Reference Library
Germany's Two Constitutions (1949)
The two documents that gave the division of Germany the force of law: the 146 articles of the Basic Law promulgated at Bonn on 23 May, which calls itself a provisional order 'until the day of unity' and begins with human dignity, and the 144 articles of the Constitution of the German Democratic Republic adopted by the People's Council on 7 October, which declares 'Germany an indivisible democratic republic' and writes in the right to work, nationalisation and the supremacy of the People's Chamber. The founding texts of two states, from one country in one year, side by side.
Read the full text → Constitutions, laws & ordersBeria in 1953: the March amnesty decree and the December trial documents
The amnesty decree of 27 March 1953, three weeks after Stalin's death, which on Beria's initiative freed over a million prisoners while leaving political prisoners inside; and the December communiqué of the Special Judicial Presence and the execution act that condemned the same Beria, arrested three months later, as a 'foreign agent'. Nine months from the amnesty's author to his execution.
Read the full text → Constitutions, laws & ordersThe 1977 Constitution of the USSR
Complete Korean translation of the Soviet Constitution adopted at an extraordinary session of the USSR Supreme Soviet on October 7, 1977 (the "Brezhnev Constitution"). A preamble proclaiming developed socialist society is followed by 174 articles in nine parts and 21 chapters covering the social system, citizens' rights and duties, the national-state structure, the Soviets of People's Deputies, the highest organs of state, justice and the procuracy, and state symbols; Article 6 enshrines the CPSU as the leading and guiding force of society. Translated from the Russian text as adopted in 1977.
Read the full text → Constitutions, laws & ordersThe Interim Travel Regulation of 9 November 1989, 'Schabowski's Note'
The interim regulation on travel and permanent emigration circulated by the GDR Council of Ministers on 9 November 1989, with the attached press release: private travel abroad may be applied for without stating reasons, visas are to be issued 'without delay', and permanent emigration is possible at all border crossings. Read out by Schabowski at the evening press conference as 'immediately, without delay', it opened the Wall that night; the document itself was to take effect the next day.
Read the full text → Constitutions, laws & ordersThe Union's Last Year: the Secession Procedure Law (1990) and the Draft Union of Sovereign States Treaty (1991)
The secession procedure law of April 1990 that the Baltic states called the 'law on non-secession' (a two-thirds referendum, a transition of up to five years, confirmation by the Congress), and the draft treaty of a Union of Sovereign States of August 1991 that tried to refound the Union as a 'voluntary association of sovereign republics' and was wrecked by the coup the day before signing. Two documents the USSR never got to use: one to make leaving hard, one to give a reason to stay.
Read the full text → Constitutions, laws & ordersPresidential decree withdrawing the 50- and 100-ruble notes (1991)
Gorbachev's decree announced on television on the evening of 22 January 1991: the 1961-series 50- and 100-ruble notes cease to be accepted from midnight, may be exchanged within three days up to a limit, and savings withdrawals are capped at 500 rubles a month for the half-year. Known as the 'Pavlov reform', it was justified as a blow against the shadow economy but was in fact a forced withdrawal of excess currency; it recovered far less than planned and destroyed public trust in the state's money.
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