Chapter IX

AFFAIRS IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN CONGRESS AND THE ALL-RUSSIAN CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

49. The All-Russian Congress and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee deal with questions of state, such as:

(_a_) Ratification and amendment of the Constitution of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.

(_b_) General direction of the entire interior and foreign policy of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.

(_c_) Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.

(_d_) Establishing boundaries for regional Soviet unions belonging to the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic, also settling disputes among them.

(_e_) Admission of new members to the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic, and recognition of the secession of any parts of it.

(_f_) The general administrative division of the territory of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic and the approval of regional unions.

(_g_) Establishing and changing weights, measures, and money denominations in the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.

(_h_) Foreign relations, declaration of war, and ratification of peace treaties.

(_i_) Making loans, signing commercial treaties and financial agreements.

(_j_) Working out a basis and a general plan for the national economy and for its various branches in the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.

(_k_) Approval of the budget of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.

(_l_) Levying taxes and establishing the duties of citizens to the state.

(_m_) Establishing the bases for the organization of armed forces.

(_n_) State legislation, judicial organization and procedure, civil and criminal legislation, etc.

(_o_) Appointment and dismissal of the individual People’s Commissars or the entire Council, also approval of the President of the Council of People’s Commissars.

(_p_) Granting and canceling Russian citizenship and fixing rights of foreigners.

(_q_) The right to declare individual and general amnesty.

50. Besides the above-mentioned questions, the All-Russian Congress and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee have charge of all other affairs which, according to their decision, require their attention.

51. The following questions are solely under the jurisdiction of the All-Russian Congress:

(_a_) Ratification and amendment of the fundamental principles of the Soviet Constitution.

(_b_) Ratification of peace treaties.

52. The decision of questions indicated in Paragraphs (_c_) and (_h_) of Section 49 may be made by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee only in case it is impossible to convoke the Congress.

B. ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL SOVIETS