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p A sequel of the Soviet people’s successful advance along the road of communism is the rising role of the state in solving the tasks faced by society. The Communist Party is constantly improving the entire political organisation of the socialist society and consolidating the Soviet state. In the Central Committee’s Report to the 24th Congress of the CPSU Leonid Brezhnev said: "The principal orientation of this work—in accordance with the tasks of communist construction—has been and remains the further development of socialist democracy.”  [91•1 

p There is an indissoluble interconnection and a certain mutual conditionality between the evolution of socialist democracy and the consolidation of the state. No strengthening of the entire political structure of society is possible without the harmonious development of democracy. The consolidation of the Soviet state, in turn, supplies the prerequisites for the further harmonious development of socialist democracy. This is shown by the progressively growing role and rise in the authority of the representative organs of state power—the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies; it is also substantiated by the fact that an increasing number of the people are actively and directly participating in the administration of state and public affairs.

p In the USSR there are all the essential conditions for every man to be socially active, to be a citizen in the loftiest sense 92 of the word, to be personally concerned with the problems faced by socialist society and to bear his share of responsibility for the solution of such problems. The working people of the Soviet Union actively take part in drafting Soviet laws in which they express their will; the Soviet people are vitally interested in the observance of all the principles and rules laid down in these laws.

p The CPSU regards youth as a tremendous creative force in the national effort to build communism, a force which actively participates in the country’s economic, cultural and political life. Every day of practical activity makes still stronger the conviction of Soviet young men and women in the deeply democratic essence of the Soviet society and state, and the fact that they are equal citizens and real masters of their country. Making use of their great rights and fulfilling their lofty duties, Soviet young people revere, guard and develop the democratic traditions of the socialist state.

p The Leninist Komsomol, which unites more than 28 million young men and women in its ranks plays an eminent role in drawing young people into active social and political life and in administering state affairs. Today, as always in the past, the Leninist Komsomol is bringing up young men and women to be strict in the fulfilment of duties imposed upon them by the state; the Komsomol brings up active citizens.

p The Resolution of the 24th CPSU Congress on the Central Committee’s Report reads, "The Komsomol must make better use of the possibilities accorded it for drawing young men and women into broad participation in social life and in state, economic and cultural development.”  [92•1 

p The Communist Party has always stressed that it is very important to let youth and its vanguard—the Komsomol— take part in state affairs. In determining the role of young people in this process, the Party has always proceeded from their place in the working-class revolutionary struggle. In his theoretical works Lenin gave much space to the various aspects of drawing young men and women into public life and the work of state organs.

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p Lenin firmly believed that young people, particularly young workers, represented a mighty and potent force in the revolutionary transformation of society. He rejected all attempts to absolutise the peculiarities of youth as an age category, but he resolutely denounced all those who were afraid of youth or underestimated its role in the revolution, in the life of society and in state affairs. Lenin welcomed and encouraged young people, who developed an unprecedented desire, readiness and resolution to take part in state affairs.  [93•1 

p Even in the grim years of the Civil War when the young Soviet Republic was threatened by lethal danger Lenin paid great attention to the participation of young people in state affairs. In his article "All Out for the Fight Against Demkin!”, he wrote: "Fresh labour-power for the administration of the state and to carry out the tasks of the dictatorship of the proletariat are rapidly emerging in the shape of the worker and peasant youth who are most earnestly, zealously and fervidly learning, digesting the new impressions of the new order, throwing off the husk of old, capitalist and bourgeois-democratic prejudices, and moulding themselves into even firmer Communists than the older generation.”  [93•2 

p Underlying that it was impossible to build communism without the active participation of young men and women in the administration of the socialist state—the main instrument of transition to a classless society—Lenin paid great attention to solving the problems involved in the practical mobilisation of youth for work in state organs, and he insisted that the same policy should be followed in the future as well. In this respect a prominent place belongs to the Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars of the RSFSR "On the Practical Training of Members of the Russian Young Communist League" signed by Lenin. The purpose of the Decree was to fortify the state machinery with new strength and to train new Soviet officials from among young workers and peasants.

p Lenin’s speech at the 3rd Congress of the Russian Young Communist League (RYCL) was accepted by the YCL as 94 its programme lor educating young men and women. The speech is one of the most fundamental theoretical documents of Marxism-Leninism on the role of youth in socialist society; it is a militant programme for bringing up the younger generation the communist way. In this speech Lenin concisely expressed his ideas about youth and its participation in public and political life and in the administration of state affairs. He said: "It was the task of the older generation to overthrow the bourgeoisie. The main task then was to criticise the bourgeoisie, arouse hatred of the bourgeoisie among the masses, and foster class- consciousness and the ability to unite their forces. The new generation is confronted with a far more complex task. Your duty does not lie only in assembling your forces so as to uphold the workers’ and peasants’ government against an invasion instigated by the capitalists. Of course, you must do that; that is something you clearly realise, and is distinctly seen by the Communist. However, that is not enough. You have to build up a communist society.”  [94•1 

p The delegates to the Congress accepted Lenin’s ideas, set them down as programme theses in the documents adopted by the 3rd Congress of the RYCL, and mapped out the principal ways of implementing the ideas. The Programme of the RYCL, adopted by the Komsomol’s 3rd Congress, underlined that "the solution of the problems of youth labour and education, which are of vital importance to the entire Soviet republic, is the cause of the whole working class, of the entire state. The RYCL takes part in the solution of all problems of principle which concern youth, it suggests new measures in this field, controls the implementation of published decrees,. .. sends its representatives to state organs and helps them by the efforts of its own organisational apparatus.”  [94•2 

p Later, too, Lenin stressed that young people should be the prime builders of the communist society, trained to administer that society, and that it was from the ranks of youth that the new forces would be drawn to administer the state.

