1946 Constitution of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils
Article One
Chapter 1- The Government of Workers and Peasants
1. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils is a free socialist society of all the working people of Vietnam. The entire power, within the boundaries of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, belongs to all the working people of Vietnam, united in urban and rural councils.
2. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils is declared to be an independent republic of the Councils (or Soviets) of Workers’, Peasants’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. All central and local power and local power belongs to these councils. The supreme power of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils belongs to the Congress of Councils, and, in periods between the convocation of the congress, to the Central Executive Committee.
3. In order to defend the power of the toilers, they are to be armed in militias controlled by the Peoples’ Committees, while the exploiters are to be disarmed. In order to eliminate the possibility of counter- revolution and invasion by imperialist capitalism a Red Army shall be formed. The Vietnamese Red Army has no officer caste, and all commanders are to be elected by the soldiers.
4. The exploiters should not hold a position in any branch of the Council Government. The power must belong entirely to the toiling masses and to their representatives- the Councils of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies.
5. The Laboring Classes have the right and duty to revolt against any government that attempts to usurp their political or social rule.
Chapter 2-Socialization of the Economy
1. The establishment of a Supreme Council of National Economy is hereby confirmed. The Supreme Council of National Economy is to be composed of delegates from trade unions, and specialists are to be admitted in a consultative degree only.
2. All factories, mills, mines, railways, and other means of production and transportation are declared to be the property of all the toilers. The commanding heights of the economy are to be governed by an executive board, composed of delegates of the Supreme Council of National Economy and the delegates of the particular trade unions, the proportion of which in each case to be decided by the Central Executive Committee, which is also authorized to decree the representation of additional bodies to specific executive boards.
3. For the purpose of attaining the socialization of land, all private property in land is abolished, and the entire land is declared to be national property and is to be apportioned among agriculturists without compensation of the former owners, to the measure of each one's ability to till it.
4. All forests, treasures of the earth, and waters of general public utility, all equipment whether animate or inanimate, model farms and agricultural enterprises, are declared to be national property.
5. In order to free the masses from the yoke of capital, all banks are to be nationalized and the state shall have a monopoly on foreign trade.
6. Universal obligation to work is introduced for the purpose of eliminating the parasitic strata of society and organizing the economic life of the country.
Article Two
Chapter 3- Declaration on the Rights of Toilers
1. The right to freedom of expression is affirmed. For the purpose of securing freedom of expression to the toiling masses, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils abolishes all dependence of the Press upon capital, and turns over to the working people and the poorest peasantry all technical and material means for the publication of newspapers, pamphlets, books, etc., and guarantees their free circulation throughout the country.
2. The right to freedom of assembly is affirmed. For the purpose of enabling the workers to hold free meetings, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils offers to the toilers furnished halls, and takes care of their heating and lighting appliances
3. The right to freedom of organization is affirmed. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils offers assistance, material and other, to the toilers in their effort to unite and organize. The right to strike and form trade unions is affirmed.
4. For the purpose of guaranteeing to the workers real access to knowledge, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils sets itself the task of furnishing full and general free education to the toilers.
5. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils offers shelter to all foreigners who seek refuge from political, national, racial or religious persecution.
6. In consequence of the solidarity of the workers of all nations, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils grants all political rights of Vietnamese citizens to foreigners who live in the territory of Vietnam and are engaged in work and who belong to the working class. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils also recognizes the right of local councils to grant citizenship to such foreigners without complicated formality.
7. The right to a trial by a jury to all is affirmed. Only the toilers have the right to take part in a jury.
8. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils, recognizing the equal rights of all citizens, irrespective of their racial or national connections, proclaims all privileges on this ground, as well as oppression of national minorities, to be contrary to the fundamental laws of the Republic.
Article Three
Chapter 4- The Peoples’ Committees’
1. Peoples’ Committees’ represent one large village or several small villages. The Peoples’ Committees are elected directly in a conference of the whole people once every three months, in which the people shall also ratify the decisions of the previous Peoples’ Committee and decide on all important matters.
2. Parties are not allowed to intervene in the Peoples’ Committees’.
3. The Peoples’ Committees’ are to be composed of no more than 10 members. They are not to be paid by the public treasury and shall continue their previous employment, but exceptional cases may be admitted by the Provincial or City Councils.
