Towards the XXVII Congress of the CPSU

Questions of the development of Soviet socialist democracy, the laws and peculiarities of the functioning of the political system of the USSR at the present stage are among the cardinal problems of the theory and history of real socialism and are widely studied by social scientists .1 The XXVI Congress of the CPSU, the June (1983) Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, and subsequent party documents are aimed at the need to study these problems. 2 Especially important is the serious elaboration of the theoretical problems of socialist self-government: the people, whose main content the party sees in ensuring the real, practical participation of the growing mass of working people in the development, discussion, adoption and implementation of socio-economic and political decisions.

The scientific and practical significance and relevance of studying these problems is determined primarily by the special role of socialist democracy, the constant deepening of which is a necessary condition and an obligatory prerequisite for the development of the socialist system. This pattern is especially evident in the conditions of mature socialism, when the restructuring of the entire set of social relations on the collectivist principles inherent in socialism is gradually being completed .3 Under socialism, democracy extends to all spheres of society and is an integral part of the economic and social systems. This article examines the development of Soviet socialist democracy in the political sphere .4
1 See: Kositsyn A. P., Cheharin E. M. Demokratiya Strany Sovetov [Democracy of the Country of Soviets], Moscow, 1972; Belykh A. K. Upravlenie i samoopravlenie [Management and Self-government]. Socialist management: the essence and prospects of development. L. 1972; Shakhnazarov G. H. Sotsialisticheskaya demokratiya [Socialist Democracy]. Some questions in the theory. Ed. 2-e, DOP. M. 1974; Modern problems of socialist democracy and the prospects for its development. Prague. 1975; Democracy in the period of developed socialist society, Moscow, 1975; Soviet Democracy in the period of developed socialism, Moscow, 1978; Direct and representative democracy. Sophia. 1979; Kerimov D. A. Demokratiya razvitiogo sotsializma [Democracy of developed socialism]. 2nd ed., additional Moscow, 1980; Koveshnikov SM. Improving Soviet statehood and democracy. M. 1982, Soviet democracy. Ocherk stanovleniya i razvitiya [Essay on Formation and development], Moscow, 1983; Pugachev V. P. Demokratizm politicheskoi sistemy sotsializma, Moscow, 1983; Cheharin E. M. CPSU and the Development of Socialist Democracy, Moscow, 1983; et al.

2 See, for example, Materials of the XXVI Congress of the CPSU, Moscow, 1981, p. 78; Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983. Stenogr. otch. M. 1983, p. 191.

3 See Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983, p. 114.

4 While historians pay considerable attention to the development of individual parts of the political system and various forms of democracy (first of all, representative democracy, and democratic principles in production), they still do not deal much with the system of socialist democracy as a whole, or with the identification of its basic laws.

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The practice of building and consolidating a socialist society in the USSR convincingly confirmed the scientific accuracy and significance of the theoretical conclusion of the founders of Marxism-Leninism about the organic connection between socialism and genuine democracy. 5 As a result of the victory of socialism, the establishment of the moral and political unity of Soviet society, and the expansion of the social base of the state, proletarian democracy gradually developed into a popular democracy, while remaining essentially a democracy of the working people, fully aimed at realizing their interests.

A national state based on all the socialist classes and strata, the nations and nationalities of the country, and a new international community of people - the Soviet people; a national socialist democracy; the party of the working class, which, while preserving and strengthening its leading role in it, has become the party of the whole people-these are the most important political features of the new stage in indicators of its maturity. "An important condition for the progress of our society is the consistent development of socialist democracy," the CPSU Central Committee resolution on the 80th anniversary of the Second Congress of the RSDLP notes. "The transformation of the state of the dictatorship of the proletariat into an all-people socialist state meant a shift of great importance for the development of the political system of socialism and people's power." 6
The state of the whole people, the democracy of the whole people , are the natural successors of the state of the dictatorship of the proletariat, of proletarian democracy. The State of the whole people continues and deepens the democratic principles of organization and activity laid down by Great October, and ensures an ever-wider participation of the working people in the management of all the affairs of society. At the same time, this is a new stage in the development of the state and democracy, which is characterized by the expansion of the social base of the state, which now covers the entire people, and a significant deepening and expansion of its functions, which are determined by the tasks of improving developed socialism; the consistent strengthening of democratic principles in the organization and activity of state and thereby preparing and creating conditions for the transition to communist public self-government in the future.

Based on Lenin's principles and accumulated experience, the party developed a defining criterion for the development of democracy. This is the degree of active, creative, independent participation of the masses in the daily management of the state and society .7 Ensuring to the full extent the socialist self-government of the people, that is, the following:-

development (for more information, see: Kasyanenko V. I. Razvitoy sotsializm: istoriografiya i metodologiya problemy [Developed Socialism: historiography and methodology of the Problem]. Moscow, 1976, pp. 150-199; his. Historiography of the political system of developed socialism in the USSR. In: Socio-political problems of the history of developed socialism in the USSR, Moscow, 1979, pp. 7-30).

5 See: K. Marx and F. Engels Soch. Vol. 2, p. 589; vol. 4, p. 446; vol. 17, p. 350; Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 27, p. 253.

6 On the 80th anniversary of the Second Congress of the RSDLP. Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU on March 31, 1983. Moscow, 1983, p. 8.

7 See Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 33, p. 116. Social scientists define the activity of citizens, the expansion of forms and scales of their participation in managing the affairs of society and the state as an essential criterion of socialist democracy, as the main measure of democracy in a developed socialist society (Developed Socialism: problems of theory and practice, Moscow 1982, p. 237; Pechenev V. A. Sotsialisticheskii ideal ' i real'nyi sotsializm [The Socialist Ideal and Real Socialism]. Moscow, 1984, p. 202). As E. Kuzmin notes (Pravda, 14.XII.1984), already at the stage of developed socialism, the overwhelming majority of the population, practically the entire people, acts as a subject of political power, i.e., it exercises it itself. As for the management process, it seems that we should only talk about the participation of the masses in management.

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The effective organization of such a democratic system of state and social administration, which not only acts in the name of the interests of the people, but is also carried out through the workers themselves, serves as the main reference point in the development of the Soviet political system. The fundamental difference between socialist democracy and bourgeois democracy lies precisely in the reality and orientation of all forms and means of party and State activity towards ensuring consistent and ever-wider participation of the people in the management of all the affairs of society and the State.

Once established, the national socialist democracy does not remain unchanged, but along with the progress of the whole society, it continues to deepen and improve even more dynamically. In the context of mature socialism, two stages in the development of democracy can be distinguished. The first one covers the period of formation of developed socialism as an integral system-from the beginning of the 60s to the adoption of the USSR Constitution in 1977. At this stage, the CPSU and the Soviet State carried out a consistent system of measures aimed at improving the activities of the political mechanism, bringing its structure, functions, and forms of activity in line with the tasks, needs, and capabilities of a developed socialist society. This is a stage of intensive development of Soviet legislation, strengthening the material and legal basis of activity, and the democratic foundations of all parts of the political system.