p Thus Lenin actively contributed to the elaboration of the 95 principal ways and forms of youth and Komsomol participation in the administration of the state. Now these ways and forms are being developed further, becoming more effective and helping to ensure the widest possible participation of the younger generation in state affairs.

p Lenin’s ideas are developed and embodied in the documents of the CC CPSU and the Soviet Government, and also in the everyday participation of Soviet youth in the country’s public and political life. The Resolution of the CC CPSU "On the 50th Anniversary of the YCL and the Tasks of the Communist Upbringing of Youth" stresses the need to bring up young people capable of administering the state and society.  [95•1 

p In his speech at the Plenary Meeting of the YCL Central Committee in 1968, Leonid Brezhnev pointed out: "The Soviet system gives young people wide possibilities for public activity and for participation in affairs of state. One cannot imagine the work of our Soviets, trade unions and state institutions without the active participation of Komsomol members.”  [95•2 

p In recent years the state organs, primarily the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies, have been paying increasing attention to bringing up youth the communist way and creating conditions for the harmonious development of the younger generation and its active participation in state affairs.

p True to the behests of Lenin—the founder of the world’s first socialist state—Soviet youth and the YCLers have always been among the first to defend the gains of socialism; they actively participate in the country’s economic, political, public and cultural life. This growing social role of young people is a typical feature of the current stage in the perfection of Soviet socialist democracy. Soviet youth are administering the state, society and production together with their seniors.

p One of the most important political rights of young people in the USSR is the right to take part in administering the 96 state and society. This right stems from the guaranteed opportunities for all young men and women who have come of age to take part in the formation of the representative organs of state power—the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies.

p The significance of this right can be gauged from the role and place of these organs in society and the state. Article 3 of the Constitution of the USSR reads:

p “All power in the USSR belongs to the working people of town and country as represented by the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies.”

p The Communist Party pays particular attention to the local Soviets and their role. As evidence of this, we can point to the CPSU Central Committee’s Resolutions "On Improving the Work of Soviets of Working People’s Deputies in Villages and Settlements" (1967) and "On Measures for Further Improving the Work of District and Urban Soviets of Working People’s Deputies" (1971). The resolutions further elevated the role of these, the most multiple links of the Soviet representative system, and enhanced their material and financial position.

p The participation of Soviet youth in the formation of the organs of state power is most vividly exhibited when they exercise the right to elect or be elected. Suffrage is extended to young men and women when they reach the age of 18. At 18 young people can be elected to the local Soviets, at 21, to the Supreme Soviets of Union and Autonomous republics, and at 23, to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

p Soviet legislation prohibits any and all restrictions of suffrage on the grounds of affiliation to any race or nationality; sex; religious beliefs; educational, property or residential qualifications; social origin or past activities.

p Contrary to the practice in the capitalist countries, election candidates in the USSR incur no financial expenses, which are wholly taken care of by the state. Young electors, like all other citizens, enjoy the right of unhampered canvassing.

p The deeply democratic nature of the Soviet state and the wide-scale participation of the younger generation in state affairs are in striking contrast to the anti-popular nature of the capitalist states and their policy of warding off young people from the solution of social and political problems.

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p The reality of bourgeois society once again confirms that Marxism-Leninism is absolutely correct in asserting that bourgeois democracy is false. Lenin said: "Take the fundamental laws of modern states, take their administration, take freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, or ’equality of all citizens before the law’, and you will see at every turn evidence of the hypocrisy of bourgeois democracy with which every honest and class-conscious worker is familiar. There is not a single state, however democratic, which has no loopholes or reservations in its constitution guaranteeing the bourgeoisie the possibility of dispatching troops against the workers, of proclaiming martial law, and so forth....”  [97•1 

p And indeed, let us take for instance the practical participation of young people in the formation of the representative organs of state power in the capitalist countries. Though the legislation of the bourgeois countries proclaims universal suffrage, many citizens have no opportunity to exercise this right because of a whole series of qualifications by means of which the ruling class regulates the composition of the electorate. Lenin underlined that "it is the young, more politically-conscious and resolute sections of the proletariat that these restrictions generally hit hardest of all".  [97•2 

p The age qualification is the greatest obstacle restricting the participation of young people in election campaigns. Even today young people in Britain and France are granted the right to vote only when they reach 21, in other countries the age qualification varies from 20 to 23, while in some countries, for elections to the upper chambers of parliament, it is set at 25.

p In this way the bourgeoisie greatly affects the results of elections since young people for the most part support progressive circles or elements opposed to the ruling bourgeois parties. That is why the bourgeois legislature usually turns down all bids to lower the age qualification. Hoping to secure the support of young voters, however, many politicians frequently promise all sorts of benefits, including the reduction of the age qualification.