4. The Peoples’ Committees’ are to be convoked at least once a week.
Chapter 5- Elections
1. In order to allow democratic debate between the people before elections and prevent the atomized voting of bourgeois democracy, all direct elections are to be held in a conference of the people of the same kind the Peoples’ Committees’ are elected. A secret ballot may be held on the demand of no less than fifteen- percent of the electorate.
2. The right to vote is guaranteed to all citizens and non-citizens mentioned in Chapter 3 Section 6.
3. Election takes place in the presence of an election committee, chosen by the Peoples’ Committee, and a representative of the council to which the elections are held.
4. Minutes of the proceedings and result of elections are to be compiled and signed by the members of the election committee and the representative of the council.
5. Any attempt to threaten voters or members of the election committee, or to falsify the results of the elections in any way, are to be met with a harsh punishment.
Chapter 6- Members of the Council
1. Members of the councils enjoy immunity from persecution on any vote cast or speech held in the councils.
2. In order to allow all toilers to be elected, members of the councils will be compensated for work lost and travel expenses due to meetings of the councils.
3. All elected delegates may be recalled at all time. A new elections will be held at the request of one- fifth of the voters, or upon the decision of the majority of the electing council
4. Members of the Executive Committee of the Councils will be paid the average wage of the people they represent.
A. The Local Councils
Chapter 7- The Rural Councils
1. The levels of local government are composed as follows:
a. County Councils: represents a rural area. The County Councils are elected by directly by the people, at least once a year.
b. Provincial Councils: represents a rural province. Are elected by the County Councils.
2. Congresses of the councils are convoked by the respective executive committees upon their own initiative, or upon request of local councils or Peoples’ Committees’ comprising not less than one-third of the entire population of the given district. In any case they are convoked at least once a month in the counties and twice a month in the provinces.
3. Every congress of councils elects its executive organ- an executive committee the membership of which shall not exceed 40 for communal councils, 20 for county councils and 10 for Peoples’ Committees. Members of the Executive Committees of communes and counties, but not of Peoples’ Committees’, shall not hold another job and are to be paid from the public treasury the average wage of the people they represent.
4. In the boundaries of the respective territories the congress is the supreme power; during intervals between the convocations of the congress, the executive committee is the supreme power.
5. One or more Provincial Councils of a distinct national character may at the approval of the Congress of Councils form a self-governing Autonomous Region
Chapter 8- The Urban Councils
1. Settlements must have at least 100,000 inhabitants in order to be considered as cities.
2. Urban Councils are formed of one deputy for each 500 inhabitants; the total to be not less than 200 and not more than 1,000 members.
3. The Urban Councils elect an executive committee, composed of one member for twenty members of the Urban Council.
4. The Urban Council is convoked by the executive committee upon its own initiative, or upon the request of not less than one third of the membership of the council, or one fourth of the voters; in any case at least once a week.
B. The Central Power
Chapter 9- The Vietnamese Congress of Workers’, Peasants’ and Soldiers’ Councils
1. The Congress of Councils is the supreme power of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
2. The Congress of Councils is composed of representatives of urban councils (one delegate for 5,000 voters), and of representatives of the provincial councils (one delegate for 25,000). The number of delegates per voters may be changed by decision of the Congress of Councils.
3. The Congress of Councils is convoked by the Central Executive Committee at least three times a year.
4. A special Congress of Councils is convoked by the Central Executive Committee upon its own initiative, or upon the request of local councils having not less than one-third of the entire population of the Republic.
5. The Congress of Councils elects a Central Executive Committee of not more than 200 members.
6. The Central Executive Committee is entirely responsible to the Congress of Councils.
7. In the periods between the convocation of the congresses, the Central Executive Committee is the supreme power of the Republic.
Chapter 10- The Central Executive Committee of the Congress of the Councils
1. The Central Executive Committee is the supreme legislative, executive and controlling organ of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
2. The Central Executive Committee directs in a general way the activity of the Workers' and Peasants' Government and of all organs of councils’ authority in the country, and it coordinates and regulates the operation of the constitution and of the resolutions of the congresses and of the central organs of the council power.
