Ukrainian Constituent Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Ukrainian Constituent Assembly was a scheduled All-National Congress which supposed to confirm the Constitution of Ukraine and establish a new political system. The Assembly was supposed to be the supreme state power and elections to which would be organized by the Central Rada that would hold its sessions between the meetings of the Assembly. The Assembly was suspended because of the Russian aggression in the Ukrainian–Soviet War (December 25, 1917) that led to proclamation of the Ukrainian independence by the IV Universal.
, but was greatly opposed by the Russian Provisional Government
which interpret it as a separatists intentions of the Central Rada. In its very first Universal the Central Rada declared that only the All-National Ukrainian Congress has "the right to approve all laws" in Ukraine. At its sixth session (August 18-22, 1917) the Central Rada recognized the importance for the organization of such institution and held a forum for an electoral system and convening of the assembly.
, Kadets, resigned from the Ukrainian council in protest to arrange the All-National Ukrainian Congress. By the end of September several other parties of national minorities such as the Mensheviks of RSDRP, the SR
, and the Bund
protested against the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly. The Minor Rada (the Executive Committee of Central Rada) tried to find a compromise due to those protests and adopted that the National Assembly would be confirmed by the All-Russian Constituent Assembly
. The compromise finally found some reconciliation among the members of Central Rada which elected the commission to design the laws that would govern the Constituent Assembly. Nonetheless, on October 30, 1917 the Russian Provisional Government
accused the Ukrainian government in separatism, suspended funding of the General Secretariat
, and declared its intention to take this case to the court. A special delegation to Petrograd was organized to negotiate the issue, however its mission was suspended and later canceled due to the Bolshevik coup-d'état
in the capital.
Overview
The idea for an All-National Congress (sojm) came up after the February RevolutionFebruary Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
, but was greatly opposed by the Russian Provisional Government
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
which interpret it as a separatists intentions of the Central Rada. In its very first Universal the Central Rada declared that only the All-National Ukrainian Congress has "the right to approve all laws" in Ukraine. At its sixth session (August 18-22, 1917) the Central Rada recognized the importance for the organization of such institution and held a forum for an electoral system and convening of the assembly.
Reactions
After the sixth session of the Central Rada the most influential party of Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, Kadets, resigned from the Ukrainian council in protest to arrange the All-National Ukrainian Congress. By the end of September several other parties of national minorities such as the Mensheviks of RSDRP, the SR
SR
SR as an acronym may refer to:- Geography and politics :* Slovak Republic, a former country now known as Slovakia* Socialist Republic or socialist state* Socialist-Revolutionary, as in Socialist-Revolutionary Party- Non-political organizations :...
, and the Bund
Bund
- Organizations :* German American Bund, a pro-Nazi pre-World War II organisation* General Jewish Labour Bund in Lithuania, Poland and Russia, a political party founded in the Russian Empire* General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland, a political party founded in Poland...
protested against the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly. The Minor Rada (the Executive Committee of Central Rada) tried to find a compromise due to those protests and adopted that the National Assembly would be confirmed by the All-Russian Constituent Assembly
Russian Constituent Assembly
The All Russian Constituent Assembly was a constitutional body convened in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. It is generally reckoned as the first democratically elected legislative body of any kind in Russian history. It met for 13 hours, from 4 p.m...
. The compromise finally found some reconciliation among the members of Central Rada which elected the commission to design the laws that would govern the Constituent Assembly. Nonetheless, on October 30, 1917 the Russian Provisional Government
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
accused the Ukrainian government in separatism, suspended funding of the General Secretariat
General Secretariat of Ukraine
The General Secretariat of Ukraine was the main executive institution of the Ukrainian People's Republic from June 28, 1917 to January 22, 1918.It closely related to the today's Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine...
, and declared its intention to take this case to the court. A special delegation to Petrograd was organized to negotiate the issue, however its mission was suspended and later canceled due to the Bolshevik coup-d'état
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in the capital.
Developments
On October 12, 1917 the Central Rada passed the fundamental laws on the elections to the assembly. It also instructed the Minor Rada to confirm the laws and organize the elections. The III Universal of the Central Rada (November 20, 1917) designated January 9 as the election day while the first convention of the assembly was scheduled to take place on January 22. The Universal also mentioned that until the assembly is convened the legislative power of the Ukrainian autonomy belongs to the Central Rada. The law on the Constituent Assembly was ratified on November 29, 1917. There were expected to be 301 deputies which is around 1 to 100,000 constituents. The head of the electoral commission was appointed M.Moroz.See also
- Verkhovna RadaVerkhovna RadaThe Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is Ukraine's parliament. The Verkhovna Rada is a unicameral parliament composed of 450 deputies, which is presided over by a chairman...
- Central Rada
- Ukrainian Constituent Assembly election, 1918Ukrainian Constituent Assembly election, 1918Elections to the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly were never finished as a result of events in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the following.-Organization:...
- Kiev Arsenal January UprisingKiev Arsenal January UprisingKiev Arsenal January Uprising, sometimes called simply the January Uprising or the January Rebellion , was the Bolshevik organized workers' armed revolt that started on January 29, 1918 at the Kiev Arsenal factory during the Ukrainian-Soviet War....
and Ukrainian–Soviet War