CONSTITUTION
(FUNDAMENTAL LAW)
of the
KIRGHIZ
SOVIET SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC
of March 23, 1937
As Amended Through March 25, 1948

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New York 16, New York
April 1950
American Russian Institute
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
GENERAL LIBRARY
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COM
CON
CONSTITUTION
(Fundamental Law)
of the
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
KIRGHIZ
of March 23, 1937
As amended through March 25, 1948
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
SOVIET SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC
CONTENTS
The Social Structure
The State Structure
The Higher Organs of State Power in the
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
The Organs of State Administration of the
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
The Local Organs of State Power
The Budget of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist
Republic
The Courts and the Procurator's Office
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII. Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Chapter XI.
The Electoral System
Arms, Flag, Capital
Procedure for Amending the Constitution
Page
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5
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CONSTITUTION
(Fundamental Law)
of the
KIRGHIZ
SOVIET SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC
of March 23, 1937
As amended through March 25, 1948
Chapter I. The Social Structure
Art. 1.
The Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic is a socialist
state of workers and peasants.
Art. 2. The political foundation of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is the
Soviets of Working People's Deputies which grew and became strong
as a result of the overthrow of the power of the landlords and capi-
talists, the conquest of the dictatorship of the proletariat, the
liberation of the Kirghiz people from the national oppression of
tsarism and the Russian imperialist bourgeoisie, and the defeat of
the nationalist counter-revolution of the feudal bai.
Art. 3. All power in the Kirghiz S.S.R. belongs to the work-
ing people of city, all, kyshtak and village as represented by the
Soviets of Working People's Deputies.
Art. 4. The economic foundation of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is the
socialist system of economy and the socialist ownership of the in-
struments and means of production, firmly established as a result
of the liquidation of the feudal and capitalist system of economy,
as well as of gentile relations and colonial exploitation, the.
abolition of private ownership of the instruments and means of pro-
duction, and the elimination of the exploitation of mạn by man.
Art. 5. Socialist property in the Kirghiz S.S.R. exists
either in the form of state property (belonging to the whole people)
or in the form of cooperative and collective-farm property (property
of collective farms, property of cooperative societies).
Art. 6.
The land, its mineral wealth, waters, forests, mills,
factories, mines, rail, water and air transport, banks, communi-
cations, large state-organized agricultural enterprises (state
2
farms, machine and tractor stations and the like), as well as muni-
cipal enterprises and the bulk of the dwelling houses in the cities
and industrial localities, are state property, that is, belong to
the whole people.
Art. 7. The common enterprises of collective farms and co-
operative organizations, with their livestock and implements, the
products of the collective farms and cooperative organizations, as
well as their common buildings, constitute the common, socialist
property of the collective farms and cooperative organizations.
Every household in a collective farm, in addition
to its basic income from the common collective-farm enterprise,
has for its personal use a small plot of household land and, as
its personal property, a subsidiary husbandry on the plot, a
dwelling house, livestock, poultry and minor agricultural imple
ments in accordance with the Rules of the Agricultural Artel.
Art. 8. The land occupied by collective farms is secured to
them for their use free of charge and for an unlimited time, that
is, in perpetuity.
Art. 9. Alongside the socialist system of economy, which is
the predominant form of economy in the Kirghiz S.S.R., the law
permits the small private economy of individual peasants, cattle-
breeders and handicraftsmen based on their own labour and preclud
ing the exploitation of the labour of others.
Art. 10. The personal property right of citizens in their
incomes and savings from work, in their dwelling houses and sub-
sidiary home enterprises, in articles of domestic economy and use
and articles of personal use and convenience, as well as the right
of citizens to inherit personal property, is protected by law.
Art. 11. The economic life of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is deter-
mined and directed by the state national-economic plan, with the
aim of increasing the public wealth, of steadily raising the mat-
erial and cultural standards of the working people, of consolid-
ating the independence of the socialist state and strengthening
its defensive capacity.
Art. 12. Work in the Kirghiz S.S.R. is a duty and a matter
of honour for every able-bodied citizen, in accordance with the
principle: "He who does not work, neither shall he eat."
The principle applied in the Kirghiz S.S.R. is that
of socialism: "From each according to his ability, to each accord-
ing to his work."
Chapter II. The State Structure
Art. 13. For the purpose of mutual assistance along economic
and political lines as well as along the line of defence, the
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic has voluntarily united with
the other equal Soviet Socialist Republics, namely:
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, and
The Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic in .
a federal state, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Proceeding from the aforesaid, the Kirghiz S.S.R.
ensures to the U.S.S.R., as represented by its higher organs of
state power and organs of state administration, the rights de-
fined in Article 14 of the Constitution of the U.S.S.R,
3
Outside the spheres set forth in Article 14 of thẹ
Constitution of the U.S.S.R., the Kirghiz S.S.R. exercises state
authority independently, retaining its sovereign rights in full.
