Comrades! The Editorial Commission has completed its work. As a result of the work of the Editorial Commission, we now have the draft of the final text of the Constitution. The draft has been distributed to all members of the Congress. Consequently, the Congress is familiar with it.

As is evident from the draft, the Editorial Commission introduced a total of 43 amendments. The amendments affected 32 articles of the draft Constitution, introducing certain changes into them. The remaining 114 articles of the draft were left without change.

Of the 43 amendments, 6 or 7 could be recognized as more or less substantive.

What are these amendments?

First, amendments to Article 8. In the draft Constitution, the article is formulated as follows:

"The land occupied by collective farms is secured to them for use without term, that is, in perpetuity."

The new formulation gives the following text of the article:

"The land occupied by collective farms is secured to them for free use without term, that is, in perpetuity."

I think this amendment is clear and requires no explanation.

The second amendment concerns Article 10 of the draft Constitution. The old formulation:

"The personal property of citizens in their earned income and savings, in their dwelling house and auxiliary household economy, in articles of household economy and daily use, as well as in articles of personal consumption and comfort, is protected by law."

The new formulation of Article 10:

"The right of personal property of citizens in their earned income and savings, in their dwelling house and auxiliary household economy, in articles of household economy and daily use, in articles of personal consumption and comfort, as well as the right of inheritance of personal property of citizens, is protected by law."

The third amendment concerns Article 35. [The old formulation provided for the Council of Nationalities to be composed of deputies delegated by the Supreme Soviets of the union and autonomous republics. The new formulation provides for the Council of Nationalities to be elected by the citizens of the USSR, with 25 deputies from each union republic, 11 from each autonomous republic, 5 from each autonomous oblast, and 1 from each national district.]

Thus, the equality of the two chambers both in terms of their numerical composition and in terms of their democratic formation is fully observed in this article.

The fourth amendment concerns Article 40. [Laws are to be published in the languages of the union republics — hence in 11 languages.]

The fifth amendment concerns Article 48. [Instead of four vice-chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, there are to be 11 — corresponding to the number of union republics.]

The sixth amendment concerns Article 77. It consists in the proposal to establish, in addition to the existing all-Union People's Commissariats, one more new People's Commissariat — the People's Commissariat of the Defense Industry.

Finally, the seventh amendment concerns Article 49, subsection "k." The old formulation:

"In the period between sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Presidium declares a state of war in the event of a military attack on the USSR."

The new formulation:

"In the period between sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Presidium declares a state of war in the event of a military attack on the USSR or in the event of the necessity of fulfilling international treaty obligations of mutual defense against aggression."

As for the remaining amendments, they are not of substantive significance, are of a purely editorial character, and, I believe, do not require special analysis.

The general conclusion: in the matter of the elaboration and final polishing of the Constitution of the USSR, the nationwide discussion has unquestionably brought enormous benefit.

Pravda. December 6, 1936.