CONSTITUTION (BASIC LAW) of the
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
Article 31. According to the uniform federal
citizenship established in the
The ground and procedure for acquiring or forfeiting
Soviet citizenship are defined by the Law on Citizenship of the
(…)
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
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
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
Article 69. The Soviet Socialist Republic of
Georgia retains the right to freely secede from the
Article 70. The
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
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
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
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
Article 79.
An autonomous Republic shall have its own
Constitution conforming to the Constitutions of the
Article 80. The
The
In matters within their jurisdiction, the
Article 81. The territories of the
Article 82. The laws of the Georgian SSR are
binding and shall have the same force on the territory of the
Chapter 9
Autonomous Oblast
Article 83. The
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
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
(…)
The procedure for holding elections to Soviets
of People’s Deputies shall be defined by the laws of the
V
The highest bodies of State Authority and
Administration of the
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.
(…)
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.
(…)
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
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
10) Revoke decisions and ordinances of the
Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR and of the Councils of Ministers of
the
(…)
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
(…)
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.
(…)
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
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
(…)
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
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
Article 132. The Supreme Soviets of the Abkhaz
ASSR and Adjarian ASSR shall elect the Presidiums of
the
The composition and competence of the Presidium
of the
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
The Councils of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR
and the Adjarian ASSR are accountable to the Supreme
Soviets of the respective
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
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
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
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
(…)
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
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
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
(…)
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
Article 159. The budget of the Georgian SSR
unites the budgets of the
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,
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
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.
(…)
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
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
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
The District and City Procurators are appointed
by the Procurator of the Georgian SSR subject to approval by the
Procurator-General of the
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
(…)
(The Collection of the Constitutional Acts of the Georgian SSR.
(1921-1978).