Art. 14. The Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic consists of
the Dzhalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, Osh, Talas, Tien-Shan and Frunze
Regions,
Art. 15. The Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic reserves
the right freely to secede from the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics..
Art. 16. The territory of the Kirghiz S.S.R. may not be
altered without its consent.
Art. 16a. The Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic has the
right to enter into direct relations with foreign states and to
conclude agreements and exchange diplomatic and consular repre-
sentatives with them.
Art. 16b. The Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic has its own
Republican military formations.
Art. 17. The laws of the U.S.S.R. are binding within the
territory of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 18. Every citizen of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is a citizen
of the U.S.S.R. Citizens of all other Union Republics onjoy on
4
the territory of the Kirghiz S.S.R. equal rights with citizens
of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 19. The jurisdiction of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist
Republic, as represented by its higher organs of state power and
organs of state administration, embraces:
a) Adoption of the Constitution of the Kirghiz
S.S.R., and control over its observance;
b) Submission of the formation of new regions to
the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. for confirmation;
c) Formation of new districts, cities and village
and settlement Soviets, and establishment of their boundaries;
d) Legislation of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
e)
the rights of citizens;
Maintenance of public order and safeguarding
f) Approval of the national-economic plan of the
Kirghiz S.S.R.;
g) Approval of the state budget of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. and of the report on its fulfilment;
gets of the regions;
h) Direction of the fulfilment of the local bud-
region
i) Determination of state and local taxes, imposts
and non-tax revenues in conformity with the laws of the U.S.S.R.;
Direction of insurance and savings;
agri...
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k) Administration of the banks, industrial
cultural and trading enterprises and organizations subordinate
to the Republic as well as direction of local industry;
1) Control and superintendence of the condition
and administration of enterprises subordinate to the Union;
m) Establishment of the procedure governing the
use of land, mineral wealth, forests and waters;
n) Direction of dwelling houses and the munici
pal economy, dwelling house construction and the modernization
of cities and other inhabited places;
o) Road building; direction of local transport
and communications;
Labour legislation;
q
Direction of public health;
r) Direction of social maintenance;
S Direction of elementary, secondary and higher
education;
t) Direction of the cultural, educational and
scientific organizations and institutions in the Kirghiz S.Ş.R.,
and administration of the cultural, educational and scientific
organizations and institutions of all-Republican importance;
u) Direction and organization of physical cul-
ture and sports;
Organization of the judicial organs of the
Granting the rights of citizenship of the
Kirghiz S.S,R,
•S, R
Kirghiz S.S.R. ;
5
x) Amnesty and pardon of citizens convicted by judi,
cial organs of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
૪
y) Legislation concerning marriage and the family:
z) Establishment of the representation of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. in international relations;
Establishment of the procedure governing the or
ganization of the military formations of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Chapter III. The Higher Organs of State Power in the
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Art, 20. The highest organ of state power in the Kirghiz S.S.R.
is the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R,
Art. 21. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.Ş.R. exercises
all rights vested in the Kirghiz S.S.R. in accordance with Articles
13 and 19 of the Constitution of the Kirghiz S.S.R., in so far as
they do not, by virtue of the Constitution, come within the juris-
diction of organs of the Kirghiz S.S.R. that are accountable to the
Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., that is, the Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., the Council of Ministers of
the Kirghiz S.S.R., and the Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 22. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is the sole
legislative organ of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 23. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S,S.R. is elected
for a term of four years by the citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R. vot-
ing by election districts on the basis of one deputy for every
5,000 of the population.
Art. 24. A law is considered adopted if passed by the Supreme
Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. by a simple majority vote.
Art. 25. Laws passed by the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. are published in the Kirghiz and Russian languages over the
signatures of the President and Secretary of the Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 26. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. elects a
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and two Vice-
Chairmen.
Art. 27. The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. presides at the sittings of the Supreme Soviet of the Kir-
ghiz S.S.R. and has charge of the conduct of its business and
proceedings.
Art. 28. Sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
are convened by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. twice a year.
6.
Extraordinary sessions are convened by the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. at its discretion or
on demand of one-third of the deputies to the Supreme Soviet.
**
Art. 29. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. elects the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., consisting
of a President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kir-
ghiz S.S.R., two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary of the Presidium and
eleven members of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R.
