# Russian Constitution of 1978

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Russian_Constitution_of_1978
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Russian_Constitution_of_1978.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Constitution_of_1978
> Source revision: 1348030774
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Supreme law in the Eurasian country until 1993

This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Russian Constitution of 1978" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Russian Constitution of 1977 Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR Long title Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Territorial extent Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Enacted by Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR Signed by Mikhail Yasnov Effective 12 April 1978; 48 years ago (1978-04-12) Repealed 12 December 1993; 32 years ago (1993-12-12) Repealed by Constitution of the Russian Federation Status: Repealed

In 1978, the [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic](/source/Russian_Soviet_Federative_Socialist_Republic) adopted a new [state constitution](/source/Communist_state_constitution) as its [supreme law](/source/Constitution).

Constitution of Soviet Russia in 1978

Russian [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article:

**[Russian Constitution of 1978 (original)](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/ru:%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%83%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A0%D0%A1%D0%A4%D0%A1%D0%A0_(1978))**

Russian [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article:

**[Russian Constitution of 1978 (with amendments of 1989–1992)](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/ru:%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%83%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%A4%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8_-_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8_1978_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0_(%D0%B2_%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8_10_%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%80%D1%8F_1992_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0))**

## History

At an extraordinary session on 12 April 1978, the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR adopted a new republican constitution, to replace the old [Russian Constitution of 1937](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russian_Constitution_of_1937&action=edit&redlink=1). The new Constitution initially consisted of a preamble and 185 articles, and was prepared as part of a process bringing all 15 republican constitutions in line with new [Constitution of the Soviet Union of October 1977](/source/1977_Soviet_Constitution). It was the fourth constitution for the Russian SFSR.

Following a [turbulent period of democratization](/source/Democratization_(Soviet_Union)), [dissolution of the Soviet Union](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union), and subsequent [economic reform](/source/Economic_history_of_the_Russian_Federation), the Constitution was amended several times.[1] It was displaced by [the referendum of 12 December 1993](/source/1993_Russian_constitutional_referendum), which followed a [power struggle](/source/Russian_constitutional_crisis_of_1993) between the [President of Russia](/source/President_of_Russia), [Boris Yeltsin](/source/Boris_Yeltsin), and Russia's legislative institutions – the [Congress of People's Deputies](/source/Congress_of_People's_Deputies_of_Russia) and the [Supreme Soviet of Russia](/source/Supreme_Soviet_of_Russia).[2]

### List of amendments

Amendment date New institutions/additions Eliminated institutions Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 27 October 1989 Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian SFSR Congresses of People's Deputies of the Autonomous SSRs (allowed to be established, but not mandatory; only Dagestan ASSR decided to establish its own Congress) Explicit provision that number of nominated candidates in elections shall be unlimited, intended to end old Soviet practice of single-candidate elections. Supreme Soviet of Russia becomes bicameral Soviet of the Republic and Soviet of Nationalities established Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the Russian SFSR 10-year tenure for all judges (instead of former 5-year) Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (leadership passed directly to Chairman of the Supreme Soviet) Indirect elections of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Presidium of the Supreme Soviet now formed ex officio instead) Direct elections to the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR (Supreme Soviet now elected by Congress of People's Deputies instead) Law "on modification of article 104 of the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 31 May 1990 Congress now elects chairman and three (instead of one) of deputy chairmen of the Supreme Soviet None Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 16 June 1990 Multi-party system One-party system Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 15 December 1990 Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian SFSR provisions introduced to constitution, notably preamble (replacing long Communist preamble of 1978) art. 1 (which now declares RSFSR as "sovereign state, created by the peoples, historically united in it" instead of "socialist state of the whole people...") and art. 76 (providing for nullification of USSR laws whenever they be deemed contrary to the "sovereign rights of the RSFSR") Direct democracy has become explicitly recognized in Constitution (per new art 2) citizenship of the Russian SFSR Right to hold property (incl., but not explicitly, private property) is recognized Prosecutor General of the Russian SFSR, appointed by the Supreme Soviet and confirmed by Congress Constitutional Court of the Russian SFSR USSR-appointed office of the Prosecutor of the Russian SFSR Committee for Constitutional Supervision of the Russian SFSR Civil and political rights are no longer limited on ideological grounds, such as "aims of building communism" (art. 45, 49), "interests of the people" "strengthment and developing the socialist system" (art. 48) and similar. Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 24 May 1991 Nationwide elected position of the President of the Russian SFSR has been established, in line with results of the 17 March 1991 referendum. ASSRs promoted into Republics of the Russian SFSR Arbitral tribunal became part of judiciary (Courts of arbitration with High Court of Arbitration of the RSFSR at the top of them) Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics (upgraded into republics) Gosarbitrazh, replaced by courts of arbitration Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR because of reform of the local self-government" 24 May 1991 Local administrations Ispolkoms Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR because of transformation of Autonomous oblasts into Soviet Socialist Republics within RSFSR" 3 July 1991 Three new republics established Three autonomous oblasts dissolved Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 1 November 1991 Russian flag changed to white-azure-scarlet Presidencies of Republics of the Russian SFSR are recognized Jury trial has become part of the Judiciary of Russia 1954 flag of the Russian SFSR Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR" 21 April 1992 Renaming of the Russian SFSR to the Russian Federation is confirmed Federal Treaty became part of the Russian Constitution Krais, oblasts and cities Moscow and Saint-Petersburg became Federal subjects of Russia Russian sovereignty is finally confirmed Declaration of Rights and Freedoms of Man and Citizen is made part of Constitution Democracy, separation of powers and republican form of government and federalism) were declared as "unshakable foundations of the constitutional system", making first legislative usage of that term in the Russian constitutional law. Articles related to Russian membership in the Soviet Union are mostly revoked, but some articles retained mentions of Soviet Constitution and laws Principle of democratic centralism has been de jure revoked (while it was de facto abolished in 1937, with indirect-elected Congresses of Soviets). Law "On Modifications and Additions to Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Federation" 9 December 1992 Provisions related to Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inserted into art. 30 ("The Russian Federation ensures the security and defence capability of the country, and supplies the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation with everything necessary for that purpose) Parliamentary control over President is strengthened: ministers of defence, interior, foreign and security are now appointed with consent of the Supreme Soviet, exercise of presidential powers to change national and state structure of the Russian Federation or dissolve or suspend activities of any lawfully elected government body (such as one of Soviets) now results in their "immediate termination". Explicit constitutional recognition of private property, loosening of restrictions of land ownership. Justice of the peace became part of the Judiciary of Russia Lifetime tenure for judges, "unless otherwise provided by law of the Russian Federation" Russian membership in the Soviet Union revoked nearly completely (the only mention of the 1977 Constitution of the USSR remains in article 4). Mention of the Soviet Armed Forces is removed from Constitution. Judges no longer have a fixed term of office Law "on modification of article 71 of the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Federation" 10 December 1992 Chechen Republic Republic of Ingushetia Chechen-Ingush ASSR

