En
Ru
The first membership of the government of the USSR, plans of the first constitution and coat of arms design approved
On July 6, 1923 the Central Executive Committee of USSR approved the plan of Constitution of USSR, the design of the first national coat of arms of USSR and elected the first Soviet government – the Soviet of People’s Commissars headed by V. I. Lenin.
In addition to the Soviet of People’s Commissars president, the elected government included: the President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars’ Deputies L. B. Kamenev, M. D. Orakhelashvili, A. I. Rykov, A. D. Tsyrupa, V. Ya. Tchubar’. People’s Commissars: for Foreign Affairs – G. V. Chicherin; for Military and Navy issues – L. D. Trotsky; for Foreign Trade – L. B. Krasin; of Communication lines – F. E. Dzerzhinsky; of Post offices and Telegraphs – I. N. Smirnov; of Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate – V. V. Kuybyshev; of Labor – V. V. Schmidt; of Food – N. P. Bryukhanov; of Finance – G. Ya. Sokolnikov.
In January of 1924 the congresses of the Soviets of Union republics ratified the Constitution of USSR. On January 31, 1924 the 2nd congress of the Soviets of USSR it was finally approved.
The Constitution of USSR of 1924 included two parts: Declaration on Education of USSR and the Agreement on Education of USSR. The Constitution of 1924 repeated the main provisions of the Constitution of RSFSR of 1918 and also it was completed with a part on the national-governmental structure of the new state. The main idea of the Constitution of USSR of 1924 was the constitutional approval of education in USSR and division of rights of the USSR and Union republics.
The design of the coat of arms of USSR developed by artists of Goznak led by V. N. Adrianov and completed by I. I. Dubasov, was finally approved on September 22, 1923 by the Secretary of Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of USSR A. S. Yenukidze and officially legalized on January 31, 1924 by the Constitution of USSR.
The national coat of arms of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics consisted of hammer and sickle on the globe depicted in the rays of the sun and set off by ears with the inscription: “Workers of the world, unite!” At the top of arms was a five-point star. The essential elements of the first version of the official emblem of USSR survived through the entire period of existence of the Soviet state, because they demonstrated the most fully its primary ideals. Minor corrections to the arms image were made due to the change of number of Union republics and introduction of clarity to the mottos written in national languages.
In 1923-1936 the motto “Workers of the world, unite!” was written in 6 languages (in accordance with the number of Union republics which formed in 1922 the Union of SSR); later, in accordance with thaeir number, changed the number of red ribbons with the motto translation on them. In 1937-1946 there were 11 ribbons, in 1946-1956 — 16 ones, from 1956 — 15.
On March 31, 1980 under the Order of Presidium of Supreme Soviet of USSR was approved the Statute on the National Coat of Arms of USSR legalized by law of the USSR on June 25, 1980.
Lit.: Герб СССР [Электронный ресурс] // Heraldicum. Гербы России. 2004. URL: http://www.hrono.ru/heraldicum/russia/ussr.htm; Луппол А. П. Из истории советского государственного герба // Ежегодник Государственного исторического музея. М., 1960; Чистяков О. И. Конституция СССР 1924 года. М., 2004. Гл. 2. Подготовка и принятие Конституции; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://constitution.garant.ru/science-work/modern/4096920/chapter/2/#200.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials: