mentioned organs of the Georgian SSR.  Any privileges for or restriction of any language is inadmissible.

Chapter 8,

Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

Article 79.  Autonomous Republic is a constituent part of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia. In spheres not within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, an Autonomous Republic shall deal independently with matters within its jurisdiction.

An autonomous Republic shall have its own Constitution conforming to the Constitutions of the USSR and the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia with the specific features of the Autonomous Republic.

Article 80. The Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara take part in decision-making through the highest bodies of state authority and administration of the USSR and of the Georgian SSR, in matters that come within the jurisdiction of the USSR and the Georgian SSR.

The Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara shall ensure comprehensive economic and social development on their territories, facilitate exercise of the powers of the USSR and the Georgian SSR on their territories, and implement decision of the highest bodies of state authority and administration of the USSR and the Georgian SSR.

In matters within their jurisdiction, the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara shall coordinate and control the activity of enterprises, institutions, and organizations subordinate the USSR and the Georgian SSR.

Article 81. The territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara may not be altered without their consent.

Article 82. The laws of the Georgian SSR are binding and shall have the same force on the territory of the Autonomous Republic.  In the event of discrepancy between a law of the Autonomous Republic and the Georgian SSR, the law of the Georgian SSR prevails.

Chapter 9

Autonomous Oblast

Article 83. The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic includes the South Ossetian Autonomous oblast.

Article 84.  The Law on the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia shall be adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR upon submission of the Soviet of People’s Deputies of this Oblast.

IV

The Soviets of People’s Deputies and Elections

Chapter 10.

The system of the Soviets of People’s Deputies and the Principles of their activity

Article 85. The Soviets of People’s Deputies, i.e. the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR, the Soviets of People’s Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast, and the Soviets of People’s Deputies of Districts, Cities, city districts, settlements and villages shall constitute a single system of bodies of state authority.

Article 86. The term of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara shall be five years.

The term of local Soviets of People’s Deputies shall be two and a half years.

Chapter 11.

Election System

Article 91. Deputies to all Soviets shall be elected on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Article 97. Deputies to Soviets of People’s Deputies shall be elected by constituencies.

A citizen of the Georgian SSR may not, as a rule, be elected to more than two Soviets of People’s Deputies

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The procedure for holding elections to Soviets of People’s Deputies shall be defined by the laws of the USSR, and of the Georgian SSR, and in the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – also by the laws of these autonomous republics.

V

The highest bodies of State Authority and

Administration of  the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia

Chapter 13.

The Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR

Article 105. The Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR shall consist of 440 deputies elected by constituencies with the equal number of population.

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Article 108.  The right to initiate legislation in the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR is vested in the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR, the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara through their highest bodies of state authority, standing commission and other commission of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, Deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Court of the Georgian SSR, and the Procurator of the Georgian SSR.

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Article 110. The laws of the Georgian SSR, the Resolutions and other acts of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR shall be published in Georgian and Russian languages, and for the Autonomous Republics and Autonomous oblast – also in the language f respective autonomous republic or oblast over the signature of the Chairman and Secretary of the presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR.

Article 113.  The Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR shall elect the Presidium – the standing body of the Supreme Soviet of Georgia.  The Presidium is accountable to the Supreme Soviet of Georgia and in the periods between the convocation of the sessions of the Supreme Soviet of Georgia it shall carry out the function of the state authority of the Georgian SSR within the scope established by this Constitution.

Article 114. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR shall be elected from among the Deputies and shall consist of a Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen, among them two chairmen from the Autonomous Republics, a Secretary, and fourteen members of the presidium.

Article 115. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR shall:

8) determine the rules for administrative-territorial settlement of the Georgian SSR; determine and alters the boundaries of the Autonomous Oblast and districts; establish the cities in the districts and districts in the cities; decide the jurisdiction of the cities; changes the place names of the districts, cities, villages and settlements;

9) Approve the district division, of the Autonomous Republics, as well as of creation of cities and districts of the cities, changes of place-names.

10) Revoke decisions and ordinances of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR and of the Councils of Ministers of the Autonomous Republics, and the Council of People’s Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast, decisions of the District, City (Republican jurisdiction) Soviets in the event they fail to conform to the law.