Art. 30. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. is accountable to the Supreme Sovier of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
for all its activities.
Art. 31. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R.:
Convenes the sessions of the Supreme Soviet of
a)
the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
b)
Gives interpretations of the laws of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. in operation;
Conducts nation-wide polls (referendums);
2)
Annuls decisions and orders of the Council of
Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and likewise decisions and orders
of regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies if they do not
conform to law;
f) In the intervals between sessions of the Supreme
Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., releases and appoints Ministers of
the Kirghiz S.S.R. on the recommendation of the Chairman of the
Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R., subject to subsequent
confirmation by the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
Grants awards and confers titles of honour of the
Kirghiz S.S.R.;
h) Exercises the right of pardoning citizens con-
victed by judicial organs of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
i) Confirms the ordinance concerning regional, dis-
trict, city, settlement, ail and rural Soviets of Working People's
Deputies:
j) Grants the rights of citizenship of the Kirghiz
S.S.R.;
k) Appoints and recalls diplomatic representatives
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. to foreign states;
Receives the letters of credence and recall of
diplomatic representatives accredited to it by foreign states.
Art. 32. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R, elects a
Credentials Committee to verify the credentials of the members of
the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
On the report of the Credentials Committee, the Sup-
reme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. decides whether to recognize the
credentials of deputies or to annul their election.
7
Art. 33. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., when it
deems necessary, appoints commissions of investigation and audit on
any matter.
It is the duty of all institutions and officials, to
comply with the demands of such commissions and to submit to them
all necessary materials and documents.
Art. 34. A member of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
may not be prosecuted or arrested without the consent of the Sup-
reme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., or, when the Supreme Soviet of
the Kirghiz S.S.R. is not in session, without the consent of the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 35. On the expiration of the term of office of the Sup-
reme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. orders new elections to be held with-
in a period not exceeding two months from the date of expiration
of the term of office of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 36. On the expiration of the term of office of the Sup-
reme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. retains its powers until the newly-
elected Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. shall have formed a
new Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 37. The newly-elected Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. is convened by the outgoing Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. not later than three months after the elec
tions.
Art. 38. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. appoints
the Government of the Kirghiz S.S.R., namely, the Council of Min-
isters of the Kirghiz S.S.R.

Chapter IV. The Organs of State Administration of the
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Art. 39. The highest executive and administrative organ of
state power of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is the Council of Ministers of
the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 40. The Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is
responsible and accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R., or, in the intervals between sessions of the Supreme So-
viet of the Kirghiz S.S.R., to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 41. The Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is-
sues decisions and orders on the basis and in pursuance of the
laws of the U.S.S.R. and the Kirghiz S.S.R., and of the decisions
and orders of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., and veri-
fies their execution.
8
00
Art. 42. Decisions and orders of the Council of Ministers of
the Kirghiz S.S.R. are binding throughout the territory of the Kir-
ghiz S.S.R.
Art. 43. The Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R.:
a) Coordinates and directs the work of the Ministries
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and of other institutions under its jurisdic-
tion; coordinates and verifies the work of the authorized represen➡
tatives of the all-Union Ministries as well as of the economic org-
anizations subordinate to the Union;
b) Adopts measures to carry out the national-economic
plan of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
Kirghiz S.
Adopts measures to fulfil the state and local
budgets of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
d) Adopts measures for the maintenance of public or-
der, for the protection of the interests of the state, and for the
safeguarding of the rights of citizens;
e) Directs and verifies the work of the Executive
Committees of the regional, district and city Soviets of Working
People's Deputies;
f) Sets up, whenever necessary, special Committees
and Central Administrations under the Council of Ministers of the
Kirghiz S.S.R. for economic and cultural affairs;
g) Exercises guidance in the sphere of the relations
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. with foreign states on the basis of the gen-
eral procedure established by the U.S.S.R. governing the relations
of Union Republics with foreign states;
h) Directs the organization of the military forma-
tions of the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
Art. 44. The Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. has
the right to annul decisions and orders of Executive Committees
of regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies and likewise to
suspend decisions and orders of regional Soviets of Working People's
Deputies.
The Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. has
the right to annul orders and instructions of Ministers of the
Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 45. The Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz´S.S.R. is
appointed by the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S. R. and con-
sists of:
Kirghiz S.S.R.;
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the
The Vice-Chairmen of the Council of Ministers of
The Chairman of the State Planning. Commission of
the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
the Kirghiz S.S.R.;
The Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. namely:
The Minister of Motor Transport
The Minister of Internal Affairs
The Minister of Irrigation
The Minister of the Armed Forces
The Minister of State Control
The Minister of State Security
The Minister of Public Health
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Minister of the Municipal Economy
The Minister of Light Industry
The Minister of the Timber Industry
The Minister of Forestry
The Minister of Local Industry
The Minister of the Meat and Dairy Industry
The Minister of the Food Industry
The Minister of Education
The Minister of Agriculture
The Minister of State Farms
The Minister of Social Maintenance
The Minister of the Textile Industry
The Minister of Trade
The Minister of Finance
The Minister of Justice
9
The Chief of the Arts Administration
The Chairman of the Committee on Cultural and Educa
tional Institutions.
Art. 46. The Government of the Kirghiz S.S.R. or a Minister
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. to whom a question of a member of the Supreme
Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is addressed must give a verbal or
written reply in the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. within a
period not exceeding three days.
Art. 47. The Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. direct the bran-
ches of state administration which come within the jurisdiction of
the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 48. The Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R., within the limits
of the jurisdiction of their respective Ministries, issue orders and
instructions on the basis and in pursuance of the laws of the U.S.S.R.
and the Kirghiz S.S.R., of the decisions and orders of the Council
of Ministers of the U.S.S.R. and the Council of Ministers of the
Kirghiz S.S.R. and of the orders and instructions of thion-Repub-
lican Ministries of the U.S.S.R., and verify their execution.
Art. 49. The Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R. are either Union-
Republican or Republican Ministries.
Art. 50. Each Union-Republican Ministry of the Kirghiz sis.R.
directs the branch of state administration of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
entrusted to it, with the exception of only a limited number of
enterprises, according to a list confirmed by the Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., and is subordinate both to the
Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and the corresponding
Union-Republican Ministry of the U.S.S.R.
Art. 51. Each Republican Ministry of the Kirghiz S.S.R. di-
rects the branch of state administration entrusted to it and is
directly subordinate to the Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz
S.S.R
Art. 52. The following Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R. are
Union-Republican Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R.:
The Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of the Armed Forces
The Ministry of State Control
The Ministry of State Security
The Ministry of Public Health
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Light Industry
The Ministry of Forestry
The Ministry of the Timber Industry
The Ministry of the Meat and Dairy Industry
The Ministry of the Food Industry
The Ministry of Agriculture
The Ministry of State Farms
The Ministry of the Textile Industry
The Ministry of Trade
The Ministry of Finance
The Ministry of Justice,
Art. 53. the following Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R. are
Republican Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R.:
The Ministry of Motor Transport
The Ministry of Irrigation
The Ministry of the Municipal Economy
The Ministry of Local Industry
The Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Social Maintenance.
10
•
Chapter V. The Local Organs of State Power
Art. 54. The organs of state power in regions, districts,
cities, settlements, villages, ails and kyshtaks are the Soviets
of Working People's Deputies.
Art. 55. The Soviets of Working People's Deputies of regions,
districts, cities, settlements, ails and rural localities are elec-
ted by the working people of the respective regions, districts, citos
ies, settlements, villages, alls and kyshtaks for a term of two years.
Art. 56. The Soviets of Working People's Deputies (of regions,
districts, cities, settlements, ails and villages) direct cultural,
political and economic affairs on their territory, draw up the lo-
Cal budgets, direct the work of the organs of administration sub-
ordinate to them, ensure the maintenance of public order, assist
11
in strengthening the defensive capacity of the country and ensure
the observance of the laws and the protection of the rights of cit-
izens.
Art. 57. The Soviets of Working People's Deputies adopt deci-
sions and issue orders within the limits of the powers vested in
them by the laws of the U.S.S.R. and of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 58. The executive and administrative organ of the Soviet
of Working People's Deputies of a region, district, city, settle
ment, ail and village is the Executive Committee elected by it,
consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, a Secretary and members.
Art. 59. The executive and administrative organ of the Soviet
of Working People's Deputies in a small locality is the Chairman,
the Vice-Chairman and the Secretary elected by the Soviet of Work-
ing People's Deputies.
Art. 60. The Executive Committee of a Soviet of Working People's
Deputies (of a region, district, city, settlement, all or village)
exercises guidance in cultural, political and economic affairs with--
in its territory on the basis of decisions taken by the corresponding
Soviet of Working People's Deputies and superior state organs.
Art. 61. Sessions of regional Soviets of Working People's Depu-
ties are convened by their respective Executive Committees not less
than four times a year.
Sessions of district Soviets of Working People's Dep-
uties are convened by their respective Executive Committees not
less than six times a year.
