LAW OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS on changes and additions to the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

… The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics decrees:

1) To introduce to the Constitution of the USSR the following changes and amendments:

Chapter 12. The system of the Soviets of People’s Deputies and the principles of their operation

Article 89.  The Soviets of People’s Deputies, i.e. the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Congresses of the People’s Deputies of the Union and Autonomous Republics, the Soviets of People’s Deputies of Regions, Territories and autonomous oblasts, 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 101.

The procedure for holding the elections to Soviets of people’s Deputies shall be defined by the laws of the USSR, and of Union and Autonomous Republics.

3. Chapter 15, as amended, now reads:

Chapter 15. The Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Article 108.  The highest body of the state authority of the USSR shall be the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the USSR.

The Congress of the People’s Deputies of the USSR is empowered to deal with all matters within the jurisdiction of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.            The following matters shall be under the sole authority of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the USSR:

2) taking decision on the national-state matters under jurisdiction of the USSR;

(…)

Article 109.  The Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR consists of 2250 deputies elected in accordance with the following rules:

750 deputies – from the territorial electoral districts with the equal number of electors;

750 deputies – from the national-territorial electoral districts on the basis of following norms: 32 deputies from each Union Republic, 11 deputies from each Autonomous Republic, 5 deputies from each Autonomous oblast and one Deputy from each Autonomous Okrug.

750 deputies – from all-Union public organizations in pursuance of rules established by law on Election of People’s Deputies of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Article 111. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall consist of two chambers: the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities having equal numbers of deputies. The two chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR shall have equal rights.

The Chambers shall be elected at the Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR on the basis of general voting.  The Soviet of the Union shall be elected from the territorial electoral districts with respect of number of People’s Deputies of the USSR and People’s Deputies from the public organizations, as well as of the number of electors.  The Soviet of nationalities shall be elected on the basis of the following representation: 11 deputies from each Union Republic, 4 deputies from each Autonomous Republic, 2 deputies from each Autonomous oblast and 1 deputy from each autonomous Okrug.

4. Article 152, 153 and 155 of Chapter 20, Courts and Arbitration, as amended, now reads:

Article 152.      The judges of the Supreme Court of the USSR, the Supreme Courts of the Union and Autonomous Republics, the courts of the Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs shall be elected by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Supreme Soviets of the Union and Autonomous Republics and the Soviets of people’s Deputies of the Autonomous oblasts and Autonomous Okrugs accordingly.

13. Article 143, as amended, now reads:

Article 143. The Supreme body of the state authority in the Autonomous Republic shall be the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the Autonomous Republic.

14. Article 144 (e), as amended, now reads:

The highest body of the legislative, administrative and controlling state authority in the Autonomous Republic shall be the Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic. The Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic shall be accountable to the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Autonomous Republic.

The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic is accountable to the Congress of People’s Deputies and to the Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic.

The Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic shall be responsible and accountable to the Congress of People’s Deputies and the Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic.

15. Article 149 and Article 150, as amended, now reads:

Article 149.  The works of the Soviets of People’s Deputies of Territories, Regions, Autonomous Oblasts, districts, cities and city-districts shall be organized by the their Presidiums led by the chairmen, and of the Soviets of city (under district subordination), village and  rural settlements – by the chairmen of these Soviets.

Article 150. The executive committees shall be the executive and administrative organs of the local Soviets of people’s deputies, elected by the respective Soviets…

(…)

The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR M. Gorbachev

The Secretary of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR M. Menteshashvili

1 December 1988

(Messengers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, 1988, N 49, p. 69-86/in Russian)