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Article 116. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, between sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR and subject to submission for its confirmation at the next session, shall:

2) approve changes in the boundaries of the Autonomous Republic; create the new districts and cities of the republican jurisdiction;

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Chapter 14

The Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR

Article 122.  The Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR, i.e. the Government of the Georgian SSR, is the highest executive and administrative body of the state authority of the Georgian SSR.

Article 123. The Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR shall be formed by the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR and shall consist of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR, First Vice Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, Ministers of the Georgian SSR, and Chairmen of State Committees of the Georgian SSR.

The Chairmen of the Councils of Ministers of Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR shall be ex officio members of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR.

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Article 125.  Within its power the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR shall:

7) Coordinate and direct the work of Councils of Ministers of the Autonomous Republics, and of the executive committees of the local Soviets of the People’s Deputies.

Article 128. The Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR has the right, in matters within its jurisdiction, to suspend execution of decisions and ordinances of the Councils of Minister of the Autonomous Republics, and to rescind decisions and orders of the Soviet of People’s Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia, the District, City (republican jurisdiction) Soviets of People’s Deputies.

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VI

The highest bodies of State Authority and

Administration of the Autonomous Republics

Chapter 15.

The Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic

Article 131. The highest bodies of state authority of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall be the Supreme Soviet of these Republics accordingly.

The Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara are authorized to decide the matters under their jurisdiction in conformity to the Constitution of the USSR, the Constitution of the Georgian SSR and the Constitution of the respective Autonomous Republic.

Adoption and amendment of the Constitutions of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR; endorsement of state plans for economic and social development, and of the Republic’s Budget; endorsement of the reports on implementation of the budget; the formation of bodies accountable to the Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR are the exclusive prerogative of the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia and the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Adjara.

Laws of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR shall be enacted by the Supreme Soviets of these Autonomous Republics.

Article 132. The Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR shall elect the Presidiums of the Autonomous Republics – the standing bodies of the Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Adjarian ASSR.  The respective Presidiums are accountable to the Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Adjarian ASSR and in the periods between the convocation of the sessions of the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics the respective Presidiums shall carry out the function of the state authority of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Adjarian ASSR within the scope established by law.

The composition and competence of the Presidium of the Autonomous Republics shall be determined by the Constitution of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Adjarian ASSR.

Chapter 16.

The Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic

Article 133. The Councils of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR, i.e. the Governments of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR, are the highest executive and administrative bodies of the state authority of the Autonomous Republics.

The Councils of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Adjarian ASSR are accountable to the Supreme Soviets of the respective Autonomous Republic, and in the period between the convocation of sessions of the Supreme Soviets – to the Presidiums of the Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR accordingly.

Article 134. The Councils of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR issue the decision and ordinances on the basis of the legislative acts of the USSR, Georgian SSR, Autonomous Republics, and of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR, coordinate and control their execution.

Article 135.  The Council of Ministers of Abkhazia and the Council of Ministers of Adjara have the right to revoke decisions and instructions of the Executive Committees of the District and City (Republican jurisdiction) Soviets of the people’s Deputies.

 Article 136.  The Council of Ministers of Abkhazia and the Council of Ministers of Adjara have the right to revoke the acts of the Ministries, State Committees and other subordinate organs of their respective Republics.

Article 136. The Councils of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR and Adjarian ASSR coordinate and direct the work of the ministries, State Committees and other subordinate organs of the Autonomous Republics.

The Ministries of the Abkhaz and Adjarian ASSR direct the branches of state administration under their competence or execute the inter-institutional management and are subordinate to the Council of Ministers and State Committees of the respective Autonomous Republic, as well as of the Georgian SSR.

VIII

The local organs of state authority and

government of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia

Chapter 17

Article 137. The organs of state authority in the Autonomous Oblast, districts, cities and rural settlements of the Georgian SSR are the Soviets of People’s Deputies.

Article 140. The local Soviets of People’s Deputies adopt decisions and issue orders within the limits of the powers vested in them by the laws of the USSR, Georgian SSR and of the Autonomous Republic.

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Article 141. The local Soviets of People’s Deputies convene the sessions of their respective executive committees at least once a year.