The Constitution of the USSR of 1977 became a concentrated political and legal expression of the theoretical and practical activities of the party and the people. It legislated for the creation of a developed socialist society - a society of "genuine democracy, whose political system ensures the effective management of all public affairs, the increasingly active participation of workers in state life, and the combination of real rights and freedoms of citizens with their duties and responsibilities to society".8 The Constitution established the social essence and main functions of the national state, the structural elements of the political system, the principles of their organization and activity, and the main directions for the further development of socialist democracy. These include increasing participation of citizens in the management of state and public affairs, improving the state apparatus, increasing the activity of public organizations, strengthening people's control, strengthening the legal basis of state and public life, increasing transparency, and constant consideration of public opinion (Article 9). The Constitution sets out the real and guaranteed rights of citizens to participate in the management of state and public participation in the discussion and adoption of laws and decisions of national and local significance, the right to submit proposals to state and public organizations to improve their activities, criticize shortcomings in their work.

The Constitution of the USSR of 1977 opened a new and higher stage in the development of socialist democracy, in the work of the Soviets of People's Deputies .9 "The new Constitution of the USSR," the CPSU Central Committee Resolution on the 80th anniversary of the Second Congress of the RSDLP states, " created a legislative framework for deepening Soviet democracy and enriching its forms and methods. The Party is working purposefully to involve the broadest masses in the management of state and public affairs, to increase the activity of Councils of People's Deputies and trade unions,

8 Constitution (Basic Law) of the USSR, Moscow, 1977, pp. 4-5.

9 Materials of the XXVI Congress of the CPSU, p. 3, 64.

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komsomol and other public organizations, labor collectives in solving national economic and social problems " 10 .

In the context of the improvement of developed socialism, and this task is now the main one for the entire Soviet people, the main thing in the development of democracy is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the functioning of all democratic institutions on the basis of the new Constitution of the USSR, their effective participation in the improvement of developed socialism, and further qualitative growth of the activity of the people in managing the affairs of the state and society. Great and strenuous work on the improvement of developed socialism cannot be accomplished without the broad deployment of the initiative and creativity of the masses, without their most active involvement in solving the key problems of social life. 11 The need to make better use at each successive stage of the development of socialism of those reserves of mass activation that are inherent in the further improvement of socialist democracy and the entire political system of society, and determines the constant attention of the Communist Party to these problems.

At party congresses and plenums of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the most important issues related to the development of Soviet democracy are raised. These issues were of primary importance at the June (1983) Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU. In December 1983, in preparation for the elections to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the eleventh convocation, the Central Committee of the CPSU adopted a resolution on the tasks of party organizations during the election campaign; these issues were repeatedly heard at Politburo meetings. 12 In April 1984, at the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the issue of further improving the work of the Soviets of People's Deputies was discussed. The task of further developing all aspects of the activities of the Supreme and Local Soviets, of their unswerving implementation of Lenin's principle of unity of legislation, administration and control, and of broad involvement of millions of working people in the interested management of State affairs was put forward as the most important task of the general party .13 On April 19, a meeting of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee approved a plan of organizational, political and propaganda measures to implement the decisions of the Plenum. In August, the Politburo discussed some issues related to improving the work of the Soviets and strengthening their influence on all aspects of economic, socio-cultural construction and public service .14
A wide range of problems related to the activity of the Soviets and the further growth of mass initiative were raised during the preparations for the elections to the Supreme Soviets of the Union and autonomous Republics and local councils in February 1985. In March, the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee reviewed the results of the elections, noting that they were a major event in the country's socio-political life, an important mobilizing factor in the preparation for the XXVII Congress of the CPSU, demonstrated the unshakable unity of the Soviet people around the party, unanimous support for its domestic and foreign policy. The Politburo instructed the party organs of the republics to focus on further improving the activity of the Soviets and the active and consistent exercise of their powers; to ensure that the content, style, and working methods of the Soviet representative bodies more fully correspond to the tasks of improving developed socialism .15
10 On the 80th anniversary of the Second Congress of the RSDLP, p. 8.

11 Proceedings of the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, April 10, 1984, Moscow, 1984, pp. 5-6.

12 Pravda, 17, 20. XII. 1983; 21. I, 4. II; 2. III. 1984; etc.

13 Proceedings of the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, April 10, 1984, p. 24.

14 Pravda, 20. IV, 17. VIII. 1984.

15 Ibid., 8. III. 1985.

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In May 1984, at the All-Army Meeting of the Secretaries of Komsomol organizations, and then in June, in a resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the tasks of party leadership in further improving the work of the Komsomol were considered; in July, at the Politburo - the issue of reports and elections in trade unions .16 At the jubilee plenum of the Board of the Union of Writers of the USSR (September), new tasks were set for the creative unions of the country17 . The All-Union Conference of People's Supervisors (October) aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the people's control bodies in every possible way. By doing a great deal of work to increase the role and authority of the Soviets, other parts of the political system, and all forms and means of involving the masses in state and public affairs, the party strives for the fullest possible exercise by each link of its inherent functions, their correct combination and differentiation, and to increase the activity and initiative of each State and public organization .18
A society of developed socialism also becomes a society of developed people's power, of developed socialist democracy. A universally developed mass socialist democracy is formed under the influence of objective processes in the economic, social and spiritual spheres, as well as the purposeful work of the party and the state to improve all democratic institutions, develop political culture and creative activity of the masses.

The development of democracy is complex and integral : the basic principles of socialist democracy, first of all democratic centralism, are being deepened and expanded, and at the same time the mechanism of people's power, the work of all parts of the political system is being improved, and the interconnection of all its elements is growing. The main trends in the development of socialist democracy at the present stage are its increasingly comprehensive, multidimensional and effective character, its increasing influence on the progress of the economy, changes in the social and spiritual spheres. The role of socialist democracy in the communist education of the individual is enormous, in the formation of the Soviet people's sense of an absolute, prudent master of their country, of personal involvement in the affairs and concerns of the party and the state. 20
Among the main directions for further deepening of socialist democracy outlined in the latest party documents, we should highlight an increasingly attentive approach by state and public organizations to the proposals of workers, an increasingly broad discussion of draft decisions on major issues of state and public life in labor collectives, and mandatory consideration of the opinions of trade unions, Komsomol and other organizations in appropriate cases. In bringing the activities of party and state bodies closer to the needs and interests of the people, increased transparency in their work and regular reporting of senior officials to the public play a significant role. The Party is constantly striving to increase the real impact of applying democratic forms and methods in the work of state and public organizations.

The main direction of further deepening of socialism-

16 Ibid., 28. V; 7, 20. VII. 1984.

17 Kommunist Publ., 1984, No. 14, pp. 3-11.

18 Improvement of developed socialism and the ideological work of the Party in the light of the decisions of the June 1983 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Materials of the All-Union Scientific and Practical Conference. Moscow, December 10-11, 1984, Moscow, 1985, pp. 16-17.

19 Kosolapov R. I. Contribution of the XXIV, XXV and XXVI Congresses of the CPSU to the development of theoretical and practical problems of developed socialism and transition to Communism-Kommunist, 1982, No. 5, p. 62.

20 Perfection of developed socialism, p. 11.

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This process is also directly linked to the strengthening of labor and state discipline, the strictest observance of laws that protect the interests of society and the rights of citizens. V. I. Lenin considered the strictest observance of discipline and self-discipline by workers, the achievement of high consciousness and responsibility of participants in common work, and unswerving and conscientious observance of the laws of Soviet power to be the most important condition for the progress of socialist society. 21
Increasing the leading and guiding role of the party, its influence on the course of development of socialist society, increasing the activity of all parts of the political system, strengthening their interrelation and interaction - the most important manifestation of the democracy of the socialist system. The real democracy of the political life of socialist society is constantly developing and improving as a result of the scientifically grounded political leadership of the Communist Party - the leading and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of its political system, state and public organizations. Communists, through whom the party plays a leading role in Councils and public organizations, are active in all parts of the political system. They make up 42.8% (987,483 people) of deputies of local Councils, contributing to their work as an organizing element, rallying people's deputies around them, stimulating and directing their creative initiative; more than 4 million members of the CPSU were elected to the leading trade union bodies; 1.5 million Communists (7.5 times more than in the late 50s). they work in Komsomol 22 .

In a mature socialist society, an integral, well-functioning, stable and at the same time dynamic system of democracy functions and develops, including the national state, the party, other public organizations, labor collectives, numerous forms of direct, direct people's power, which are real and, as society develops, are increasingly fully provided with material and other guarantees of people's rights and freedoms in an inseparable combination with their duties to society. Thus, we can talk about the multiplicity and effectiveness of democratic institutions, a significant increase in their mutual influence and interaction, which is an important indicator of the development and integrity of its entire system. The dynamism and multiplicity of institutions of socialist democracy, the universality and guarantee of its forms, together create a real mechanism of genuine people's power, socialist self-government of the people, which ensures an ever-wider participation of the masses in the management of the affairs of the state and society.

Let us highlight the main directions of the development of democracy in the political system at the present stage. Due to the expansion and complication of the range of specific tasks facing all its links, on the basis of a huge increase in the educational and cultural level of the people, their needs, an increase in the arsenal of organizational, legal, educational tools, forms and methods of operation of democratic institutions, strengthening their material base, mass participation increases, the territorial network of organizations expands, and the number of the share and activity of the working class, women, and youth increases 23 . All these areas contribute to the qualitative improvement of the activity of the masses and the growth of their activity.

21 See Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 36, p. 163, 200; vol. 39, p. 155.

22 Pravda, 2. III. 1985; Zlomanov L. P., Umansky L. A. Nashi prava: politicheskie i ekonomicheskie garantii [Our Rights: political and economic guarantees]. Figures and Facts, Moscow, 1984, p. 59.

23 A number of processes are noted in: Yampolskaya Ts. A. Public organizations in the USSR, Moscow, 1972, pp. 207-212.

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A clear result of the purposeful, multi-faceted work of the party and the state is a significant quantitative increase in all the links of the system of socialist democracy. The process of a consistent increase in the creative energy of the entire people was noted at the XXV and XXVI Congresses of the CPSU24 . The Communist Party now has more than 18 million members; the number of Soviet deputies at all levels and the assets working under their leadership has reached 34 million; trade unions cover almost the entire working population of the country - about 135 million workers, collective farmers, and employees; the Komsomol has more than 42 million members. There are 25 young men and women ; cooperative organizations cover hundreds of thousands of urban and rural workers. Hundreds of creative unions, societies and amateur organizations in the field of production, culture, sports, etc. are active in the country, uniting workers of various professions and demographic groups, taking into account their professional and public interests .26 In the 70s, 146 all-Union, more than 200 republican and about 800 local voluntary societies functioned in the USSR. In such mass societies as the DOSAAF Defense Society, the number of members increased from 28 million in 1958 to 105 million in 1984; in the Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, from 30 million in 1959 to 116 million citizens in 1982; the All-Union Znanie Society at the beginning of 1984 had 3.1 million members. millions of intellectuals, workers, and collective farmers 27 .

Labor collectives, according to the Constitution of the USSR of 1977, are the primary unit of the political system. It is within the framework of labor collectives (and there are more than 2.5 million of them) that primary party, trade union, Komsomol, and other public organizations operate, and production deputy groups are created.

Workers and collective farmers, as well as large demographic groups such as women and young people, are increasingly involved in active work in all spheres of State and public life. While remaining the leading force in the national state not only in the economy, but also in the social and political sphere, the working class of the USSR, which already formed the majority in the social structure of society at the turn of the 60s, is increasing its activity in state and public organizations. By 1983, workers accounted for 44.1% of the CPSU membership and 59.4% of those joining the party; compared to 1966, the number of workers in the party increased from 4.6 million to 8 million. 28 In 1959, workers made up 18.8% of the deputies of local Soviets, in 1985 - 44.5%; in 1968, 19.9% were elected to executive committees, and in 1982 - 24.1% of workers .29 In 1982, among the Komsomol members

24 Materials of the XXV Congress of the CPSU, Moscow, 1976, p. 4; Materials of the XXVI Congress of the CPSU, p. 3.

25 For comparison, we present data on the numerical composition of various parts of the political system of the USSR in the late 1950s: 8.2 million people, or about 6% of the adult population, were members of the party; trade unions united about 53 million workers and employees; in the ranks of the Komsomol there were 17.7 million. young men and women, or 34% of all young people (Pravda, 3. VI. 1983; Komsomolskaya Pravda, 10. VII. 1984; Soviet Trade Unions, 1984, No. 4, p. 2; Constitution of Developed Socialism: historical Prerequisites and significance, Moscow 1981, pp. 52, 64).

26 Dobrovolnye obshchestva pri sotsializme [Voluntary societies under socialism], Moscow, 1976, p. 154; Zubarev V. I., Ivanov V. M. Uchastie trudovykh v gosudarstvennom i obshchestvennom upravlenie, Moscow, 1978, p. 58.

27 Doubly decorated defense, Moscow, 1983, p. 191; Current Archive of the Central Committee of the DOSAAF of the USSR. Data as of July 1, 1984; Current archive of the Executive Committee of the SOCC and CP of the USSR. Review of the work of the Union for 60 years. M. 1984, p. 4, 8; Review of the lecture activities of organizations of the All-Union Society "Knowledge". M. 1984, p. 4.

28 Handbook of a party worker. Issue 24, part II, Moscow, 1984, p. 336.

29 Composition of deputies of the Supreme Soviets of Union and autonomous Republics and local Soviets of Workers ' Deputies. 1959 Statistical Collection, Moscow, 1959, p. 38; Pravda, 2. III. 1985; Results of elections and composition of deputies of local Councils of People's Deputies, 1982. Statistical Collection, Moscow, 1982, p. 202-203.

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there were more than 14 million workers, or almost 35% (the highest figure in all post-war years), and more than 76 million in trade unions30 . Women's participation in the work of public organizations and State bodies is also steadily increasing. In the party, their number increased from 19.7% in 1957 to 27.4% in 1983; in trade union bodies in 1982, it reached 59.5%; among deputies of local councils in 1985 - 50.3% (in 1959-38.3%); in the Komsomol-52.2%; in people's control bodies-39%. The representation of young people (under 30) in the Councils increased from 16.4% in 1967 to 34.3% in 198531 .