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Henderson, Jane (2011-05-04). [*The Constitution of the Russian Federation: A Contextual Analysis*](https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Constitution_of_the_Russian_Federati/GIB6BAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1978+russian+constitution&pg=PA1991&printsec=frontcover). Bloomsbury Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84731-764-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84731-764-3). tinkering with the 1978 RSFSR Russian Constitution had created an inconsistent and almost unworkable document.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Smith, Gordon B.; Sharlet, Robert Stewart (2008). [*Russia and Its Constitution: Promise and Political Reality*](https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Russia_and_Its_Constitution/A8s0V_5cBwkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1978+russian+constitution&pg=PA55&printsec=frontcover). BRILL. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-15535-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-15535-0). The Constitution of the Russian Federation ratified by a popular referendum on 12 December 1993 was born out of the collapse of the Soviet system and the ensuing conflict between the Executive, led by President Boris Yeltsin, and the parliament, the Congress of People's Deputies.

Preceded by Russian Constitution of 1937 Constitution of Russia 12 April 1978–12 December 1993 Succeeded by Constitution of Russia

v t e Constitutions of Russia Imperial era Conditions Pestel's Russian Justice Loris-Melikov's constitution October Manifesto Fundamental Laws of the Empire Revolution Decree on the system of government Soviet Russia Constitution of 1918 Act on the establishment of the supreme power Soviet era USSR Constitution of 1924 Russian Constitution of 1925 [ru] USSR Constitution of 1936 Russian Constitution of 1937 [ru] USSR Constitution of 1977 Russian Constitution of 1978 amendments Post-Soviet era Treaty of Federation Constitutional crisis Constitution of 1993 Constitutional conference referendum 2008 amendments 2020 amendments referendum

v t e Constitutions of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Republics USSR 1924 1936 1977 Russia 1918 1925 1936 1978 Ukraine 1919 1929 1937 1978 Byelorussia 1919 1927 1937 1978 Armenia 1922 1937 1978 Georgia 1922 1937 1978 Azerbaijan 1921 1927 1937 1978 Lithuania 1940 1978 Latvia 1919 1940 1978 Estonia 1940 1978 Moldavia 1941 1978 Kazakhstan 1926 1937 1978 Kirghizia 1929 1937 1978 Uzbekistan 1927 1937 1978 Turkmenistan 1926 1937 1978 Tajikistan 1931 1937 1978 Transcaucasia 1922 Karelia 1940

## See also

- [Constitution of Russia](/source/Constitution_of_Russia) (1993)

- [Russian Constitution of 1918](/source/Soviet_Russia_Constitution_of_1918)

- [1977 Soviet Constitution](/source/1977_Soviet_Constitution)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Russian Constitution of 1978](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Constitution_of_1978) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Constitution_of_1978?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.