The current Constitution of the Russian Federation is the fifth in a row. It was adopted in 1993. Before, the constitutions of 1918, 1925, 1937, and 1978 were consistently in force. The adoption of each of them determined a new qualitative stage in the development of society and the state.
Instruction manual
1
The first Russian Constitution was approved in July 1918 at the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets. It was based on the "Declaration of the Rights of the Working and Exploited People" adopted by two congresses earlier. This declaration has been fully incorporated into the constitution. The first constitution legislated "the dictatorship of the proletariat." Guaranteed equal rights to citizens regardless of their race and nationality. But not by class principle. The so-called "exploiting classes" were stripped of their suffrage.
2
The second Russian Constitution was adopted at the Twelfth Congress of Soviets in May 1925. Its adoption was due to the entry of the Russian Federation into the newly formed Soviet Union. Bringing the republican legislation in line with the Union, first of all, with the Constitution of the USSR of 1924. The text "Declaration of the Rights of the Working and Exploited People" was deleted from the new fundamental law. The formulations regarding the suppression and destruction of the "parasitic classes" were softened, and references to the "world revolution" were excluded. On the whole, the 1925 Constitution became more legal and less ideological than the previous one.
3
The third Russian Constitution, adopted in January 1937 at the Seventeenth Extraordinary All-Russian Congress of Soviets, became even more legally strict. The need for its adoption was caused by the entry into force of the Constitution of the USSR in 1936. The third constitution still referred to the "dictatorship of the proletariat." But in connection with the building of socialism and the liquidation of the exploiting classes, the principle of universal equal suffrage was introduced. Chapters appeared in the Constitution that spelled out the basic rights and duties of citizens. The leading role of the Communist Party was legally consolidated.
4
The Fourth Russian Constitution was approved by the Supreme Council of the RSFSR in April 1978, following the replacement of the "Stalinist" constitution of the USSR with the "Brezhnev" one in 1977. Since the entry into the era of "developed socialism" was declared, the concept of "dictatorship of the proletariat" was absent in this constitution. Instead, the nation-wide character of the state was affirmed. The Fourth Constitution continued in force until 1993. But its active reform began in 1989. In the last period of action, it introduced a large number of changes and additions that almost completely changed its essence.
5
The current Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted by popular vote in December 1993. The previous constitution by that time could no longer reflect the needs and realities of the new era. The amendments and additions made to it sometimes contradicted each other and led to the political and constitutional crisis of October 1993. The current constitution is fundamentally different from the four constitutions of the Soviet era.
