“The Constitution as a Guarantor of the Belarusian Statehood”, a thematic exhibition timed to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the BSSR and the adoption of the first Constitution, and the 25th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, runs in the legal information room (207 b), from January 22 to March 25.
On January 1, 1919, the Manifesto on the establishment of the BSSR (SSRB) was published. On February 5, 1919, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee adopted a Resolution recognizing the independence of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. The republic was separated from the RSFSR as an independent state unit and was declared free and independent, and all workers received equal rights.
The first Constitution of Soviet Belorussia was adopted by the First All-Belarusian Congress of Soviets on February 3, 1919. The congress proclaimed Belarus the Republic of Soviets of Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' Deputies, abolished private ownership of land and other means of production, enshrined equal rights and duties of citizens of the republic, and proclaimed democratic freedoms. The Constitution consisted of the Declaration of the Rights of the Working and Exploited People of Belarus and three sections: general provisions, the structure of Soviet power, the emblem and flag. One of the features of the Constitution was that it did not provide for the creation of the Council of People's Commissars. Its functions were assigned to the Grand Presidium of the CEC, which included all the people's commissioners.
The Second All-Belarusian Congress of Soviets supplemented the original text of the Constitution with the statement on the formation of the Council of People's Commissars of the Republic as the highest body of state administration, the organization and activities of the CEC of the Councils of Belarus and its Presidium. The Constitution of the SSRB 1919 legislated an act of state-national self-determination of Belarus.
The Constitution of the sovereign Republic of Belarus was adopted on March 15, 1994. Amendements and additions to the Constitution were made three times (always by the referendum). Distinctive features of the current Constitution are: consolidation of the diversity of forms of ownership as an economic basis; the establishment of equality of state and citizen, the presence of their mutual obligations; orientation of the legislation on the generally accepted principles of international law; separation and interaction of authorities; the direct nature of the action of the Constitution. It has supremacy in relation to all other legal acts, forming the core of the legal system of the state. The 1994 Constitution is the fifth Constitution of the Republic of Belarus adopted after the October Revolution.
The exposition includes about 80 documents: books, brochures, and periodicals.
The exhibition is designed for scientists, teachers, graduate students and students of law and historical departments, political scientists; all who are interested in constitutional law, the history of the state and law, and political history.
The exhibition includes the following thematic sections:
- The birth of the Belarusian Soviet Republic
- The Constitution of Soviet Belarus 1919, 1927, 1937 1978: some aspects of constitutional lawmaking
- The Constitution of independent Belarus: development, drafts, adoption
- Constitution of the Republic of Belarus as the basis of the legality of the Belarusian state
Useful links:
- Acts of the Belarusian People's Republic
- Acts adopted during the Belarusian statehood’s recovery period
- The RSFSR’s acts 1917-1918 concerning Belarus
The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by library card or by ticket of the library's social and cultural center. Information and tickets may be obtained at the registration desk.
All books presented at the exhibition are available in the e-Catalog.
For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 28
All materials are provided by the Official Documents Service Department.