Art. 62. Sessions of city, settlement, ail and village Soviets
of Working People's Deputies are convened by their respective ex-
ecutive organs not less than once a month.
Sessions of all or village Soviets of Working People's
Deputies in mountainous localities or in sparsely settled districts
are convened by their respective executive organs not less than
once in two months.
Art. 63. The Soviets of Working People's Deputies of regions,
districts, cities and city districts each elect a Chairman and a
Secretary for the duration of their sessions to conduct the sit-
tings of the sessions.
Art. 64. The Chairman of an ail, village or settlement So-
viet of Working People's Deputies convenes the ail, village or
settlement Soviet and conducts its sittings.
Art. 65. The executive organs of the Soviets of Working
People's Deputies are directly accountable both to the Soviets
of Working People's Deputies which elected them and to the exec-
utive organs of the respective superior Soviets of Working People's
Deputies.
Art. 66.
The superior Executive Committees of the Soviets of
Working People's Deputies have the right to annul decisions and or-
ders of the inferior Executive Committees and to suspend decisions
and orders of inferior Soviets of Working People's Deputies.
Art. 67. The superior Soviets of Working People's Deputies
have the right to annul or suspend decisions and orders of the in-
ferior Soviets of Working People's Deputies and of their Executive
Committees.
Art. 67a. The regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies
set up the following Departments and Administrations of their Exec-
utive Committees:
a Department of Irrigation
a Department of Roads
a Department of Public Health
a Department of the Municipal Economy
a Department of Cultural and Educational Work
a Department of Local Indus try
a Department of Public Education
a General Department
a Department of Social Maintenance
a Department of Trade
a Department of Finance
an Arts Administration
a Cinematographic Administration
an Agricultural Administration
a Planning Commission
a Cadres Sector
22222
under the Chairman of the Executive Committee and, in addition, in
accordance with the specific features of the economy of the region,
the regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies, subject to con-
firmation by the Union-Republican Ministries of Light Industry, the
Timber Industry, Forestry, the Meat and Dairy Industry, the Food
Industry,
the State Farms, the Textile Industry, and the Central Ad-
ministration of the Building Materials Industry under the Council
of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R., set up the following Departments
or Administrations:
Light Industry
the Timber Industry
Forestry
the Meat and Dairy Industry
the Food Industry
the Building Materials Industry
the State Farms and
the Textile Industry.
Art. 67b. The all-Union Ministries and the Ministry of In-
ternal Affairs, the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry
of Justice set up their administrations under the regional Soviets
of Working People's Deputies, in accordance with the conditions of
the region and on the basis of the laws of the U.S.S.R. and the
Kirghiz S.S.R.
13
Art. 67c. The Departments and Administrations of the regional
Soviets of Working People's Deputies are subordinate in their act-
ivities both to the corresponding regional Soviets of Working Peo-
ple's Deputies and their Executive Committees and to the corres-
ponding Ministries of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 68.
The district Soviets of Working People's Deputies
set up the following Departments of their Executive Committees:
a Department of Irrigation
a Department of Roads
a Department of Public Health
a Department of Cultural and Educational Work
a Department of Public Education
a General Department
·
a Department of Agriculture
a Department of Social Maintenance
a Department of Trade
a Department of Finance
a Planning Commission
a Cadres Sector
under the Chairmen of the Executive Committees and, in addition,
in accordance with the specific features of the economy of the
district, the district Soviets of Working People's Deputies set
up the following Departments, subject to confirmation by the re-
spective regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies:
a Municipal Department,
a Department of the Timber Industry and
a Department of Local Industry.
Art. 69. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry
of State Security set up their Departments under the district So-
viets of Working People's Deputies in accordance with the conditions
of the district, on the basis of the laws of the U.S.S.R. and the
Kirghiz S.S.R. and subject to confirmation by the corresponding
regional Soviet of Working People's Deputies.
Art. 70. The Departments of the district Soviets of Working
People's Deputies are subordinate in their activities both to the
district Soviets of Working People's Deputies and their Executive
Committees and to the corresponding Departments of the Executive
Committees of the regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies.
Art. 71. The city Soviets of Working People's Deputies set
up the following Departments of their Executive Committees:
a Department of Public Health
a Department of the Municipal Economy
a Department of Cultural and Educational Work
a Department of Public Education
a General Department
a Department of Social Maintenance
a Department of Trade
1
14
a Department of Finance
a Planning Commission
a Cadres Sector
under the Chairmen of the Executive Committees and, in addition,
in accordance with the specific features of the industry and the
municipal and suburban economy of the city,
a Department of Local Industry and
a Department of Agriculture.