A significant expansion and deepening of democracy, as well as an increase in the concrete performance of democratic institutions, also contributed to the increase in the number of primary party, trade union, and Komsomol organizations and the growth rate of the asset, which, according to statistics, is growing somewhat faster than the total number of members of these organizations .32 So, if in 1960 the number of trade union activists was 19.6 million, about 35% of the trade union membership, then in 1984 there were 55 million, i.e. more than 40% 33 . The further a developed socialist society progresses along the path of improvement, the more attention the party and the state pay to the qualitative characteristics of democracy and the social activity of the masses. Even during the preparation of the proletarian revolution, K. Zetkin recalled, Lenin pointed out that "mass quantity" alone was not enough, "quality in quantity" was necessary, and it was necessary to develop and raise the self-consciousness of the masses to the highest level of organized activity .34
The quality of democracy, the quality of mass activism, is even more complete and multifaceted as the tasks of socialist construction become more complex at the present stage, when such important strategic goals as improving social relations, forming a fully developed personality, and further improving the material and cultural standard of living of workers are put on the agenda. In the course of the improvement of a developed socialist society, the creative, economically interested attitude, initiative, and conscious discipline of every Soviet person are increasingly urgently required. That is why the party and the state pay such close and constant attention to the development of a political culture, an active life position of people, whose essential features are not only a clear understanding of the theory and practice of socialist construction, but also creative participation in it, and gradual mastery of the skills of managing public and state affairs. Lenin's idea that it is necessary to involve the entire working population in the management of the state, "so that it is really necessary for the state to become independent."the entire population learned to manage and began to manage", " so that the entire population was gradually attracted to participate in the Soviet organization,.. so to the service of public administration " 35, the implementation of which began from the first days of the Soviet government, is consistently solved practically in the conditions of developed socialism. "The deepening of socialist democracy," it was pointed out at the extraordinary March (1985) Plenum of the Central Committee

30 Zlomanov L. P., Uma neky L. A. Uk. soch., p. 60; XIX Congress of the Komsomol, May 18-21, 1982 Stenogr. otch. Vol. 1. Moscow, 1982, p. 89.

31 Handbook of a party worker. Issue 21. Moscow, 1981, pp. 491, 512, 514; Pravda, 3. VI. 1983; 2. III. 1985.

32 For more information, see: Actual problems of the history of developed socialism in the USSR, Moscow, 1984, pp. 268-269.

33 Reference book on Trade Unions, Moscow, 1968, p. 73; Sovetskie trade Unions, 1984, No. 4, p. 3.

34 See Memoirs of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, vol. 5, Moscow, 1979, pp. 63-64.

35 Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 36, pp. 203, 73.

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The CPSU is inextricably linked with raising public awareness. The effectiveness of educational work is manifested primarily in the way workers, collective farmers, and intellectuals participate in solving large and small problems, how they work, and how they struggle with shortcomings. Increasing the labor and social activity of Soviet people, strengthening discipline, and fostering patriotism and internationalism are important tasks of all ideological activity. " 36
The country has developed a multi-faceted, versatile system of training workers in state and public administration skills, which gives Soviet deputies and activists of public organizations the opportunity to deeply master the issues of Marxist-Leninist theory, the basics of Soviet, trade union, and Komsomol work: Soviet construction schools, Soviet asset courses, special seminars, lectures, deputy days, and offices have been created Soviet construction. In 1983 alone, the number of deputies trained in various forms was more than 2.2 million (98.4%); about 250,000 seminars and deputy days were held. More than 28 million trade union workers and activists are engaged in various levels of education every year, including 13 million in trade union activist schools .37
The Party constantly reminds us that the ever-fuller development of democracy is a process determined by both the material capabilities of society and the level of political consciousness and culture of the masses. 38 There are large reserves available to attract them to various types of participation in the governance of the State and society. At the same time, a certain contradiction exists between the quantitative and qualitative parameters of the development of democracy: a part of the population shows social passivity, unwillingness to take into account the interests of their collectives, and lack of discipline. There is also a real contradiction between the need to increase professionalism in managing the increasingly complex affairs of the State and production and the increasing involvement of the masses in this process; between the application of democratic forms and methods of work in all areas of government and the strengthening of the role of centralized leadership .39 At the June (1983) Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, such an important reserve for improving socialist democracy was noted as the elimination of the gap between word and deed, when democratic norms and institutions are not supported by deeds, and its essence is replaced by form .40 The existence of a certain contradiction between the rich capabilities of the Soviets and how these capabilities are used was highlighted at the April (1984) Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU41 . The ways to resolve these contradictions are to consistently deepen and develop democratic principles in all spheres of public life, to bring the mechanism of the political system closer to the masses, to strengthen clarity in the exercise of their powers by each of its links, and to further increase the political consciousness and activity of the entire people.

The party organs support and summarize the most effective methods of control.

36 Materials of the Extraordinary Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, March 11, 1985, Moscow, 1985, p. 10.

37 Some issues of organizational work of local Councils of People's Deputies in 1983 Statistical Collection, Moscow, 1984, p. 35; Soviets of People's Deputies, 1984, No. 5, p. 80; Soviet Trade Unions, 1984, No. 6, p. 16.

38 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983, p. 123.

39 For more information, see: Fedoseev P. N. Dialectics of public life. Problemy mira i sotsializma [Problems of Peace and Socialism], 1981, No. 9, pp. 28-29.

40 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983, p. 123.

41 Proceedings of the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, April 10, 1984, p. 7.

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forms and methods of involving the masses in managing the affairs of the state and society. Naturally, in the field of state - building, the party pays special attention to improving the activities of representative bodies-Councils of People's Deputies, whose unified system is an all-encompassing organization of the people, the embodiment of the national character of the socialist state. In their activities, they organically combine state and social principles. At the June 1983 Plenum of the CPSU Central Committee, first of all, such achievements of socialist democracy were noted as strengthening the connection of deputies and Soviets in general with the population, the practice of nationwide discussion of important draft laws, the increasing role of popular control, and the increased activity of trade unions .42
Under the conditions of developed socialism, the entire system of popular representation continues to improve. An important indicator of its maturity is the successful implementation of Lenin's program task: to transform the Soviets from governing bodies "for the working people through the advanced stratum of the proletariat, but not through the working masses" into governing bodies "through the working people." 43 This problem is mostly solved. More than 2.3 million deputies, representatives of workers, peasants and intellectuals, working people of all nations and nationalities, and tens of millions of activists now manage the affairs of the State .44
Consistent democracy characterizes the formation and functioning of Councils at all levels. It is already evident in the mass, truly nationwide nature of election campaigns and elections to Councils - the most important form of participation of the entire people in the management of the state. Suffice it to say that more than 8.8 million representatives of non - governmental organizations and labor collectives worked in 959,000 election commissions that prepared for the elections to the Supreme Soviets of the Union and Autonomous Republics and local councils in February 1985 (more than 50% of them were women, almost 59% were non - party workers, 58.7% were workers and non-partisan workers). collective farmers)45 . Representatives of the working class, women, and young people are increasingly active in councils at all levels.

