{{Short description|Constitution of Bulgaria from 1947 to 1971}} {{Infobox constitution | document_name = Dimitrov Constitution | image = The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bulgaria of 1947.jpg | image_alt = | caption = | orig_lang_code = bg | title_orig = Димитровска конституция | jurisdiction = Bulgaria | subordinate_to = | date_created = | date_presented = | date_ratified = 4 December 1947 | date_effective = 6 December 1947 | system = | branches = | chambers = | executive = | courts = | federalism = | electoral_college = | number_entrenchments = | date_legislature = | date_first_executive = | date_first_court = | date_repealed = 18 May 1971 | number_amendments = | date_last_amended = | citation = | location_of_document = National Historical Museum | commissioned = | writer = 6th Grand National Assembly | signers = | media_type = | supersedes = Tarnovo Constitution }} {{Politics of Bulgaria}} The '''Dimitrov Constitution''' was a communist state constitution. It was the second Constitution of Bulgaria, and was in effect from 1947 to 1971.<ref name=Rigas>Konstantinov, Emil. [http://www.cecl.gr/RigasNetwork/databank/REPORTS/r1/Bu_R1_konstantinov.htm Constitutional Foundation of Bulgaria (Historical Parallels)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401040356/http://www.cecl.gr/RigasNetwork/databank/REPORTS/r1/Bu_R1_konstantinov.htm |date=2016-04-01 }}. Rigas Network, 2002.</ref> It formed the legal basis for Communist rule in Bulgaria.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulgaria/The-early-communist-era Bulgaria: The early Communist era] at Encyclopedia Britannica</ref>
The document was named after the country's first Communist leader, Georgi Dimitrov. He guided the framing of the 1947 constitution on the model of the 1936 Soviet Constitution.<ref name=cs1>{{csref|country=bulgaria|section=The Dimitrov Constitution|author=Glenn E. Curtis}}</ref> The Dimitrov Constitution guaranteed citizens all manner of personal freedoms, such as equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, freedom of speech, press, and assembly, and inviolability of person, domicile, and correspondence.<ref name=cs1/> However, these rights were effectively rendered meaningless by a clause prohibiting activity that would jeopardize the attainments of "the national revolution of 9 September 1944."<ref name=cs1/> Citizens were guaranteed employment but required to work in a socially useful capacity.<ref name=cs1/> The constitution also prescribed a planned national economy, and provided for a national welfare system.<ref name=cs1/> Unlike the Soviet Constitution, private property was allowed, provided that it was not used "to the detriment of the public good."<ref name=cs2>{{csref|country=bulgaria|section=The Early Communist Era|author=Glenn E. Curtis}}</ref><ref name=cs1/>
The constitution set up a highly centralized governmental structure. The legislature, the National Assembly, was defined as the "highest organ of state power." It was elected for a four-year term and met in regular session twice a year.<ref name=cs1/> In practice, it did little more than rubber-stamp decisions already made at the highest levels of the Bulgarian Communist Party<ref>{{csref|country=Bulgaria|section=Government Structure|author=Glenn E. Curtis}}</ref> When the National Assembly was not in session, its powers were exercised by a Presidium comprising a president (a post equivalent to that of president of the republic) and 18 members. The Presidium also had the power to declare war, make peace, amend the constitution, and approve the national economic plan.<ref name=cs2/>
Executive authority was vested in a Council of Ministers appointed by the Presidium. Its chairman, the prime minister, was almost always the leader of the Communist Party. The judiciary was appointed by the National Assembly at all levels and lost all independence. Local government was exercised by people's councils, who elected executive committees responsible to the Presidium.
The constitution remained in effect until 1971, when it was replaced by the Zhivkov Constitution.<ref>{{csref|country=bulgaria|section=The Zhivkov Era|author=Glenn E. Curtis}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://parliament.bg/bg/18 The text of the Constitution of 1947 in Bulgarian at the site of the Bulgarian Parliament.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911080239/http://parliament.bg/bg/18 |date=2019-09-11 }}
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Category:Constitutions of Bulgaria Category:Defunct constitutions Category:Legal history of Bulgaria Category:1947 in Bulgaria Category:1947 documents Constitution Category:1947 in law Category:1947 in politics Category:Constitutions of communist states