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p The age qualification for the right to be elected to the representative organs of state power is even higher. In Belgium, Italy and some other countries only citizens over 25 can be elected to the lower houses of parliament; the age limits for election to the upper houses are even higher—30 years in the United States and Japan, and 40 in Italy and Belgium.

p The residential qualification is another serious obstacle. In Canada and Finland, for example, the right to vote is extended only to those who have resided not less than a year in the electoral district. But it is no secret that capitalists transfer workers from one end of the country to another, depriving them of residential qualification and, consequently, of some of their political rights. Moreover, many of the workers, who roam over the country in the hope of selling their labour power, are young people with insufficient labour skill and no professions and are the first to be hit by unemployment.

p Unemployment compels young people to look for work abroad, and that frequently prevents them from taking part in their own country’s social and political life. The bourgeoisie often tries to recruit them to its own side by promising work at home and a happy life; it even pays their fare if they agree to vote for one or another bourgeois party. Such methods are often used by the bourgeois parties in Italy and Austria.

p The education qualification in some capitalist countries, according to which the electors must know how to read and write in the official language, is also a formidable barrier. It should be noted that this qualification exists mostly in countries of mass illiteracy, such as Brazil and Portugal.

p In Greece, the new constitution sets an educational qualification for election candidates. One clause states that the citizen who wants to be a member of parliament must have at least a general or a special school certificate—and that in a country where education has been absolutely degraded!

p Bourgeois ideologists strive to play down the significance of the various qualifications. They claim that the qualifications do not deprive the suffrage of its universal nature which, according to them, is ensured by the absence of any mention of property qualifications in legislation. 99 But the fact that there is no official mention of the property qualification does not mean that it does not exist actually.

p One only has to recall what it costs the nominees to parliament to conduct their electoral campaigns. American newspapers reported that during the elections in 1968 the three principal presidential candidates in the United States spent nearly $50,000,000 on their election campaigns. The total sum spent on elections, including those to state and local legislatures, was really astounding—$230,000,000. It is perfectly clear that the chances for victory in the political struggle run pretty low or are altogether non-existent for the nominee with no personal means or financial support from the monopolistic groups. So it is not surprising that there is not a single worker, farmer or ordinary office employee in the US Congress.

p The political activities of young people in the capitalist countries are hampered by bourgeois-democratic practices, such as the electoral geography by means of which the bourgeoisie artificially reduces the representation of working people in parliaments.

p In the USSR, elections are always major public and political events for the whole Soviet people who vote with deep confidence in the Communist Party and its peaceful and constructive policy, with a feeling of profound gratitude for the Party’s efforts to raise the material and cultural standards of the people, and with a readiness to strive for new achievements of benefit to the country. The elections are a guaranteed opportunity for millions of young people, who have reached suffrage age, to take part in political life. There are in fact millions of such people: in 1970 no less than 2,950,000 people came of age in time to cast their first vote for candidates to the USSR Supreme Soviet (Eighth (Convocation).

Soviet young people actively participate in election campaigns. This is the natural outcome of the broad democratic rights which the Soviet state has extended to youth and its public organisations. These rights include the right ol youth organisations to nominate representatives to the election commissions which, as we know, bear the main responsibility for the organisation of elections.

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p Youth and the YCLers participate in the work of electoral committees on a really mass scale. Nearly 1,150,000 young men and women worked on the election commissions during the last elections to the local Soviets of Working People’s Deputies and to the Supreme Soviets of the Union and Autonomous republics; 400,000 young people were involved in the 1970 election campaign to the USSR Supreme Soviet. YCLers constituted 16.1 per cent of the members of election commissions; two representatives of the Komsomol were included in the Central Election Commission during the elections to the USSR Supreme Soviet (Eighth Convocation).

p The Komsomol recommends its best representatives to the committees—advanced workers and activists. Many of them are elected as chairmen or secretaries of the committees, and, as is borne out in practice, they are equal to their complex and responsible duties.

p YCLers and young people attend pre-election meetings of working people, meet the candidates, discuss the work of the Soviets, and make a record of their recommendations and suggestions for the candidates to be guided by in their future work.

p Young electors regard participation in the elections as a sign of great trust from the Communist Party which has no higher aim than the well-being of the working people. They prepare for this great event carefully. In this they are assisted by the Party, Komsomol, trade union and other public organisations, as well as by state organs which regard the election campaign and the elections as a school for the communist education of young people. The Central Committee of the YCL and the Central Committees of the YCL in the Union republics give prime attention to this work. They recommend the Komsomol organisations to take the most active part in preparing and conducting the elections, in the work of election commissions, in preparing nomination meetings, and in canvassing. The Central Committee of the YCL calls upon the young electors to participate en masse in the elections and in this way to demonstrate their infinite loyalty to the cause of the Communist Party, the cause of communism. At the sessions of bureaus, plenums and at meetings of activists, the Komsomol committees discuss the 101 participation of young people in the election campaigns. The local Komsomol organisations draft and carry out plans of work with young electors.