Reflecting the process of internationalization of the population of all the union republics, the strengthening of a new historical community of people - the Soviet people, the multinational composition of the Soviets is strengthened, and the unity and interaction of all nations and nationalities of the country is strengthened in joint work. Representatives of more than 60 nationalities work in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the eleventh convocation, in the Supreme Soviets of union and autonomous republics-more than 70, in local Councils - more than 100 nationalities; the trend of expanding national representation in the Councils continues to develop. The growth of the multinational population of all Soviet republics and the right of all nations to proper representation in party and Soviet bodies were noted at the XXVI Congress of the CPSU .46
The principle of systematic renewal of government bodies and the involvement of new workers ' representatives in their work is consistently observed. Thus, in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1984, 54.2% were elected for the first time; in 1985, 62.6% were elected in the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics, and 47.4% in local Soviets .47
42 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983, p. 121.

43 Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 38, p. 170.

44 Proceedings of the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, April 10, 1984, p. 6.

45 Pravda, 2. III. 1985.

46 See: Proceedings of the XXVI Congress of the CPSU, p. 56; Election results ... 1982, p. 32-33; Pravda, 12. IV. 1984.

47 Pravda, 12. IV. 1984; 2. III. 1985.

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The democratic foundations of the work of the Soviets are being improved, the activity of their sessions and standing committees is growing, and the ties of deputies with the masses are being strengthened. The entire system of Councils is being activated, the interaction of all its links is being strengthened, and the work on improving legislation is even more closely connected with management and control. It was precisely this combination that Lenin considered an organic feature of the system of socialist democracy .48 The main lines of improvement of the work of the Soviets of People's Deputies at the present stage are aimed at ensuring that each Council fully exercises its rights and duties, acts actively, and involves an increasing number of workers in managing the affairs of society and the state. 49
The work of the supreme body of state power, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, has significantly expanded. The scope of its legislative activity has increased on the basis of the 1977 Constitution of the USSR. In 1978-1984, after extensive public discussion, he adopted more than 20 laws related to the main areas of the country's economic, political, and cultural life.

The scope and practical results of the work of the permanent deputy commissions, whose increasing role is typical for Councils of all levels, have significantly increased. Thus, in both chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the first convocation (1937), 8 permanent commissions were formed (89 deputies); in 1958, they became 9 (259 deputies); in 1984 - 34 (1210 deputies). Between 1966 and 1979, the number of workers in the standing committees of the country's highest authority doubled .50 In the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics in 1955 there were 52 permanent commissions (550 deputies); in 1967 - 184 (3610, 61.9% of deputies); in 1980 - 234 (5054, more than 75% of deputies).51 . The adoption of plans and budgets of the country, union and autonomous republics, territories, regions, etc .at sessions in recent years is preceded by the work of all deputy commissions, which conduct preliminary consideration of the draft plan and budget in all sections, analyze the results of their implementation for the previous period, involving representatives of ministries and departments, specialists 52. This helps to find reserves to increase the production of consumer goods, budget revenues and expenditures. The permanent commissions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for example, found an opportunity to increase the plan for the production of consumer goods for 1981-1984 by 693 million rubles, and budget revenues - by 537.8 million rubles. These funds were used for additional measures to protect motherhood and childhood, for the needs of public education, health, culture and social security, and for landscaping. 250 deputies participated in the preparation of the draft state plan and budget for 1984, united in 17 preparatory commissions created for all the main sections of the documents. At the meetings of the commissions in October-December 1983.

48 See Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 36, p. 481.

49 Proceedings of the first session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the eleventh convocation, Moscow, 1984, p. 76. For more details, see: Kuznetsov V. V. XXVI Congress of the CPSU and the development of the foundations of Soviet democracy. - Kommunist Publ., 1981, No. 10. Some issues of the work of the Soviets of People's Deputies at the present stage. - Ibid., 1984, No. 1; it is the same. Effectiveness and reality of Soviet democracy. - Ibid., 1985, N 2.

50 Rabochy klass SSSR. 1966-1970 gg. M. 1979, p. 297; Verkhovyi Sovet SSSR. Tenth convocation. Statistical Collection, Moscow, 1979, p. 44; First Session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (eleventh convocation), Moscow, 1984, p. 22, 32.

51 Makhnenko A. Kh. Permanent Commissions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics. Moscow, 1969, p. 7; Handbook of a Party worker, issue 21, p. 507.

52 For more information on the preparation of the draft state plan and budget for 1983 by the Permanent Commissions of the Chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, see Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1982, NN 43, 47, 48.

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heads of many ministries and departments of the USSR, Councils of Ministers of the Union Republics made presentations .53
The scope of activity of the standing committees of local councils has significantly increased. As of January 1, 1984, 336.9 thousand commissions in all major branches of the economy and culture united over 1.8 million deputies (80.5% of their total number) and almost 2.6 million. activists, which is more than 300 thousand people higher than in the early 60s. In 1983 alone, the Permanent commissions prepared about 520,000 issues for discussion at the sessions of the Councils, over 868,000 for consideration by the executive committees; about 305,000 reports and co-reports were made at the sessions in almost all areas of economic and cultural development of the regions. 54 An increasingly active role in the development and adoption of decisions by Councils and their executive and administrative bodies is played not only by standing commissions, but also by deputy groups, labor collectives, mass media bodies, and the workers ' initiative .55
The XXVI Congress of the CPSU noted that a lot of interesting and new things have appeared in the activities of local councils. In accordance with the Constitution of the USSR, they resolve all issues of local importance, control and coordinate the activities of other organizations on their territory within the limits of their rights, and make an increasing contribution to ensuring the integrated nature of economic and social development. Local councils now deal with twice as many issues as in the early 70s. In 1983 alone, 837,000 issues related to all aspects of the development of Soviet society were considered at their sessions: the implementation of social and economic development plans, the formation of local budgets, the work of industry, transport, communications, the development of agriculture, nature protection, improving trade, public catering, strengthening the socialist rule of law, fulfilling the instructions of voters, etc. More and more often, the sessions raised issues related to monitoring the work of accountable bodies and institutions, the activities of standing committees and deputy groups, information on the implementation of Council decisions, and the implementation of deputies ' proposals .56
Transparency in the work of the Soviets has significantly expanded. Reports of executive bodies on their work in the period between sessions, preliminary discussion of draft decisions of Councils in labor collectives, at meetings of citizens at the place of residence, at village gatherings have become a regular practice. Permanent commissions, deputy groups, and deputies actively participated in the preparation and discussion of issues at the sessions of the Moscow City Councils. In 1982, 525 deputies, including 162 workers, took part in the discussion of the reports of the executive committees of district councils. 208 deputies, including 68 workers, participated in the discussion of the tasks of the district councils for the implementation of the Food Program. In some cases, reports were discussed in advance at the meetings of the Standing Committees, and then submitted to the Council session. In 1982, at 312 meetings in labor collectives and at the place of residence, draft plans for economic and social development were considered.

53rd Fourth session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (tenth convocation). Stenogr. otch. M. 1980, p. 56; sixth session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (tenth convocation). M. 1981, p. 66; Seventh session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (tenth convocation). M. 1983, p. 68; Pravda, 24, 30. XII. 1983.

54 Soviets of Workers ' Deputies, 1972, No. 6, p. 86; Some questions of the organizational work of local Soviets in 1983, p. 28.

55 See, for example, Shcherbitsky V. Real demokratizm sovetskogo obshchestva [Real democracy in Soviet society]. - Kommunist, 1984, N 17, p. 35.

56 Some questions of the organizational work of local councils in 1983, pp. 14-16.

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development and budget of Moscow districts for 1983, materials on reports of executive committees of district councils were discussed. The work of the sessions was covered by large-circulation and wall newspapers of enterprises, local radio broadcasting; deputies regularly informed the population and labor collectives about the decisions taken by the Soviets .57
Relying on the instructions of the party and decisions of the supreme Soviet bodies, 58 and using local budgets with increasing efficiency (which in 1984 amounted to almost 45 billion rubles and were twice as large as in the early 70s), 59 the Soviets focused on improving the economic mechanism, improving all aspects of life and everyday life Soviet people, satisfying their material and cultural needs, strengthening the economy regime, and strengthening state and labor discipline. The influence of representative bodies on the development of the economy, culture, and social processes became more effective.

At the present stage, the multilateral control of Councils over the activities of executive and administrative bodies has been widely developed. It is a well-established practice of the Council of Ministers of the USSR to consider proposals and comments made at sessions by deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and permanent commissions, and then report on the progress of their implementation at meetings of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1978-1984, such reports of the Council of Ministers of the USSR were heard at meetings of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR eight times .60
Having studied in September 1980 the work of the Councils of People's Deputies of the Armenian SSR to strengthen control over the implementation of planned tasks, decisions taken and the strengthening of executive discipline, in March 1983 - the work of the Councils of People's Deputies of the Ukrainian SSR to control the activities of accountable bodies, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR noted the strengthening of control activities of local Councils. In the Ukrainian SSR, for example, in 1982 alone, more than 50 thousand issues related to monitoring the work of Soviet and economic bodies were considered at sessions, reports of all executive committees were heard, and issues related to the implementation of decisions and instructions were regularly discussed .61
In a developed socialist society, the relations of the Soviets, their executive bodies, and each deputy with the population have significantly strengthened. The reports of deputies to the electors, executive and administrative bodies to the Soviets and the population, which are legally fixed in the Constitution of the USSR and the Constitutions of the Union and autonomous republics as a mandatory form of control, have become systematic. In 1980 -97.3%, in 1981 - more than 98%, in 1983 - 97.6% of deputies reported to the voters at least twice. In 1983, 99.5% of all executive committees reported to the sessions, and 99.7% to the population. The mass audience size has also grown significantly.-

57 Bulletin of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council, 1983, No. 10, p. 36.

58 Resolutions of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 20, 1979 " On the Tasks of Soviets of People's Deputies arising from the resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU "On further improvement of the Economic mechanism and tasks of Party and State Bodies" ; of January 23, 1980 "On the tasks of Soviets of People's Deputies to further strengthen State and labor discipline and improve the use of labor resourcesMay 31, 1982 "On the tasks of the Soviets of People's Deputies in implementing the decisions of the May (1982) Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU". - Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1979, No. 35, Article 572; 1980, No. 5, Article 87; 1982, No. 23, Article 406.

59 Data of the Department of Soviet organs of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for 1984.

60 Calculated from: Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1981, No. 14, Article 593; 1983, No. 14, Article 602; 1984, No. 26, Article 454.

61 Ibid., 1980 No. 37, article 758; 1983, No. 12, Article 172.

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reports were also heard. If in 1966, the reports were attended by about 36.7 million people. In 1983, the number of registered voters was more than 56 million. Departments and departments of the executive committees also reported regularly. In 1983, out of 60.3 thousand departments and departments of the executive committees of local councils, 58.7 thousand, or 97.3%, reported to 19.5 million people. voters of the country (in 1968, before 9.4 million people). 25.7 thousand departments and departments reported their votes)62 . Such reports were conducted in electoral districts, as well as (increasingly) in labor collectives. In the districts of Moscow in 1982, all executive committees, 40 departments and departments, 39 permanent commissions reported on their work at sessions, 25 territorial and 7 industrial deputy groups, 41 deputies were heard. 582 departments and departments of the executive committees of the district and Zelenograd city Councils reported to the population; over 704 thousand people attended 558 meetings .63
Requests of deputies addressed to state bodies and officials became more effective. If in 1971 deputies made 39.2 thousand requests, in 1981 - 82.6 thousand, in 1983-83.8 thousand 64 . At the same time, at the April 1984 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, it was noted that such an effective form of control as a deputy request is still not widely used: if we take into account that there were 51767 local councils in the country, then on average there were only about 1.6 requests per Council .65
Lenin called the recognition and application of the right of recall by voters of their elected representatives a sign of true democracy, a manifestation of the will of the people . This right, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the U.S.S.R. and the constitutions of the republics, and in the laws on the procedure for recalling deputies, is used by voters in all necessary cases. Thus, in 1980-1983, 1,045 deputies were recalled from local Soviets .67
Various forms of direct democracy, which primarily include instructions from voters, play a significant role in strengthening the Soviets ' ties with the masses. They set specific tasks for the authorities in all areas of economic and cultural development, cover all spheres of work and life of the population, guide Councils to carefully study the needs and requirements of people, and influence the formation of current and long-term plans for the economic and social development of regions .68 Further improvement of this work was promoted by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the organization of work with instructions of voters "(September 1980), which defines the procedure for making instructions, recording them and executing them. 69 In 1971-1983, local councils fulfilled more than 4.5 million electoral mandates, or about 90% of the average number of convocations .

It is important to note not only the number of completed orders, but also consistently democratic methods of their execution. Thus, the Moscow City Council of the 18th convocation (1982 - February 1985) adopted 230 orders for execution. Their character can be judged by the following-

62 Soviets of Workers ' Deputies, 1969, No. 5, p. 95; Soviets of People's Deputies, 1983, No. 5, p. 68, 69; 1984, No. 5, p. 80.

63 Bulletin of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council, 1983, No. 10, p. 36.

64 Soviets of Workers ' Deputies, 1972, No. 6, p. 87; Soviets of People's Deputies, 1982, No. 5, p. 47; 1984, No. 5, p. 80.

65 Proceedings of the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, April 10, 1984, pp. 11-12; Soviets of People's Deputies, 1984, No. 5, pp. 79-80.

66 See Lenin V. I. PSS. Vol. 35, pp. 106-107.

67 Calculated in: Some questions of the organizational work of local Soviets in 1983, p. 10; Soviets of People's Deputies, 1984, No. 5, p. 80.

68 The instructions of voters are rightly evaluated by social scientists as one of the channels for influencing the creative thought of the masses on the practice of government (Pravda, 7. III. 1985).

69 Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1980, No. 36, Article 736.

