TWO CHAMBERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 206, 13 June 1936, Page 5

TWO CHAMBERS

RUSSIA’S NEW CONSTITUTION.

FREED RELIGION AND PRESS.

“ONLY REAL DEMOCRACY.”

(United Press Association—Copyright.) ‘LONDON, June Al2.

The Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says the text has been issued of the new Soviet Constitution, drafted by a commission over which M. Stalin presided. It claims to have established the world’s only real democratic system, though the monopoly of the Communist Party is maintained:

The Parliament will consist of two newlyecfieated Chamberis. The Lower House will be called the “Union Coun~ cil,” directly elected by a. secret ballot with one member for each 300,000 electors. The Upper House will be called' the “Council of Nationalities,” indirectly elected to represent the Soviet republics and the autonomous national republics. - X The two bodies will meet in Moscow regularly twice a year. They will form a “Supreme Council” to elect one president for the entire Soviet Union. Every Vcitizen, male and female, will be expected to vote and will be able to stand for election. _ The so-called “class enemy” is now considered to have been “liquidated.” Civic rights granted include equal pay for both- sexes, pensions and holidays. Religious liberty, the right to hold political demonstrations, freedom of ‘-the press, free speech, and security from arbitrary arrest liave also been established.