p During the election campaigns the Komsomol organisations place special emphasis on work with young electors. They explain the rights and duties of young electors and expound the democratic principles of the Soviet electoral system. They also open clubs for young electors, sponsor evening get-togethers of those who are voting for the first time in their life, initiate competitions of canvassers working with young electors, and arrange amateur concerts and sports events.

p Representatives of production collectives, who are nominated at general meetings of working people, acquaint the electorate with the professional, public and political activities of candidates. Active and efficient preparations for elections make it possible to involve all young people in the elections.

p During the election campaign for the USSR Supreme Soviet the electors’ club at the 19th polling station in Almetyevsk was continually full of people. It stayed open from 8 a.m. until late in the night. Faina Shiganova, who was voting for the first time in her life, had this to say about the club:

p “I find everything of great interest here. I have already attended six meetings in the club. They truly were lessons for me. I learned so much—about the development of oil deposits in the Tatar Autonomous Republic, the life and activities of our candidates, and the works of Ibraghim Gazi, the Tatar author for whom I will vote on election day.”

p Young men and women help to furnish and decorate polling stations, booths and rooms for children. In a word, they do all they can to help the electoral committees achieve a high level of organisation on election day.

p The Komsomol press and the youth sectors of radio and television inform young people about the course of the election campaign. Komsomolskaya Pravda and other youth newspapers devote special columns to stories about candidates, the best methods of organisational work and propaganda, and answers to questions by young electors. There are definite possibilities for further improving the work of 102 Soviet and public organisations with the multi-million army of activists who draw youth into the actual process of forming the representative organs of state power.

p The young electors’ clubs usually continue their work after the elections are over. In addition to sponsoring meetings between deputies and young people they popularise the principles of Soviet state and law.

p Soviet young men and women not only have the right to elect, but also the right to be elected. According to Soviet legislation, youth organisations, like all other public organisations, can nominate their candidates. Young citizens are also nominated candidates by general meetings at enterprises, institutions, army units, and collective and state farms.

p The Soviet people nominate as candidates those who have earned general trust by selfless labour and utter devotion to communist ideals. Young candidates represent different nationalities and all segments of society; they are themselves advanced workers and farmers, specialists in diverse fields of the economy.

p Take, for instance, the biography of one of the candidates to the Soviet of the Nationalities of the USSR Supreme Soviet (Eighth Convocation), Vasily Balandin, a delegate to the 16th Congress of the YCL, who was nominated by the Ukhta electoral district. He was born in 1946. After graduating from the Ukhta Secondary Oil Technical School, he joined a geological party, then served his term in the armed forces, and went back to his job as an oil-driller. Balandin is an expert at his job. He contributed to the discovery of new gas-condensate deposits.

p He is member of the geological trust’s Komsomol committee, and is presently completing correspondence courses at an industrial institute.

p Every new election enhances the role of Soviet youth in administering the state and increases the number of young deputies. The marked rise in the number of young deputies to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is a live testimony to the Communist Party’s efforts to promote the role and activity of youth in administering state and public affairs. There arc now 281 young deputies in the country’s supreme legislature—99 more than in the USSR Supreme Soviet of the 103 previous convocation. Of this number, 100 deputies are Komsomol members.

p All decisions by state and public organisations are taken with the participation of youth representatives.

p Young deputies actively discussed and approved the economic development plan and the national budget for 1971 at the session of the USSR Supreme Soviet in December 1970. On their motion, the state increased its allocations for social and cultural needs by 170 million rubles. This example goes to show that the opinions of young deputies are valued highly.

p Today there are more than 500,000 young deputies in the local Soviets, including many YCLers.

p Young deputies are equal to their responsible duties, energetically prepare for sessions of Soviets and busily engage in the work of standing committees, territorial groups of deputies, and electoral districts. They know the needs and requirements of the electorate and enjoy general respect.

p The nature of deputies’ work is determined by their rights and duties. The deputies can examine documents and other materials which interest them, discuss all items on the agenda, make suggestions or critical remarks, table amendments, vote for or against resolutions, make draft resolutions and submit them to the Soviets. They have the right to submit formal questions to executive agencies or officials in order to obtain required information or to uncover shortcomings.

p It is perfectly clear that these rights are extended to all deputies, young and old. When, for instance, M. Gvritishvili, a weaver of the Tbilisi Silk Factory, was deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, she raised such issues as the observance of laws on juvenile labour, school meals, and the work of juvenile commissions. All these problems were carefully examined, and the republic’s Supreme Soviet worked out measures to eliminate the shortcomings. Generally speaking, all young deputies are in one way or another concerned with youth problems; they help to solve them in their official capacity and otherwise, by taking part in various youth undertakings.

p The 16th Congress of the YCL devoted much of its work to the need to mobilise youth for work in state 104 organisations, as well as co-operation between Komsomol organisations and the Soviets. The discussion was set off by Leonid Brezhnev who pointed out in his speech at the Congress that "we cannot advance successfully without the participation of young people in the country’s socio-political life".  [104•1 

p It is hard to imagine even a single representative organ of state power without young deputies. Youth representatives at sessions of Soviets, on standing committees and on executive committees help to solve the problem of providing young men and women with jobs and helping them to raise educational and cultural standards. They check the implementation of laws designed to protect the work and health of juveniles, they help to improve conditions in hostels, and expand recreation and sports facilities.