3. The Central Executive Committee considers and enacts all measures and proposals introduced by the Council of People's Commissars or by the various departments, and it also issues its own decrees and regulations.
4. The Central Executive Committee convokes the Congress of Council, at which time the Executive Committee reports on its activity and on general questions.
5. The Central Executive Committee forms a Council of People's Commissars for the purpose of general management of the affairs of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, and it also forms departments (People's Commissariats) for the purpose of conducting various branches.
6. The members of the Central Executive Committee work in the various departments (People's Commissariats) or execute special orders of the Central Executive Committee.
Chapter 11- The Council People’s Commissars
1. The Council of People's Commissars is entrusted with the general management of the affairs of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
2. For the accomplishment of this task the Council of People's Commissars issues decrees, resolutions, orders, and, in general, takes all steps necessary for the proper and rapid conduct of governmental affairs.
3. The Council of People's Commissars notifies immediately the Central Executive Committee of all its orders and resolutions.
4. The Central Executive Committee has the right to revoke or suspend all orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars.
5. All orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars of great political significance are referred for consideration and final approval to the Central Executive Committee. Measures requiring immediate execution may be enacted directly by the Council of People's Commissariats.
6. The members of the Council of People's Commissars stand at the head of the various People's Commissariats.
7. There are fifteen People's Commissars: Foreign Affairs; Defense; Interior; Justice; Labor; Social Welfare; Education; Transportation; Finances; Communication; Agriculture; Commerce; Industry; National Supplies; Public Health.
8. Every commissar has a committee of which he is the president, and the members of which are appointed by the Council of People's Commissars.
9. There are two bodies equivalent to the People’s Commissariats: The Supreme Council of National Economy (as mentioned in Chapter 2 Section 1) and The People’s Auditing Committee, an independent body chosen once every two years by the Congress of Councils. The presidents of these bodies are full members of the Council of People’s Commissars
10. A People's Commissar has the individual right to decide on all questions under the jurisdiction of his commissariat, and he is to report on his decision to the committee. If the committee does not agree with the commissar on some decisions, the former may, without stopping the execution of the decision, complain of it to the executive members of the Council of People's Commissars or to the Central Executive Committee. Individual members of the committee have this right also.
11. The Council of People's Commissars is entirely responsible to the Congress of Councils and the Central Executive Committee.
12. The People's Commissars and the committee of the People's Commissariats are entirely responsible to the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Executive Committee.
13. The Congress of Councils and the Central Executive Committee deal with the questions of state, such as:
a. General direction of the entire interior and foreign policy of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
b. Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
c. Admission of new members to the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, and recognition of the secession of any parts of it.
d. The general administrative division of the territory of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils and the approval of regional unions.
e. Establishing and changing weights, measures, and money denominations in the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
f. Foreign relations.
g. Making loans, signing commercial treaties and financial agreements.
h. Working out a basis and a general plan for the national economy and for its various branches in the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
i. Approval of the budget of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
j. Levying taxes and establishing the duties of citizens to the state.
k. Establishing the bases for the organization of armed forces.
l. State legislation, judicial organization and procedure, civil and criminal legislation, etc.
m. Appointment and dismissal of the individual People's Commissars or the entire council, also approval of the president of the Council of People's Commissars
14. The following questions are solely under the jurisdiction of the Congress of Councils:
a. Amendment of the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
b. Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
c. Declaration of war.
d. Ratification of peace treaties.
Chapter 12- Presidium of the Congress of Councils
1. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils is elected by the Congress of Councils.
2. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils oversees the administrative aspects of the work of the Congress of Councils and the Central Executive Committee.
3. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils has the right to pardon.
4. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils approves the election of high ranking military commanders.
5. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils has the right to award military and civilian medals.
Article of Four
Chapter 13- Symbols of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils
1. The coat of arms of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils consists of a red background, on which a yellow disk is placed, inside of which a red hammer and sickle, inscribed:
Vietnamese Republic of Councils
Workers of the World Unite!
2. The civil, naval and military flag of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, consists of a red cloth, at the center of which is a yellow disk inside of which a red hammer and sickle.

