Comparing the US Constitution to the 1918

In 1918, sequence the rest of Europe was still engaged in World state of war I, a radic anyy formed communist governing body was developing in Russia. Much like eighteenth century Americans, they had just managed to overthrow what was viewed as a tyrannical administration and hoped to form a new nation at large(p) of the injustices of the previous rule. Both countries wrote a new constitution as well as a declaration of rights to facilitate this, but their respective documents had vast inequalitys. These disparities stemmed from differences in the ideologies of the new governments.The chief(a) objectives of the Russian Declaration of Rights of the Working and Exploited populate and the later constitution were the abolition of all ontogeny of man by man, complete elimination of the discussion section of society into classes, merciless suppression of the exploiters, socialist organic law of society, and victory of socialism in all countries. Americans wanted equality of op portunity and personal independence sort of of the social equality desired by the Russians.The American constitution and Bill of Rights were created to protect personal liberties and psyche license while the Russians were to a greater extent concerned with the welfare and equality of the population as a whole. This difference is partially due to the differences in the conditions leading to revolution in each country. The American Revolution was initiated by the affluent in response to what they considered unfair treatment by a foreign ruler while the Russian revolution was instigated by the poor in reaction to centuries of oppression and exploitation by the wealthy within their own country.In the years leading up to World War I, social upheaval among the Russian people was spreading rapidly. There was a huge social gulf between the peasants who were cause serfs and the landowners. The peasants regarded some(prenominal)one who did non work as a parasite. They had always regar ded as all land belonging to them. They regarded any land retained by the landowners at the time serfs were freed as stolen and only force could prevent them from winning it back. By the time Russia entered the war, one peasant rebellion had already been suppressed and several socialist subversive movements were developing.In February of 1917 a group of female factory workers and led a revolt in which the tzar was dethroned, only to be replaced by a provisionary government composed of the Russian elite. When this government did not live up to its promises of an end to Russian involvement in World War I, the Bolsheviks (majority), a revolutionary movement led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the provisionary government in what bacame known as the October revolution. Upon prehend control, they immediately withdrew from the war and began constructing the worlds first ever communist government.One of the new governments first acts was to write the Declaration of Rights of the Working and Exploited People. On July 10, 1918 the 5th Soviet intercourse approved a constitution that, together with the Declaration of Rights, formed the single fundamental law of the Russian socialist Federative Soviet Republic. Unlike the American Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Rights of the Working and Exploited People depends to have been meant to apply to all of mankind eventually, as is shown in clause 4Expressing firm purpose to wrest mankind from the clutches of finance capital and imperialism, which have in this most criminal of wars swamp the world in blood, the Third congress of Soviets unreservedly endorses Soviet policy of denouncing the secret treaties, organizing most leng pasted fraternization with the workers and peasants of the combatant armies and achieving at all costs by revolutionary means a representative peace for the working people, without annexations of indemnities, on the basis of free self-determination of nations.Their commitment to self-determinatio n of nations was at to the lowest degree partially valid in that they gave Finland complete autonomy and withdrew their troops from Persia, but this may have resulted more from a lack of resources than altruism. Limited self-determination for the nations within the R. S. F. S. R. was also provided for in that the federal government was to be confined to promulgating the fundamental principles of a federation of Soviet republics of Russia while leaving the citizens of each region free to decide whether they wish to participate in the federal government nd on what terms. Several opposite liberties were provided for in the Russian constitution, many of which appear remarkably convertible to freedoms provided for in the American Bill of Rights. Article 14 provided for freedom of expression, while Article 15 ensured genuine freedom of assembly and Article 13 guaranteed a separation of church and state as well as freedom of religious and anti-religious propaganda. each of these seem si milar to the First Amendment of the U. S. onstitution, but they even went farther. Article 14 not only provided for freedom of press, but even promised every citizen access to all the technical and material requisites for the publication of newspapers, pamphlets, books and all opposite printed material as well as promising their unhindered circulation throughout the country. Article 15, besides guarantying freedom of assembly, promised to provide heated, lighted and furnished buildings for their gatherings.All things come at a price however, and all of these gifts from the government came at the price of true freedom of expression and assembly, as illustrated by Article 23 steer by the interests of the working class as a whole, the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic deprives individuals and groups of rights which they put on to the detriment of the socialist revolution. In America, where distrust of the government is common, this passage would have been viewed as tyran nical and would not have been allowed in the constitution.The legislative powers of both the coupled States and Russia were given(p) to a congress of elected officials. In the United States this is further divided into two houses of more or less equal power. In Russia, the All-Russia Congress of Soviets met only twice a year except in emergencies. During the rest of the year a little group called the All-Russia Executive commissioning took on the responsibilities of the All-Russia Congress of Soviets. This group was chosen from the congress and remained accountable to it for all its actions. For decisions of major political importance they were required to check with the Congress before taking action.Unlike the United States congress however, both of the Russian bodies also had some degree of executive director power, though most executive power was relegated to the Council of Peoples Commissars. This council was created to exercise general management of the affairs of the Russ ian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic. This branch is given slightly more power than its American equivalent.In order to fulfill its responsibilities, the Council is given the freedom to take what measures are necessary to ensure the proper course of life of the State. This may seem like limitless power, but they were also required to immediately notify the All-Russia Central Executive Committee of any orders or decisions it made. The Council of Peoples Commissars was divided into 18 Commissariats Foreign Affairs, Military Affairs, Maritime Affairs, Interior, Justice, Labor, Social Security, Public Education, Post and Telegraph, Nationalities Affairs, Finance, Transport, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Food Supply, State Control, the Supreme Economic Council, and Public Health.Each division consisted of the Commissar and a small number of advisors. The All-Russia Executive Committee appointed the Commissars who then appoint advisors to their board. The appointments then had to be approved by the Executive Committee. In this way a system of checks and balances somewhat similar to the American system was put into effect.