p Young deputies are busily occupied in the standing committees of local Soviets. Usually the young deputies are assigned to different standing committees according to their professional training and personal wishes. In close co- operation with the Komsomol and public organisations, they submit interesting and detailed plans for approval by their local Soviets. For example, V. Pavlov and T. Gogolenko, members of the standing culture committee of the Orsk Town Soviet of Working People’s Deputies, tabled a motion to open a musical school. Having carefully examined the motion, the standing committee placed the question on the agenda of the Town Soviet’s executive committee, and the proposal was approved.

p Young deputies consistently implement the decisions adopted by the local Soviets. In this they are helped by the Komsomol organisations; when possible, they use the help of the electorate to put into effect the planned measures so as to dispense with financial aid from the state or public organisations. In Ussuriisk (Primorye Territory), for instance, the young deputy V. Pleshivaya mobilised the local residents to plant trees and shrubs and generally improve the locality. Such campaigns, known as subbotniks and voskresniks (voluntary unpaid work on Saturdays and Sundays) which are organised to provide amenities and services in villages and settlements, collect scrap metal, plant trees, etc., are arranged in all other regions, territories and republics.

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p Many young deputies closely co-operate with the public in controlling the implementation of decisions adopted by organs of state power. For this purpose they establish posts of deputies at construction sites and industrial enterprises which work hand in hand with YCLers and other young men and women.

p In exercising their wide powers, the Soviet deputies express the will of the electorate. This calls for close and regular contacts with the electorate. These contacts serve as a means by which young people influence the work of their deputies and of the entire system of Soviets.

p When the young deputies meet with the electorate, they explain the nature of problems faced by the state and persuade young people to join them in administering state affairs. The Soviet state underlines the importance of close contacts between deputies and the electorate and, for the purpose of promoting such contacts, it has set down definite guarantees. Article 142 of the Constitution of the USSR says that every deputy is obliged to report to the electorate on his work in the Soviet.

p This duty is of particular significance in solving the problem of youth participation in state affairs. Meetings of deputies with young electors are one of the methods of acquainting young men and women with state affairs. Usually it is not difficult to arrange such meetings, particularly at enterprises and organisations with a considerable number of young employees. At them young workers, collective farmers, students and employees can make suggestions and recommendations.

p Among other important forms of participation in state affairs mention should be made of mandates, i.e., instructions given by a constituency to the deputy. These mandates are compulsory for deputies. The electors can demand the deputy’s assistance in problems which they cannot solve independently. These days most of the mandates are concerned with cultural and living standards. For example, young electors instructed their deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR V. Kaleikin, a team leader of fitters of the Bashspetsneft trust, to raise the question of increasing the number of mobile canteens and service vans in their area.

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p The electors can include in the mandates all questions which require action by state agencies. They can demand that their deputy raise the problems mentioned in the mandate at the local Soviet.

p Usually the mandates become the deputy’s programme of action. The majority of mandates, including the principal mandate—selfless service to the Soviet people, and devotion of all efforts and knowledge to the building of communism —are always fulfilled. Soviet deputies are not professional politicians, they either work, study or serve in the armed forces. The young deputies set examples of selfless work, and they are noted for a high sense of responsibility before the constituency. Their example mobilises young men and women for new achievements in fulfilling the Ninth FiveYear Plan. Young deputies are energetic in improving the organisation of labour, arranging competitions of workers of different professions, and organising schools and groups of advanced methods.

p It must be said that their main occupations enable the young deputies to carry out their responsible duties as members of Soviets most efficiently. They are always in the midst of young people at the plants and factories where they work and in the towns and villages where they live; they know the interests and needs of their comrades and listen to their opinions. The word “deputy” implies that they must safeguard the interests of young electors, and this is one of the advantages of the socialist democracy. Testimony to this fact can be found in the regular reports to the constituency, in the replacement of deputies, and in the right of the electorate to recall the deputies who have violated their trust.

p Young men and women can influence the administration even when they are not members of Soviets. The local Soviets are helped in their work by an army of 25 million activists, many of whom are young people.

p But this is not all. Young people are always discussing the draft laws that lie before the Soviet parliament. In April 1968 the Fundamentals of Legislation of the USSR and the Union Republics on Marriage and the Family were the subject of nation-wide discussion. The standing committees of the USSR Supreme Soviet alone received 7,000 remarks 107 and suggestions, and hvestia got 8,000 letters. It is easily understandable that most of the letters should have come from young people, who are particularly keen on matrimonial problems.

p Freedom of opinion is an inalienable principle of socialist democracy. Proof of this can be found in all issues of Komsomolskaya Pravda, the main Soviet youth newspaper. For example, when the newspaper printed the draft Directives of the Five-Year Economic Development Plan of the USSR for 1971-75, young people immediately and energetically plunged into the national discussion of this document.

p Today Soviet young people freely express their opinion on diverse subjects and various aspects of life in some 226 youth newspapers and magazines with a total circulation of over 64 million copies.

p The development of the socialist society, the rising role of the state in building communism, and the greater experience gained by youth and youth organisations in state administration demand further improvement of the ways and forms of youth participation in state administration.