Article One
Chapter 1- The Government of Workers and Peasants
1. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils is a free socialist society of all the working people of Vietnam. The entire power, within the boundaries of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, belongs to all the working people of Vietnam, united in urban and rural councils.
2. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils is declared to be an independent republic of the Councils (or Soviets) of Workers’, Peasants’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. All central and local power and local power belongs to these councils. The supreme power of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils belongs to the Congress of Councils, and, in periods between the convocation of the congress, to the Central Executive Committee.
3. In order to defend the power of the toilers, they are to be armed in militias controlled by the Peoples’ Committees, while the exploiters are to be disarmed. In order to eliminate the possibility of counter- revolution and invasion by imperialist capitalism a Red Army shall be formed. The Vietnamese Red Army has no officer caste, and all commanders are to be elected by the soldiers.
4. The exploiters should not hold a position in any branch of the Council Government. The power must belong entirely to the toiling masses and to their representatives- the Councils of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies.
5. The Laboring Classes have the right and duty to revolt against any government that attempts to usurp their political or social rule.
Chapter 2-Socialization of the Economy
1. The establishment of a Supreme Council of National Economy is hereby confirmed. The Supreme Council of National Economy is to be composed of delegates from trade unions, and specialists are to be admitted in a consultative degree only.
2. All factories, mills, mines, railways, and other means of production and transportation are declared to be the property of all the toilers. The commanding heights of the economy are to be governed by an executive board, composed of delegates of the Supreme Council of National Economy and the delegates of the particular trade unions, the proportion of which in each case to be decided by the Central Executive Committee, which is also authorized to decree the representation of additional bodies to specific executive boards.
3. For the purpose of attaining the socialization of land, all private property in land is abolished, and the entire land is declared to be national property and is to be apportioned among agriculturists without compensation of the former owners, to the measure of each one's ability to till it.
4. All forests, treasures of the earth, and waters of general public utility, all equipment whether animate or inanimate, model farms and agricultural enterprises, are declared to be national property.
5. In order to free the masses from the yoke of capital, all banks are to be nationalized and the state shall have a monopoly on foreign trade.
6. Universal obligation to work is introduced for the purpose of eliminating the parasitic strata of society and organizing the economic life of the country.
Article Two
Chapter 3- Declaration on the Rights of Toilers
1. The right to freedom of expression is affirmed. For the purpose of securing freedom of expression to the toiling masses, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils abolishes all dependence of the Press upon capital, and turns over to the working people and the poorest peasantry all technical and material means for the publication of newspapers, pamphlets, books, etc., and guarantees their free circulation throughout the country.
2. The right to freedom of assembly is affirmed. For the purpose of enabling the workers to hold free meetings, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils offers to the toilers furnished halls, and takes care of their heating and lighting appliances
3. The right to freedom of organization is affirmed. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils offers assistance, material and other, to the toilers in their effort to unite and organize. The right to strike and form trade unions is affirmed.
4. For the purpose of guaranteeing to the workers real access to knowledge, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils sets itself the task of furnishing full and general free education to the toilers.
5. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils offers shelter to all foreigners who seek refuge from political, national, racial or religious persecution.
6. In consequence of the solidarity of the workers of all nations, the Vietnamese Republic of Councils grants all political rights of Vietnamese citizens to foreigners who live in the territory of Vietnam and are engaged in work and who belong to the working class. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils also recognizes the right of local councils to grant citizenship to such foreigners without complicated formality.
7. The right to a trial by a jury to all is affirmed. Only the toilers have the right to take part in a jury.
8. The Vietnamese Republic of Councils, recognizing the equal rights of all citizens, irrespective of their racial or national connections, proclaims all privileges on this ground, as well as oppression of national minorities, to be contrary to the fundamental laws of the Republic.
Article Three
Chapter 4- The Peoples’ Committees’
1. Peoples’ Committees’ represent one large village or several small villages. The Peoples’ Committees are elected directly in a conference of the whole people once every three months, in which the people shall also ratify the decisions of the previous Peoples’ Committee and decide on all important matters.
2. Parties are not allowed to intervene in the Peoples’ Committees’.
3. The Peoples’ Committees’ are to be composed of no more than 10 members. They are not to be paid by the public treasury and shall continue their previous employment, but exceptional cases may be admitted by the Provincial or City Councils.
