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6.00 open competition in the electoral
process
- 0, AC9
- One of the most prominent aspects of soviet elections
is the absence of any contest. While the 1936
constitution and election statutes provide for multiple
nominees, in practice the public organizations generally
register only one. Apparently after discussion of a group
of nominated candidates, the party negotiates with the
public organizations and workers to present a common
candidate. Occasionally, however, the situation of
multiple nominees for a limited number of vacancies has
cropped up. According to one source, lower party
organizations have long demanded to choose from a larger
number of candidates, and changes in the new rules for
1961 should result in greater flexibility in that
direction. The absence of competition results in virtual
unanimous endorsement of the official candidates. One
source cites that only .01 percent of the candidates in
the 1959 local elections did not get a majority vote.
Dissent has been registered by casting blank ballots or
crossing out names, but only on a minimal level.
- 6.10 restricting party competition
- 4, AC9
- The CPSU was formally acknowledged as the sole party
of USSR in the 1936 constitution, which recognized the
party as "the leading core of all organizations of the
toilers, both public and state." An article of faith in
Communist doctrine has been that in a socialist society
there can be no antagonistic classes. Therefore, no
possibility of rival parties exists, and even party
factions are prohibited.
- 6.20 subverting the political system
- 0, AC9
- As the only governmental party in existence in the
state, the CPSU would not rely on a strategy of
subverting the political process to achieve power.
- 6.30 propagandizing ideas and program
- 6.31--2, AC9. The party operates a wide network of
mass communications media. Perhaps the best known is the
party newspaper "Pravda."
- 6.32--2, AC9. The party has a wide range of offerings
for its members from training courses for the rank and
file in ideology and methods of propagating party ideas
to short- term evening courses for the intellectually
oriented in the classic theoretical writers and party
history. More elaborate training programs are conducted
for those intending careers in the party or state
bureaucracy.
- 6.33--2, AC9. The party regularly passes resolutions
generally issued in the name of the Central Committee of
the CPSU. Party platforms are formally proclaimed at
Party Congresses.
- 6.34--2, AC9. Position papers are published by the
party’s own publishing houses as well as through
other establishments.
- 6.50 providing for welfare of party members
- 6.51--0, AC3. No evidence was found that the party
engages directly in providing any of these welfare
services.
- 6.52--0, AC3. The CPSU itself does not appear to be
involved in running employment services. The control of
employment falls rather under the aegis of the trade
unions.
- 6.53--2, AC6. In 1958 the Central Committee of the
CPSU passed a resolution on considering letters,
complaints, and petitions from the working people
stressing its supervisory function over the work of local
party and state agencies in dealing with complaints. This
right of complaint serves to defend the citizen’s
infringed right and also is a means of improving the
state apparatus.
- 6.54--0, AC3. Although the party exercises a measure
of control over non-party educational establishments to
insure ideological orthodoxy, it does not appear to bear
direct responsibility for providing soviet citizens with
basic education.
- 6.55--2, AC8. The party supervises recreational
activities through youth organizations such as the
Komsomol, the Pioneers and the Little Octobrists. Primary
party organizations of the trade unions also promote mass
cultural and sports activities.
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