p At first the newly elected deputies are hampered, naturally, by lack of experience and practice in public and political activity, and they feel rather indecisive in the way they bring forward the problems that arise. Young deputies seldom use their right of interpellation, though this right is the most effective means of obtaining information on issues in question and a mighty weapon in fighting the shortcomings they come across.

p The interpellation made to the Executive Committee of the Kursk Regional Soviet by deputy N. Nagorny, secretary of the Komsomol organisation at the Farm Machinery Spares Factory, is a good example of the great force that this right has. N. Nagorny asked to be told why the construction of social and cultural projects in Kursk was proceeding unsatisfactorily, and what was being done to ensure the fulfilment of the annual building plan. The chairman of the executive committee gave a detailed account to the deputy. In addition, the Regional Soviet invited the chief of the Kursk Building Association to its session, heard his explanations and took steps to eliminate the shortcomings. The Soviets, their executive committees, and public 108 organisations, including the Komsomol, are constantly improving the way they work with young deputies and teaching them efficiency. State and public organisations are allocating more time to individual work with young deputies, spreading their experience in teaching them and setting up schools for activists recruited for work in state agencies. The executive committees of Soviets and Komsomol committees have organised more seminars for young deputies. At seminars and conferences like these the young deputies discuss their tasks in the Soviets as regards the implementation of Party decisions, measures to enhance the role of young deputies concerned with the work, living standards and recreational facilities for young men and women. Young deputies are supplied with literature on legislation; publishing houses are printing more reference books and manuals on problems of state and law.

p The authority of young deputies will be enhanced by the special law on the status of deputies in all Soviets, from the Supreme Soviet down to those in villages. This law, which was adopted in line with the decision of the 24th Congress of the CPSU,  [108•1  defines the powers and rights of deputies, as well as the duties of officials in respect to deputies.

p In recent years the Komsomol organisations have been giving more attention to work with young deputies. In October 1969, the Bureau of the YCL Central Committee discussed the question "On the tasks of Komsomol organisations in strengthening the ties with the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies and improving the work with young deputies”. It approved the accumulated experience of Komsomol organisations’ joint work with Soviets and young deputies, and advanced a series of recommendations designed to improve this work.

p The Bureau of the YCL Central Committee noted that the Komsomol organisations were doing much to improve methods of enlisting YCLers and young people for work in the Soviets and state administration. The Komsomol organisations in the Ukraine, Georgia, the Soviet Baltic republics, and Orenburg, Gorky, Chelyabinsk and Belgorod regions co-operate with the local Soviet in working out 109 concrete measures to stimulate the activity of young deputies.

p In their work with young deputies, the Komsomol organisations 

p teach them to put their abilities at the service of the people, to act as public and state leaders, viz., inculcate in them a sense of responsibility before the state, their constituency, work-fellows and Komsomol organisations; 

p concentrate their attention on the solution of problems of youth education, work and living standards; help them raise the efficiency of their work in the Soviets, executive committees, standing committees and other state and public agencies; 

p assist young deputies in studying the needs and requirements of young people, attract them to work in Komsomol organisations.

p The close co-operation between youth organisations and young deputies makes it easier to prepare the agenda for the Soviets and the standing committees, as well as to check the implementation of their decisions. It also helps to develop new and better forms of joint work.

p Some Komsomol committees have established councils of young deputies which co-ordinate their work with youth organisations, and draw up recommendations and suggestions. A good example is the council in Rustavi which was set up by the Town Komsomol Committee. The council did much to promote co-operation between YCLers and young deputies in studying the needs of local young people.

p Deputies, members of the Komsomol, are particularly concerned with facilities for the education of young workers. They have worked out plans for raising the educational level of these workers, set up school-assistance committees and are taking steps to increase the number of schools for young workers. The young deputies to the Rustavi Town Soviet organise the leisure time of young men and women, improve the work of Palaces of Culture and clubs, and promote physical training and sports.

p The reports which the young deputies make to the YCLers and young people raise their sense of responsibility. Young deputies report on their activities in the Soviets, how they study the needs and requirements of youth, prepare questions for the regular Soviet sessions, check that the 110 decisions are implemented, and enlist YCLers and young people for work in state agencies. They also report on how they comply with the mandates, and on the implementation of their motions concerning the improvement of working, living and recreational conditions for young people.

p Such reports, naturally, are no substitute for reports to the constituency. This is why, in making their reports, the young deputies speak of their work as an important Komsomol assignment. Their reports to the Komsomol organisation which they belong to, raise their authority and sense of responsibility before their comrades.

p Of late the Komsomol organisations have been focusing attention on the implementation of mandates which the young deputies get from their comrades.

p The close co-operation between the young deputies and Komsomol organisations makes their work more interesting, ensures timely reports to the constituency and makes it easier for them to comply with mandates, suggestions and requests.

p The nomination of candidates by Komsomol organisations and the evaluation of their public, political and organisational abilities is not a mere formality; the Komsomol organisations constantly check on the way the Komsomol deputies are fulfilling their duties; they regularly discuss the participation of young people in the work of Soviets, standing committees and executive committees and do not rest satisfied with solving problems only in collaboration with the executive and administrative organs of Soviets. This will have a favourable effect on the work of young deputies and of the Komsomol organisations themselves.