The Local Soviets of People’s Deputies are authorized to discuss and decide any matters under their competence in pursuance of the legislations of the USSR, Georgian SSR and respective Autonomous Republic. The list of matters decided solely at the session shall be specified in the laws on the Local Soviets of People’s Deputies.

Chapter 18.

Executive committees of the Local Soviets of People’s Deputies

Article 145. The executive and administrative organs of the Local Soviets of the People’s Deputies shall be the executive committees elected by the respective Soviets consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, a secretary and members.

The executive committees, at least once a year, shall submit the reports on their activity to the respective Soviets they are elected by, and hold the meetings of the workers’ organizations and citizens in accordance to their domiciliary.

Article 146. The executive committees of the Local Soviets of the people’s Deputies are accountable to the respective Soviets, as well as to the executive organs of higher Soviets.

Article 150. For the purpose of management of certain branches, the Soviet of People’s Deputies of the Autonomous oblast of South Ossetia, district and city Soviets are authorized to form the executive Divisions and Offices.  These Divisions and Offices are subordinate to the respective Soviets and executive committees, as well as to the higher relevant organ of the state authority.

The matters under competence of the executive Divisions and offices of the Executive Committees of Local Soviets of people’s Deputies, also the rules for their creation shall be determined by the legislation of the USSR, the Georgian SSR and the respective Autonomous Republic.

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Chapter 20

The Budget of the Georgian SSR

Article 158.  The budget of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia is a constituent part of the budget of the USSR.

Article 159. The budget of the Georgian SSR unites the budgets of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia ad Adjara and the local budgets.

Article 160. The separation of revenues and expenditures of the budget of the Georgian SSR shall be defined by the law of the Georgian SSR on Budgetary Rights of the Georgian SSR, Autonomous Republics and Local Soviets of People’s Deputies.

Article 161. The Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR shall draw-up the state budget of the Georgian SSR on the basis of the Economic and Social Development Plan of the Georgian SSR, and of the budget of the USSR.  The budget shall be approved by the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR…

Article 162. The report on implementation of the budget of the Georgian SSR shall be endorsed by the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR… 

IX

Administration of Justice, Arbitration and Procurator

Chapter 21.

Courts and Arbitration

Article 163. In the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia justice is administered solely by the Courts.

The Supreme Court of the Georgian SSR, Supreme Courts of the Abkhaz and Adjarian Autonomous Republics, Tbilisi City Court, the Court of Autonomous oblast of South Ossetia and district (city) people’s courts are the Courts of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia.

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Article 165. The Supreme Court of the Georgian SSR is the highest judicial body in the Georgian SSR.  It is entitled to supervise the administration of justice at the courts of the Georgian SSR.

The Supreme Court of the Georgian SSR shall be elected by the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairmen and People’s Assessors.

Article 171. Judicial proceedings in the Georgia SSR shall be conducted in Georgian or in the language of Autonomous Republic, or Autonomous oblast or in the language of majority of the local population of given localities.  Persons participating in the court proceedings, who do not know the language in which they are being conducted, shall be ensured the right to become fully acquainted with the materials in the case through the interpreter, and the rights to address the court in their own language

Chapter 22

Procurator’s Office

Article 176. Supreme power of supervision over the strict and uniform observance of laws. . . is vested in the Procurator-General of the USSR, as well as in the Procurator of the Georgian SSR subordinate to him and other inferior procurators.

Article 177. The Procurator of the Georgian SSR, as well as the procurators of the Abkhaz and Adjarian Autonomous SSR and of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast is appointed by the Procurator-General of the USSR.

The District and City Procurators are appointed by the Procurator of the Georgian SSR subject to approval by the Procurator-General of the USSR.

Article 178. The term of office of the Procurator of the Georgian SSR and of other inferior Procurators is 5 years.

Article 179. The agencies of the Procurator’s Office exercise their powers independently of any local bodies whatsoever, and are subordinate solely to the Procurator of the USSR.

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15 April 1978

(The Collection of the Constitutional Acts of the Georgian SSR. (1921-1978). Tbilisi, 1983, p. 249-293)