Art. 72.
The Departments of the city Soviets of Working
People's Deputies are subordinate in their activities both to the
respective city Soviets of Working People's Deputies and their Ex-
ecutive Committees and to the corresponding Departments of the dis-
trict or regional Soviets of Working People's Deputies.
The Departments of the Frunze City Soviet of Work-
ing People's Deputies are subordinate in their activities both to
the Soviet of Working People's Deputies of the City of Frunze and
its Executive Committee and to the corresponding Ministry of the
Kirghiz S.S.R. directly.

Chapter VI. The Budget of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist
Republic
Art. 73. The state budget of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is drawn up
by the Council of Ministers of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and submitted by
it to the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. for its approval.
Upon its approval by the Supreme Soviet of the Kir-
ghiz S.S.R. the state budget of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is published for
general information.
Art. 74. The Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. elects a
Budget Commission, which reports its conclusions on the state
budget of the Kirghiz S.S.R. to the Supreme Soviet.
Art. 75. The report on the fulfilment of the state budget
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is approved by the Supreme Soviet of the
Kirghiz S.S.R. and published for general information.
Art. 76. The budgets of the regional, district, city, set
tlement, ail and village Soviets include the revenues from the
local economy, the deductions from the state revenues collected
within their territory and likewise receipts from local taxes and
imposts in amounts fixed by the laws of the U.S.S.R. and the Kir-
ghiz S.S.R.
Chapter VII. The Courts and the Procurator's Office
Art. 77. In the Kirghiz S.S.R. justice is administered by
the Supreme Court of the Kirghiz S.S.R., the Regional Courts, the
Special Courts of the U.S.S.R. established by decision of the Sup-
reme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. and the People's Courts.
15
Art. 78. In all Courts cases are tried with the participation
of people's assessors, except in cases specially provided for by
law.
Art. 79. The Supreme Court of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is the high-
est judicial organ of the Kirghiz S.S.R. The Supreme Court of the
Kirghiz S.S.R. is charged with the supervision of the judicial act
ivities of all the judicial organs of the Kirghiz S,S,R.
Art. 80. The Supreme Court of the Kirghiz S.S.R. is elected
by the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. for a term of five
years.
Regional Courts are elected by the regional Soviets
of Working People's Deputies for a term of five years.
Art. 81. People's Courts are elected by the citizens of the
districts on the basis of universal, direct and equal suffrage by
secret ballot for a term of three years.
Art. 82. Judicial proceedings in the Kirghiz S.S.R. are con-
ducted in the Kirghiz language, and in districts where the majority
of the population is Russian or Uzbek, in the Russian or Uzbek lan-
guage respectively, persons not knowing the language of the majority
of the population of the district being guaranteed the opportunity
of fully acquainting themselves with the material of the case through
an interpreter and likewise the right to use their own language in
court.
Art. 83. In all Courts of the Kirghiz S.S.R. cases are heard
in public, unless otherwise provided for by law, and the accused is
guaranteed the right to defence.
Art. 84. Judges are independent and subject only to the law
Art. 85. Supreme supervisory power to ensure the strict ob-
servance of the law by all Ministries and institutions subordinated
to them, as well as by officials and citizens within the territory
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. generally, is exercised by the Procurator-
General of the U.S.S.R. directly and also through the Procurator
of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
Art. 86. The Procurator of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and the re-
gional Procurators are appointed by the Procurator-General of the
U.S.S.R. for a term of five years.
Art. 87. District and city procurators are appointed by the
Procurator of the Kirghiz S.S.R., subject to the approval of the
Procurator-General of the U.S.S.R., for a term of five years.
Art. 88. The organs of the Procurator's Office perform their
functions independently of any local organs whatsoever, being sub-
ordinate solely to the Procurator-General of the U.S.S.R.
16
Chapter VIII. Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Art. 89. Citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R. have the right to
work, that is, the right to guaranteed employment and payment for
their work in accordance with its quantity and quality.
The right to work is ensured by the socialist org-
anization of the national economy, the steady growth of the pro-
ductive forces of Soviet society, the elimination of the possi-
bility of economic crises, and the abolition of unemployment.
Art. 90. Citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R. have the right to
rest and leisure.
The right to rest and leisure is ensured by the
establishment of an eight-hour day for factory and office workers,
the reduction of the working day to seven or six hours for arduous
trades and to four hours in shops where conditions of work are par-
ticularly arduous, by the institution of annual vacations with full
pay for factory and office workers, and by the provision of a wide
network of sanatoria, rest homes and clubs for the accommodation
of the working people.