p In this respect, the demand expressed in the Resolution of the 16th Congress of the YCL acquires particular significance: "YCL Committees are to strengthen their various ties with the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies. Acting jointly with the standing committees of Soviets, they are to examine questions which concern young people, stimulate the work of young deputies, raise their sense of responsibility, and hear their reports in Komsomol organisations.”  [110•1 

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p The lofty democratic nature of the Soviet state and the close collaboration of its representative organs with youth organisations are expressed in many other ways. To take one example, non-deputies, representing public organisations, are given opportunity to address the sessions of Soviets. This practice is most widespread in local Soviets, particularly those in villages and settlements.

p Young men and women can observe the working procedures of representative organs and the adoption of decisions by them, thereby assessing the performance of their deputies in Soviets. In the final count, all this helps young people to acquire the habits of administering the socialist state. The right of legislative initiative is an important public and political instrument which ensures the active participation of young people in state administration. This right is enjoyed by the Soviet of the Union, the Soviet of the Nationalities, the commissions of the Supreme Soviet and its houses, deputies to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the USSR Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court of the USSR, and the Union republics through their supreme organs of state power. The Central Committee of the CPSU plays an exceptionally important role in drafting new laws. The Programme of the CPSU envisages greater participation by public organisations and associations of working people in legislative activities, and points out in particular, that the Komsomol should be given the right of legislative initiative via its central organs.

p Some Union republics have already implemented this decision. For instance, Clause 23 of the Regulations of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR, which enumerates those persons and organs having the right of legislative initiative, also mentions republican public organisations as represented by their central organs.

p The Komsomol has accumulated the great experience and knowledge necessary for formulating questions of statehood, the solution of which calls for the adoption of corresponding laws. It is sufficient to mention that at the 16th Congress of the YCL, many delegates who addressed its plenary and sectoral meetings raised a number of questions concerning the improvement of social and legal relations.

p Also of concern to the activities of the organs of state 112 administration is the participation of youth in the administration of social and state affairs. The organs of administration maintain regular contacts with youth organisations, and hand them over documents which reflect their activities in the solution of youth problems. Representatives of youth organisations are regularly invited to attend various conferences in ministries and departments where they can express the viewpoint of youth organisations on questions under consideration. It is a rule in the Soviet Union to include representatives of youth organisations as board members of national and republican central organs of state administration. There is not a single ministry or department, whose activities touch on the interests of young people, with no representatives of youth or Komsomol organisations on its board.

p In line with the CPSU Central Committee’s Resolution "On the 50th Anniversary of the YCL and the Tasks of Communist Education of Youth”, all decisions by state organs concerning young people are taken jointly with youth organisations or with due regard for their viewpoint. This practice has been justified in full. Usually such joint decisions concern problems of the work, life and education of young people. It is interesting to note that nearly 200 joint decisions of this sort were taken in the period between the 15th and 16th YCL congresses.

p The Komsomol frequently poses before state organs questions which are subsequently reflected in legal documents. One can mention for example, the decrees of the Soviet Government "On measures to improve the organisation and raise the efficiency of student summer work”, "On the procedures for paying scholarships to students of higher educational establishments when they are engaged in practical production work”, "On the organisation of preparatory departments in higher educational establishments" and many others. Each of these decisions is very important for the solution of different problems in the life and work of young people.

p Suffice it to say that the last of the decrees mentioned above gives some 100,000 young workers and collective farmers the opportunity to enrol in the country’s higher educational establishments. The interests and requirements of 113 Soviet youth are reflected in many other documents adopted by the ail-Union and republican organs of state power and administration.

p On the other hand, officials participate in undertakings of youth organisations, while proposals by youth organisations are agreed upon beforehand with organs of state administration.

p State organs attentively watch the principal trends in the activities of youth organisations, primarily the activities of the Komsomol whose public and political role is growing. This helps the state organs to take timely note of the younger generation’s initiative. For instance, the state organs began to examine and put into effect many proposals made by delegates both during the 16th Congress of the YCL and on visiting ministries and departments, while the Congress was still in session. In studying the interests and requirements of youth, the state organs of administration rely on their special sectors, which are entrusted with such work.

p Young deputies go deeper into the work of the executive committees of local Soviets; a growing number of young deputies become members of these committees. In some republics, territories and regions the number of young members of executive committees has undergone a manifold increase.

p It is a tradition with the executive committees to invite to their sessions directors of industrial enterprises, chiefs of construction sites, and secretaries of Komsomol organisations.

p The attention which the state organs, primarily the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies give to bringing up the younger generation the communist way stimulates young people to participate in elections, and in the administration of state affairs, and helps young deputies to fulfil their duties.

p In the past few years the Supreme Soviets of the Union republics and their Presidiums have been regularly putting up questions of communist youth education and the all-round development of the individual on the agenda. The Presidiums of the Supreme Soviets of the Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Kazakh and other republics regularly analyse the implementation of the law on universal education, the 114 juvenile labour laws, and the reasons for youth delinquency, subsequently adopting necessary decrees and decisions. Proceeding from the results attained by the Soviets of the Chelyabinsk and Gorky regions, the Presidium of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet outlined concrete measures for elevating the role of the republic’s Soviets in bringing up and educating the younger generation, encouraging young people to take part in productive work and public activities, and organising the leisure time of young men and women.

