Differences between US and Russian Constitutions
Russia and the United States have a few similarities and differences that are, or are not, written directly into their constitutions. One of the main areas in which this can be seen are within each country’s version of civil liberties, rights, and duties. The first amendment of the United State’s constitution includes such provisions as the freedom of religion. This is represented within the 28th Article of the Russian Constitution. The main difference between these two articles can be seen in the U.S. constitution, it is stated within; “no law respecting an establishment of religion.” In the Russian’s Article 28 it is stated much more specifically as “freedom of conscience and freedom of religion […] or to profess none.” It also has Article 14 to ensure that the state is secular and all religious associations are kept separate from government. This difference has made for a bit of controversy in the U.S., as can be seen here in La Crosse and elsewhere in the country concerning the Ten Commandments on government property.
Article 29 in the Russian constitution states the equivalent of the United State’s freedom of speech. Again, the main difference is the wording. The Russian constitution is much more exact with its language. For example, it specifies thought and directly bans propaganda of social, racial, national, religious, or language supremacy. Article 29 section 2 is also another area not represented as explicitly in the United State’s constitution. Their version of freedom of the press is very similar, yet the Russian version is again more detailed in its wording. Read more…