Art. 91. Citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R. have the right to
maintenance in old age and also in case of sickness or disability.
This right is ensured by the extensive development
of social insurance of factory and office workers at state ex-
pense, free medical service for the working people, and the pro-
vision of a wide network of health resorts for the use of the
working people.
Citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R. have the right to
Art. 92.
education.
This right is ensured by universal and compulsory
elementary education; by free education up to and including the
seventh grade; by a system of state stipends for students of
higher educational establishments who excel in their studies; by
instruction in schools being conducted in the native language,
and by the organization in the factories, state farms, machine
and tractor stations, and collective farms of free vocational,
technical and agronomic training for the working people.
Art. 93. Women in the Kirghiz S.S.R. are accorded equal
rights with men in all spheres of economic, government, cul-
tural, political and other public activity.
The possibility of exercising these rights is
ensured by women being accorded an equal right with men to work,
payment for work, rest and leisure, social insurance and educa
tion, and by state protection of the interests of mother and
child, state aid to mothers of large families and unmarried
mothers, maternity leave with full pay, and the provision of a
wide network of maternity homes, nurseries and kindergartens.
Resistance to the actual emancipation of women
(giving minors in marriage, bride purchase, organizing resist-
ance to the drawing of women into study, into agricultural ar
industrial production, into the governing of the state or into
social or political activities) is punishable by law.
17
Art. 94. Equality of rights of citizens of the Kirghiz
S.S.R., irrespective of their nationality or race, in all spheres
of economic, government, cultural, political and other public
activity, is an indefeasible law.
Any direct or indirect restriction of the rights
of, or, conversely, the establishment of any direct or indirect
privileges for, citizens on account of their race or nationality,
as well as any advocacy of racial or national exclusiveness or
hatred and contempt, is punishable by law.
Art. 95. In order to ensure to citizens freedom of con-
science, the church in the Kirghiz S.S.R. is separated from the
state, and the school from the church. Freedom of religious wor-
ship and freedom of anti-religious propaganda is recognized for
all citizens.
Art. 96. In conformity with the interests of the working
people, and in order to strengthen the socialist system, the citi-
zens of the Kirghiz S.S.R, are guaranteed by law:
a) freedom of speech;
b) freedom of the press;
freedom of assembly, including the holding of
mass meetings;
d) freedom of street processions and demonstrations,
These civil rights are ensured by placing at the
disposal of the working people and their organizations printing
presses, stocks of paper, public buildings, the streets, communi-
cations facilities and other material requisites for the exercise
of these rights.
Art. 97. In conformity with the interests of the working
people, and in order to develop the organizational initiative and
political activity of the masses of the people, citizens of the
Kirghiz S.S.R. are guaranteed the right to unite in public org
anizations: trade unions, cooperative societies, youth organiz-
ations, sport and defence organizations, cultural, technical and
scientific societies; and the most active and politically-con-
scious citizens in the ranks of the working class and other sec-
tions of the working people unite in the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union (Bolsheviks), which is the vanguard of the working
people in their struggle to strengthen and develop the socialist
system and is the leading core of all organizations of the work-
ing people, both public and state.
Art. 98. Citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R. are guaranteed in-
violability of the person, No person may be placed under arrest
except by decision of a court or with the sanction of a pro-
curator.
18
Art. 99. The inviolability of the homes of citizens and
privacy of correspondence are protected by law.
Art. 100. The Kirghiz S.S.R. affords the right of asylum to
foreign citizens persecuted for defending the interests of the
working people, or for scientific activities, or for struggling
for national liberation.
Art. 101. It is the duty of every citizen of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. to abide by the Constitution of the Kirghiz Soviet Social-
ist Republic, to observe the laws, maintain labour discipline,
honestly to perform public duties, and to respect the rules of
socialist intercourse.
Art. 102. It is the duty of every citizen of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. to safeguard and fortify public, socialist property as
the sacred and inviolable foundation of the Soviet system, as
the source of the wealth and might of the country, as the source
of the prosperity and culture of all the working people,
Persons committing offences against public, social-
ist property are enemies of the people.
Art. 103. Universal military service is law.
Military service in the Armed Forces of the U.S.S.R.
is an honourable duty of the citizens of the Kirghiz S.S.R,
Art. 104. To defend the country is the sacred duty of every
citizen of the Kirghiz S.S.R. Treason to the motherland vio-
lation of the oath of allegiance, desertion to the enemy, im-
pairing the military power of the state, espionage - is punish-
able with all the severity of the law as the most heinous of
crimes.