p The standing committees on youth problems, set up by the Soviets, are another step in the implementation and development of Lenin’s ideas of youth participation in the administration of state affairs. There are now nearly 10,000 such committees with a total of more than 60,000 deputies. They are responsible for bringing up young people the communist way, as well as for their education, professional training, work, life, recreation and health, protection of their rights and interests, and also questions connected with the participation of young men and women in the administration of state, economic, social and cultural affairs. Such committees enjoy special rights which help them to perform their functions.

p The competence of standing committees can be inferred from their composition—representatives of Party and Komsomol organisations, scientists, people connected with the arts and educationalists, advanced production workers, and representatives of various state agencies and public organisations.

p The youth committees of the USSR Supreme Soviet have on their boards such prominent figures as academicians M. V. Keldysh and I. I. Artobolevsky, Hero of Socialist Labour Tursunoi Akhunova, secretaries of the YCL Central Committee Y. M. Tyazhelnikov and B. N. Pastukhov, and writers S. V. Mikhalkov and V. M. Kozhevnikov.

p The work of these standing committees helps to create a better system of guiding youth and to unify the efforts of state and public organisations responsible for bringing up the rising generation the communist way.

p The USSR Supreme Soviet’s standing committees on youth examine the most important problems in the life of young people. It is interesting to note that the first problem which 115 they took up was that of summing up the experience gained in enlisting youth for work in the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies and working out recommendations for strengthening their collaboration with all public organisations responsible for the upbringing of youth. The committees give considerable attention to instructing young people in legal questions.

p The committee on youth affairs has the right to keep an eye on the work of ministries and other organisations. For instance, its members have checked up on the vocational training of young men and women in various places. The findings were examined at the committee’s session by ministers, scientists and teachers. The committee heard the reports by the various institutions responsible for vocational training and made its recommendations. As a result, new vocational schools were opened, the curriculum was expanded, and young people in villages were provided with opportunities to acquire new and interesting professions.

p Here is another example. In 1970 the summer session of the USSR Supreme Soviet adopted the Fundamentals of Labour Legislation. The youth committees of the Supreme Soviet’s two chambers took part in their drafting. On their proposal, the chapter on the labour rights of youth was enlarged; it now enumerates the privileges extended to young people. For example, young people under 18 have a shorter working day, but they get paid for the full working day. Those who work and study in evening schools or take correspondence courses in institutes get additional paid vacations. There are many examples of a similar nature. The work of the standing youth committees of the Supreme Soviets of Union and Autonomous republics is also very interesting and important. The youth committee of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, for instance, has analysed how young people spend their leisure time when they are on a five-day working week. Jointly with the committees on health, social security, education, culture and sports the committee worked out important recommendations on juvenile health, education, work and life.

p The work of the standing youth committee of the Rostov Regional Soviet of Working People’s Deputies is an example of a creative and active approach to youth problems. In just 116 one year it examined and made recommendations on the following questions: "On the participation of youth in the fulfilment of socialist undertakings in honour of Lenin’s centenary”, "On the living conditions of students and their improvement”, "On the readiness of collective and state farms to accommodate students arriving for farm work”, "On the state of educational and cultural work with youth”, etc.

p The standing youth committees of the Novorossiisk Town Soviet of Working People’s Deputies pay particular attention to the introduction of new ceremonies in the life of young people—presentations of passports and work-books, first pay, send-offs into the army, etc.

p The question of communist youth education receives much attention from standing youth committees in Gorky, Orenburg, Chelyabinsk and Ivanovo regions, as well as in Krasnoyarsk Territory.

p The Soviets in Gorky Region, for instance, and the local Komsomol organisations take concrete steps to encourage young people to join production activities. They have done much to spread the slogan "No laggards!”. The region’s enterprises have created all the necessary conditions for young men and women to raise their production qualification and general education. Each year thousands of young workers and collective farmers increase their professional know-how.

p The advanced workers patronise young workers, share experience and help them to learn difficult trades. It is a rule in many of the region’s enterprises to attach newcomers to the best workers, who pass on their skill and sense of responsibility for the job on hand. The constant attention which the Soviet, trade union and Komsomol organisations pay to these questions has helped to reduce the number of workers who fail to fulfil their quotas and to strengthen production discipline.

p The active enlistment of youth in the work of state organs develops the habits required for administering the state and helps to train young executives and leaders. This is fully in compliance with the CPSU Central Commitee’s Resolution "On the 50th Anniversary of the YCL and the Tasks of the Communist Upbringing of Youth" which says 117 that it is necessary to be more bold in promoting efficient YCLers and Komsomol functionaries to responsible economic and administrative posts in the boards of collective farms, the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies, elective organs of Party, trade union and other public organisations.

p There are big prospects for close collaboration between youth organisations and state organs. The Communist Party "believes it essential that the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies, ministries, departments, trade union and other public organisations should solve the problems of youth upbringing, education, professional training, work, life and recreation in conjunction with YCL committees; they should regard with attention the proposals submitted by Komsomol organisations and help them in everyday work".  [117•1 

The following stories from youth newspapers illustrate how young deputies do their job.