70 Calculated according to the annual statistical reports of the Councils.

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According to our data, in 1983, the Moscow City Council carried out 291 instructions of voters (some of them were given by voters during the previous elections). Issues of urban planning, reconstruction of industrial enterprises, landscaping were related to 84 orders; transport, traffic regulation, communications - 32; construction and housing - 23; fuel and energy economy and construction of engineering networks-14; environmental protection-7; consumer services-13; trade and public catering-43; public education and construction of pre-school children's institutions - 29; health care-16; culture and sports-28. All departments and departments of the executive committee, 12 ministries and departments were involved in their implementation. The instructions were taken under constant control by deputy commissions. In 1983, 113 deputy posts were created at the facilities under construction, and in 1984 - 203 deputy posts. Reports of business managers on these issues were systematically heard at meetings of the standing committees, and regular public information on the progress of this work was practiced. 71 voters were actively involved in fulfilling the instructions .

The ranks of activists who work on a voluntary basis in the executive committees of Councils and in amateur organizations of the population are growing. In 1982, it numbered more than 31.4 million people, which was about 1/5 of the adult population of the country (in the early 60s-about 17 million).72 . In 1983, more than 76,000 employees were employed in 9,255 public departments of executive committees, 43,100 as freelance deputy chairmen of executive committees, and about 415,000 as public instructors, inspectors, and other employees in full - time departments and departments of executive committees. 2.2 million public amateur formations operated in various spheres of culture, healthcare, and law enforcement .73 Almost 2.8 million people were united in street, block and house committees, rural and settlement committees, and 14 million people were united in voluntary people's squads, comradely courts, and fire brigades .74 They carry out significant educational and organizational work. At the same time, the party draws attention to the need to further increase the efficiency and coherence of the work of public amateur organizations, streamline their network, eliminate parallelism and duplication, and free them from functions that are not typical of them .75
One of the most obvious evidence of the growing political activity of the population, their interest in the work of state bodies, and their demanding attitude to it is the increased activity of the people's control bodies. The XXVI Congress of the CPSU defined comprehensive popular control over the work of government bodies and officials as a necessary component of Soviet democracy .76
The growing role of the Soviets in the formation and management of these bodies contributed to the development of the democratic foundations of the activities of the people's control bodies. The Constitution of the USSR (Article 9) and the Law on People's Control, adopted in 1979,77 established a single por-

71 Current archive of the Moscow City Council Executive Committee. Proceedings of the second session of the 18th convocation, Moscow, 1982; Proceedings of the fourth session of the 18th convocation, Moscow, 1983; Proceedings of the seventh session of the 18th convocation, Moscow, 1983.

72 Some questions of the organizational work of local councils in 1982, Moscow, 1983, p. 51; TsGAOR USSR, f. 7523, op. 78, d. 712, l. 34.

73 In the USSR, there are over 100 different forms of social self-activity of the population (Pravda, 10. VII. 1984).

74 Some questions of the organizational work of local councils in 1982, p. 51.

75 Pravda, 3. III. 1984.

76 Materials of the XXVI Congress of the CPSU, p. 65.

77 Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1979, No. 49, Article 840.

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the procedure for electing bodies of national control at sessions of Councils of appropriate levels. When carrying out mass inspections, reviews of economy and frugality, and monitoring the implementation of decisions of the party and the state, the people's control bodies work in close contact with Soviet deputies and public organizations. In 1981, there were almost 1280 thousand groups and posts of people's control in the country, in which about 10 million people participated, 67% of them were workers. Full-time employees of the people's control committees were assisted by 429 thousand activists 78 . Republican and local people's control committees conducted 305,000 inspections of the implementation of party directives, legislation, government decisions and other issues. Of the 244,000 issues considered by the committees based on the results of inspections, 83,000 were related to the implementation of state plans and tasks, identification of production reserves, use of material labor resources and money; 26,000 - with the introduction of scientific and technological achievements, product quality; 45,000-with the state of performing discipline, ensuring the safety of socialist property. . In recent years, contacts between the people's control bodies and local Councils and their standing committees have significantly increased: conducting joint inspections, preparing proposals and recommendations related to the development and implementation of current and long-term plans. The positive experience of interaction between the standing committees of the Soviets and the people's control bodies in the Perm region was approved in 1980. Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 80 .

The participation of workers in the management of State affairs is also carried out through an extensive network of mass organizations. In a developed socialist society, the interaction of public organizations with state bodies is significantly increasing. A significant role in the development of the initiative of trade unions and the Komsomol was played by the right of legislative initiative, assigned to them by the Constitution of the USSR of 1977.

All labor and wage issues are resolved by State bodies only in cooperation with trade union representatives. Trade unions are directly and directly involved in the management of production: more than 70 managerial functions cannot be performed by the administration of enterprises without the consent of trade union committees, and 20 are fully within the competence of trade unions .81 Trade unions draw up and manage the social insurance budget (in 1983, for example, it amounted to 43.5 billion rubles 82), participate in the development and implementation of social and economic development plans, and monitor occupational health and safety. With the participation of the ECSPC, the Basic Labor legislation, regulations on the rights of factory, factory, and local trade union committees, laws on labor collectives, state pensions, government resolutions on wage increases, and other state acts were developed. In recent years alone, at the suggestion of trade unions, decision-making bodies have adopted more than 70 State acts and resolutions regulating labor relations and relating to the social and living situation of workers .83
78 Handbook of a party worker. Issue 21, p. 515; Stepanov V. T., Koreshkov N. D., Barakin V. S. Zakon o narodnom kontrol ' v SSSR [The Law on People's Control in the USSR]. Moscow, 1982, p. 7.

79 Stepanov V. T., Koreshkov N. D., Barakin V. S. Uk. soch., p. 10.

80 Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1980, No. 11, Article 194.

81 Zlomanov L. P., Umansky L. A. Uk. soch., p. 60.

82 Sovetskie trade Unions, 1984, No. 4, p. 3.

83 Ibid., pp. 2-3.

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Under the leadership of trade unions, many creative organizations work, through which the masses are involved in the management of production .84 Issues related to the development of comprehensive regional development plans, socialist competition, improvement of working and living conditions, strengthening control over labor discipline, implementation of housing and pension legislation are considered and resolved by trade unions together with the Soviet authorities. The positive experience of interaction between Councils and trade union organizations of the Kazakh SSR in implementing the socio-economic program outlined by the XXVI Congress of the CPSU was approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR .85
The links and interaction of the Komsomol bodies with the Soviets, trade unions, and people's control bodies have significantly expanded. More than 2 million Komsomol members are elected to trade union bodies, and about 5 million work in the detachments, headquarters and posts of Komsomol Searchlight . At the initiative of the Komsomol in recent years, government bodies have considered more than 200 different proposals related to the work, study, and life of young people .86
The scientific literature notes that the question of the correlation of state and public principles in management, the interaction of voluntary associations with state authorities is theoretically and practically-politically relevant, closely related to the ways and forms of further development of socialist statehood. In this regard, a well-reasoned criticism was made of the simplified ideas about the ways of developing the national identity, which are reduced to a certain transfusion of functions from the state to public organizations, the mechanical expansion of their rights and powers. The practice of the development of Soviet people's power has shown the close connection and interdependence of the processes of increasing the role of public organizations and strengthening the state, the need for the harmonious development of the entire political system of socialism, and not just its individual links. 87
Thus, under the conditions of developed socialism, democracy is consistently expanding and deepening at all levels of government, with an increasingly clear division of functions and, at the same time, closer coordination of the efforts of State and public organizations, which is an indispensable condition for their effective work.