Chapter IX. The Electoral System
Art. 105. Members of all Soviets of Working People's Depu
ties of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. and the re-
gional, district, city, settlement, ail and village Soviets of
Working People's Deputies - are chosen by the electors on the
basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
Art. 106. Elections of deputies are universal: all citizens
of the Kirghiz S.S.R. who have reached the age of eighteen, ir-
respective of race or nationality, sex, religion, education, domi-
cile, social origin, property status or past activities, have the
right to vote in the election of deputies and to be elected, with
the exception of insane persons and persons who have been con-
victed by a court of law and whose sentences include deprivation
of electoral rights.
Every citizen of the Kirghiz S.S.R. who has reached
the age of twenty-one is eligible for election to the Supreme So-
viet of the Kirghiz S.S.R. irrespective of race or nationality,
19
sex, religion, education, domicile, social origin, property sta-
tus or past activities.
Art. 107. Election of deputies are equal: each citizen has
one vote; all citizens participate in elections on an equal foot-
ing.
Art. 108. Women have the right to elect and be elected on
equal terms with men.
Art, 109. Citizens serving in the Armed Forces of the U.S.S.R.
have the right to elect and be elected on equal terms with all
other citizens.
Art. 110. Elections of deputies are direct: all Soviets of
Working People's Deputies, from village and city Soviets of Work-
ing People's Deputies to the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz S.S.R.
are elected by citizens by direct vote.
Art. 111, Voting at election of deputies is secret.
Art. 112. Elections to the Soviets of Working People's Depu-
ties of the Kirghiz S.S.R. are held by election districts on the
following bases:
regional Soviets depending on the size of the
particular region - one deputy for every 3,000 of the population
in regions whose population does not exceed 300,000, but not less
than sixty deputies; in regions whose population exceeds 300,000,
one deputy for every 5,000 of the population;
district Soviets one deputy for every 1,000 of
the population; in districts whose population does not exceed
25,000, twenty-five deputies are elected; in districts whose pop-
ulation exceeds 60,000, sixty deputies are elected;
city Soviets and city district Soviets - one dép-
uty for every 350-500 of the population, depending upon the size
of the city or city district; a city whose population does not
exceed 12,000 elects thirty-five deputies; in city districts whose
population exceeds 20,000 - one deputy for every 500 of the popu
lation but not more than 250 deputies; if the population does not
exceed 20,000, thirty-five deputies are elected;
ail, village and settlement Soviets one deputy
for every 100 of the population: a village, ail, kyshtak or set-
tlement whose population does not exceed 1,000 elects nine depu-
ties, and if the population exceeds 25,000, not more than twenty-
five deputies.
-
The basis of representation of each regional, dis-
trict, city, ail, village and settlement Soviet of Working People's
Deputies is fixed in the Ordinance Concerning Elections to Regional,
District, City, Ail, Village and Settlement Soviets of Working
People's Deputies of the Kirghiz S.S.R. within the range of the
bases of representation indicated in the present article.
+
Art. 113. Candidates are nominated by election districts.
The right to nominate candidates is secured to pub-
lic organizations and societies of the working people: Commmist
Party organizations, trade unions, cooperatives, youth organiza-
tions and cultural societies.
20
Art. 114. It is the duty of every deputy to report to his
electors on his work and on the work of his Soviet of Working
People's Deputies, and he may be recalled at any time upon de-
cision of a majority of the electors in the manner established
by law.
Chapter X. Arms, Flag,
Capital
Art. 115. The arms of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
are a sickle and hammer. Above them there is a mountain chain
against a rising sun forming an azure arc. The arc is surrounded
by a wreath - ears of wheat on the right and a sprig of the cotton
plant on the left. The wreath is entwined with a red ribbon dis-
playing in the middle the inscription "workers of All Countries,
Unite!" in the Kirghiz and Russian languages. The end of the rib-
bon bears the legend "Kirghiz S.S.R." in the Kirghiz language.
At the top of the arms is a five-pointed star.
Art. 116. The state flag of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist
Republic is of red cloth, in the left corner of which, near the
staff, the words "Kirghiz S.S.R." are inscribed in letters of gold,
above in the Kirghiz and below in the Russian language. The ratio
of the width to the length is 1:2.
Art. 117. The capital of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Repub-
lic is the City of Frunze.
Chapter XI.
Procedure for Amending the Constitution
Art. 118. The Constitution of the Kirghiz S.S.R. may be
amended only by decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz
S.S.R. adopted by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the
votes of the Supreme Soviet.
Note:
This translation is a copy of that published by the
Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1948.