THE NEW RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 15

THE NEW RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION

PARLIAMENT OF TWO HOUSES RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND FREE PRESS “ONLY REAL DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM” (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPIBtUHT.) (Received June 12, 9-51 p.m.) LONDON. June 12. 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 newly-created chambers. The Lower House will be called the “Union Council,” directly elected by a secret ballot with one member fox each 300,000 electors. .The Upper House will be called the “Council of Nationalities,” indirectly elected to represent the Soviet republics auu the autonomous national republics. The two bodies will meet in Moscow regularly twice a year. They will form a “Supreme Council to elect one president for the enlue Soviet Union. Every citizen, 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 have also been established.