4. The Peoples’ Committees’ are to be convoked at least once a week.
Chapter 5- Elections
1. In order to allow democratic debate between the people before elections and prevent the atomized voting of bourgeois democracy, all direct elections are to be held in a conference of the people of the same kind the Peoples’ Committees’ are elected. A secret ballot may be held on the demand of no less than fifteen- percent of the electorate.
2. The right to vote is guaranteed to all citizens and non-citizens mentioned in Chapter 3 Section 6.
3. Election takes place in the presence of an election committee, chosen by the Peoples’ Committee, and a representative of the council to which the elections are held.
4. Minutes of the proceedings and result of elections are to be compiled and signed by the members of the election committee and the representative of the council.
5. Any attempt to threaten voters or members of the election committee, or to falsify the results of the elections in any way, are to be met with a harsh punishment.
Chapter 6- Members of the Council
1. Members of the councils enjoy immunity from persecution on any vote cast or speech held in the councils.
2. In order to allow all toilers to be elected, members of the councils will be compensated for work lost and travel expenses due to meetings of the councils.
3. All elected delegates may be recalled at all time. A new elections will be held at the request of one- fifth of the voters, or upon the decision of the majority of the electing council
4. Members of the Executive Committee of the Councils will be paid the average wage of the people they represent.
A. The Local Councils
Chapter 7- The Rural Councils
1. The levels of local government are composed as follows:
a. County Councils: represents a rural area. The County Councils are elected by directly by the people, at least once a year.
b. Provincial Councils: represents a rural province. Are elected by the County Councils.
2. Congresses of the councils are convoked by the respective executive committees upon their own initiative, or upon request of local councils or Peoples’ Committees’ comprising not less than one-third of the entire population of the given district. In any case they are convoked at least once a month in the counties and twice a month in the provinces.
3. Every congress of councils elects its executive organ- an executive committee the membership of which shall not exceed 40 for communal councils, 20 for county councils and 10 for Peoples’ Committees. Members of the Executive Committees of communes and counties, but not of Peoples’ Committees’, shall not hold another job and are to be paid from the public treasury the average wage of the people they represent.
4. In the boundaries of the respective territories the congress is the supreme power; during intervals between the convocations of the congress, the executive committee is the supreme power.
5. One or more Provincial Councils of a distinct national character may at the approval of the Congress of Councils form a self-governing Autonomous Region
Chapter 8- The Urban Councils
1. Settlements must have at least 100,000 inhabitants in order to be considered as cities.
2. Urban Councils are formed of one deputy for each 500 inhabitants; the total to be not less than 200 and not more than 1,000 members.
3. The Urban Councils elect an executive committee, composed of one member for twenty members of the Urban Council.
4. The Urban Council is convoked by the executive committee upon its own initiative, or upon the request of not less than one third of the membership of the council, or one fourth of the voters; in any case at least once a week.
B. The Central Power
Chapter 9- The Vietnamese Congress of Workers’, Peasants’ and Soldiers’ Councils
1. The Congress of Councils is the supreme power of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
2. The Congress of Councils is composed of representatives of urban councils (one delegate for 5,000 voters), and of representatives of the provincial councils (one delegate for 25,000). The number of delegates per voters may be changed by decision of the Congress of Councils.
3. The Congress of Councils is convoked by the Central Executive Committee at least three times a year.
4. A special Congress of Councils is convoked by the Central Executive Committee upon its own initiative, or upon the request of local councils having not less than one-third of the entire population of the Republic.
5. The Congress of Councils elects a Central Executive Committee of not more than 200 members.
6. The Central Executive Committee is entirely responsible to the Congress of Councils.
7. In the periods between the convocation of the congresses, the Central Executive Committee is the supreme power of the Republic.
Chapter 10- The Central Executive Committee of the Congress of the Councils
1. The Central Executive Committee is the supreme legislative, executive and controlling organ of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
2. The Central Executive Committee directs in a general way the activity of the Workers' and Peasants' Government and of all organs of councils’ authority in the country, and it coordinates and regulates the operation of the constitution and of the resolutions of the congresses and of the central organs of the council power.