National discussion of drafts of the most important legislative acts is also firmly established in practice. 140 million people participated in the discussion of the draft Constitution of the USSR, and more than 110 million workers participated in the discussion of the draft Law on Labor Collectives. 1230 thousand meetings of labor collectives considered the draft law, more than 5 million people spoke, and almost 130 thousand suggestions and comments were made. As a result of their generalization, 21 of the 23 draft articles were changed, and more than 70 additions and amendments were included .88
At the June 1983 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, a deep study of the interests and needs, moods and suggestions of the masses was discussed by analyzing the speeches and letters of the working people, sociological surveys, and studying public opinion, i.e., creating a comprehensive system of public relations.-

84 For more details, see: Actual problems of the history of developed socialism in the USSR, pp. 343-345; Torkanovsky E. Development of democratic principles in production management. - Kommunist, 1983, N 8; Prokhorov V. Trudovoi kollektiv i trade unions. - Ibid., 1984, N 10.

85 Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, 1981, No. 52, Article 1344.

86 Zhuganov A.V. S imeni Lenina - na trud i na podvig [With the name of Lenin-on labor and on feat]. Nauchny kommunizm, 1984, N 4, p. 11.

87 Pravda, 7. III. 1985.

88th Session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (tenth convocation), June 16-17, 1983. Stenogr. otch. M. 1983, pp. 93, 94.

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a feedback mechanism that is necessary not only for the effective conduct of ideological work, but also for the operation of the entire system of socialist democracy .89
Guided by the instructions of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the provisions of the Constitution of the USSR, party bodies, Soviets, and all public organizations significantly intensified their work with workers ' letters. During the years that passed between the XXV and XXVI Congresses (1975-1980), the Central Committee of the CPSU received over 3 million letters, and almost 100 thousand visitors visited the reception of the Central Committee. Republican and local party organizations reviewed 15 million letters and 90 applications . Over the next three years, the CPSU Central Committee received more than 2 million letters, 70,000 visitors were received by responsible Central Committee officials ,and more than 10 million written and oral appeals from citizens were reviewed by local party organizations. 91 During the period between the XVIII and XIX congresses of the Komsomol, the Central Committee of the Komsomol considered more than 60 thousand letters and labor reports, and more than 35 thousand oral statements. At the meeting of the KOMSOMOL Central Committee Secretariat, the work with letters from the Voronezh Regional Komsomol Committee, the editorial offices of the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper and the Pioneer magazine was analyzed; 54 resolutions of the Secretariat were adopted based on the materials of inspections of specific signals and proposals, some of the proposals were considered jointly with Soviet, economic and other organizations 92 .

A great deal of work was done by the Soviet authorities to improve the handling of letters and the organization of reception of citizens. Thus, in December 1982, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR discussed the work of the Councils of People's Deputies of the Omsk region to consider proposals, applications and complaints of citizens .93 The practice of the Soviets of the Omsk Region, other territories and regions of the RSFSR, and all the Union republics has shown that a strict and orderly system of working with letters has developed, including the organization of meetings of the leaders of party and Soviet bodies with workers and deputies, unified political days, open letter days, and other forms of communication . All these forms were actively used, for example, by the Moscow City Council. In the first 10 months of 1984 alone, more than 63,000 letters were reviewed by the executive committee staff, more than 20,000 people applied to the executive committee reception office, and more than 7,000 voters were accepted by deputies of the Moscow City Council. Working with letters and organizing the reception of citizens were systematically discussed at meetings of executive committees, permanent commissions of the Moscow City Council and district councils, boards of main departments and departments of the Moscow City Executive Committee .95
The Party and the State attach the utmost importance to the constant study and consideration of public opinion, seeing in this institution one of the main directions for the further development of socialist democracy and the strengthening of the political system. This is stipulated in Article 9 of the 1977 Constitution of the USSR. Such a study and generalization allows party and state bodies not only to identify the opinion of workers on a wide range of socio-economic, political and spiritual issues, but also to use their advice, suggestions, criticisms and requirements for policy formation.,

89 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983, p. 40.

90 Handbook of a party worker. Issue 21, p. 504.

91 Pravda, 3. II. 1984.

92 XIX Congress of the Komsomol. Vol. 1, p. 112.

93 Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta RSFSR, 1982, No. 49.

94 See, for example, Tkachuk A. Uchet mnenii i predlozhenii massov [Accounting for opinions and suggestions of the masses]. - Parti'naya zhizn, 1983, No. 14, pp. 73-76.

95 Current archive of the Moscow City Council Executive Committee. On the activities of the Moscow City Council of People's Deputies in 1984, pp. 21-22.

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drawing up and specifying plans for economic and social development, monitoring the results of the work of certain bodies 96 .

At the June 1983 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, it was noted that the party has many channels (speeches and letters from workers, questions to lecturers and propagandists, sociological surveys) of flexible, operational communication with the masses, allowing them to detect changes in mood, deeply study their interests and needs. The plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU supported the interesting experience gained in this field in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, a number of regions of the RSFSR and Ukraine .97 Many regional, regional, city, and district party committees have established and operate councils, public institutions ,and public opinion research groups. 98
Thus, in the conditions of developed socialism, the real democracy of the Soviet system is steadily and steadily expanding, and the influence of the system of socialist democracy on all aspects of improving socialist relations is increasing. At the same time, the party believes that the potential possibilities of socialist democracy and the development of democracy are far from being exhausted. At the April (1984) Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, significant opportunities for further development of the democratic foundations of the Soviets ' activities were revealed. The resolution of the Plenum points out the need to improve the practice of preparing and holding sessions of Soviets, meetings of executive committees and standing committees; to apply deputies ' requests more widely; to persistently eliminate the facts of formalism; and to strengthen the connection of Soviets with the masses in every possible way. The Soviet political system broadly expresses the interests of all classes and social groups in society, opens up even greater scope for the development of self - activity and initiative of the masses, and works towards the lofty goal of socialism-ensuring the direct participation of every Soviet person in the management of state and social affairs.

"The party considers the further improvement and development of democracy and the entire system of socialist self - government of the people as one of the fundamental tasks of its internal policy," it was noted at an extraordinary Plenum of the CPSU Central Committee on March 11, 1985. A lot is being done in this regard. This means further increasing the role of the Soviets, activating trade unions, the Komsomol, people's Control, and labor collectives. Persistent work is ahead in both the already planned and new areas. " 99 The use of all forms of socialist democracy, the strengthening of the State, and the growth of effective and conscious participation of the masses in improving the activities of State and public bodies and in the management of production are the most important guarantees and guarantees of further success in improving mature socialism.

96 For more information, see: Safarov R. A. Public Opinion and Public Administration, Moscow, 1975; his. Public opinion in the system of Soviet democracy, Moscow, 1982; Gorshkov M. K. Party organizations and public opinion, Moscow, 1981; Jafarli T. M. Study and accounting of public opinion in party work, Moscow, 1982.

97 Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, June 14-15, 1983, p. 40.

98 For more information, see: Uledov A. K. Problems of studying public opinion in a developed socialist society. - Scientific Communism, 1984, N 4, p. 25.

99 Proceedings of the Extraordinary Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, March 11, 1985, p. 10.

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