NEW CONSTITUTION FOR RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 12

NEW CONSTITUTION FOR RUSSIA

“Only Real Democratic System”

ESTABLISHMENT OF WIDE CIVIC RIGHTS

B.y Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received June 12, 8 p.m.) London, June 12. Tlie "Daily Telegraph's'’ Jlc-cow correspondent says that the text has been issued of the new Soviet Constitution which was 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. Parliament will consist of two newlycreated chambers. The lower house will be called the "Union Council” and will be direcfly elected by secret ballot with one member for each 300,000 electors. The upper house will be called the “Council of Nationalities’’ and will be indirectly elected to represent Soviet republics and autonomous national repti blics. The two bodies will meet at Moscow regularly twice a year. They will form a "Supreme Council” to elect one President for the entire Soviet Union. Every citizen, male or 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, while religious liberty, the right to hold political demonstrations, freedom of the Press, free speech and security from arbitrary arrest are also established.