Marking the All-Russian Voting: Presidential Library about the History of the Constitution

Prior to the All-Russian voting, the Presidential Library on prlib.ru  provides access to documents and other materials detailing the development of Russian constitutionalism.

The current Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted on December 12, 1993 following the results of a nationwide vote held in accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia. It replaced the Basic Laws of the Russian Empire, the constitutions of the RSFSR and the constitutions of the USSR.

The constitution defines the social and state structure, the electoral system, the principles of organization and activities of government and administration, the basic rights and duties of citizens.

The electronic collection "Constitution - Basic Law" presents texts of the constitutions of the Russian state of various historical eras. In addition, it contains digital copies of official documents, as well as studies, journalism, memoirs, videos spotlighting the details of the creation of the Basic Law.

The history of government projects, as well as the rights and freedoms of citizens, has been around for almost three centuries. Of great interest are rare editions from the electronic collections of the Presidential Library, which help to better understand the prerequisites for the creation of a normative legal act of higher legal force. For example, the portal provides access to the digitized “State Charter of the Russian Empire” - a reform project of the constitution, based on the instructions of Emperor Alexander I, who saw a way to change the political system of the country in creating a constitution that guarantees citizens personal freedom and civil rights.

The current Basic Law of 1993, which events influenced the formation of the constituent document of the country, as well as previous constitutional projects is mentioned in the film “The Right to the Constitution”.

The main milestones in the development of domestic constitutionalism, the history of the creation and adoption of the current Constitution of the Russian Federation in 1993 are also introduced by a multimedia lesson posted on the Presidential Library’s portal. It allows better understanding of the origins of the rights, freedoms and duties of citizens of modern Russia. In addition, everyone will be able to test their knowledge by passing an electronic quiz.

Thanks to the 3D tour, one can virtually visit the Constitution Hall, which is located in the Presidential Library. The exposition illustrates the constitutions of Russia of the XX century. Documents, photographs, newsreels are devoted to the Basic State Laws of the Russian Empire, the Constitution of the RSFSR of 1918, the Constitutions of the USSR of 1924, 1936 and 1977. The stages of the creation and adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993 are presented - printed publications, historical documents, including those with corrections and notes of the country's top official, digitized signature sheets that the heads of state filled out after taking the oath, photo and newsreel and other materials related with the institution of the presidency and state symbols of Russia. The main exhibit is an exact copy of the inaugural copy of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, presented by the President on the opening day of the Presidential Library on May 27, 2009.

The institution’s portal presents an album-catalog of the exhibition held at the Presidential Library “The History of Constitutionalism in Russia: Drafts and Constitutions of the 18th – 20th Centuries”. It gives the opportunity to learn about the documents on the history of the creation and adoption of the Basic Law, the essence of constitutional ideas and their implementation. A video tour of the exhibition materials is also available, which details the development of legislation in our country and the first attempts to create a document that defines the basic duties and rights of citizens.

Of particular interest are video lectures. Thus, the “Lesson of the Constitution” of the absolute winner of the All-Russian competition “Teacher of the Year of Russia-2017” Ilya Demakov, tells about the emergence of the constitutions, their essence and how important it is to observe the laws of the country. It also tells why in 1993 it became necessary to adopt the new Constitution of Russia and how it was formed.

Doctor of Law, Professor, Vice-Rector of Moscow State University, Dean of the Higher School of State Audit of Moscow State University Sergey Shakhrai in the video lecture “The Living Constitution of Russia” explains why every citizen should know the country's Basic Law.

More information about the Constitution is available in the Electronic Museum of the Constitutional History of Russia, in the creation of which the Russian Historical Society, the Academic Educational and Scientific Center of the RAS-Moscow State University and the Presidential Library took part. The museum collection includes video and audio recordings, photographs, digital copies of archival documents, scientific publications, three-dimensional images of genuine artifacts.

It stands to mention that in order to promote knowledge of the Constitution, the Presidential Library regularly adds electronic collections with new historical materials that highlight the state system as well as video lectures, film broadcasts, multimedia lessons, and exhibitions devoted to the Basic Law of the Russian Federation.