3. The Central Executive Committee considers and enacts all measures and proposals introduced by the Council of People's Commissars or by the various departments, and it also issues its own decrees and regulations.
4. The Central Executive Committee convokes the Congress of Council, at which time the Executive Committee reports on its activity and on general questions.
5. The Central Executive Committee forms a Council of People's Commissars for the purpose of general management of the affairs of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, and it also forms departments (People's Commissariats) for the purpose of conducting various branches.
6. The members of the Central Executive Committee work in the various departments (People's Commissariats) or execute special orders of the Central Executive Committee.
Chapter 11- The Council People’s Commissars
1. The Council of People's Commissars is entrusted with the general management of the affairs of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
2. For the accomplishment of this task the Council of People's Commissars issues decrees, resolutions, orders, and, in general, takes all steps necessary for the proper and rapid conduct of governmental affairs.
3. The Council of People's Commissars notifies immediately the Central Executive Committee of all its orders and resolutions.
4. The Central Executive Committee has the right to revoke or suspend all orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars.
5. All orders and resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars of great political significance are referred for consideration and final approval to the Central Executive Committee. Measures requiring immediate execution may be enacted directly by the Council of People's Commissariats.
6. The members of the Council of People's Commissars stand at the head of the various People's Commissariats.
7. There are fifteen People's Commissars: Foreign Affairs; Defense; Interior; Justice; Labor; Social Welfare; Education; Transportation; Finances; Communication; Agriculture; Commerce; Industry; National Supplies; Public Health.
8. Every commissar has a committee of which he is the president, and the members of which are appointed by the Council of People's Commissars.
9. There are two bodies equivalent to the People’s Commissariats: The Supreme Council of National Economy (as mentioned in Chapter 2 Section 1) and The People’s Auditing Committee, an independent body chosen once every two years by the Congress of Councils. The presidents of these bodies are full members of the Council of People’s Commissars
10. A People's Commissar has the individual right to decide on all questions under the jurisdiction of his commissariat, and he is to report on his decision to the committee. If the committee does not agree with the commissar on some decisions, the former may, without stopping the execution of the decision, complain of it to the executive members of the Council of People's Commissars or to the Central Executive Committee. Individual members of the committee have this right also.
11. The Council of People's Commissars is entirely responsible to the Congress of Councils and the Central Executive Committee.
12. The People's Commissars and the committee of the People's Commissariats are entirely responsible to the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Executive Committee.
13. The Congress of Councils and the Central Executive Committee deal with the questions of state, such as:
a. General direction of the entire interior and foreign policy of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
b. Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
c. Admission of new members to the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, and recognition of the secession of any parts of it.
d. The general administrative division of the territory of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils and the approval of regional unions.
e. Establishing and changing weights, measures, and money denominations in the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
f. Foreign relations.
g. Making loans, signing commercial treaties and financial agreements.
h. Working out a basis and a general plan for the national economy and for its various branches in the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
i. Approval of the budget of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
j. Levying taxes and establishing the duties of citizens to the state.
k. Establishing the bases for the organization of armed forces.
l. State legislation, judicial organization and procedure, civil and criminal legislation, etc.
m. Appointment and dismissal of the individual People's Commissars or the entire council, also approval of the president of the Council of People's Commissars
14. The following questions are solely under the jurisdiction of the Congress of Councils:
a. Amendment of the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
b. Establishing and changing boundaries, also ceding territory belonging to the Vietnamese Republic of Councils.
c. Declaration of war.
d. Ratification of peace treaties.
Chapter 12- Presidium of the Congress of Councils
1. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils is elected by the Congress of Councils.
2. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils oversees the administrative aspects of the work of the Congress of Councils and the Central Executive Committee.
3. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils has the right to pardon.
4. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils approves the election of high ranking military commanders.
5. The Presidium of the Congress of Councils has the right to award military and civilian medals.
Article of Four
Chapter 13- Symbols of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils
1. The coat of arms of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils consists of a red background, on which a yellow disk is placed, inside of which a red hammer and sickle, inscribed:
Vietnamese Republic of Councils
Workers of the World Unite!
2. The civil, naval and military flag of the Vietnamese Republic of Councils, consists of a red cloth, at the center of which is a yellow disk inside of which a red hammer and sickle.


