Fourth Congress of Soviets of the USSR

a congress held in Moscow from Apr. 18 to Apr. 26,1927. The congress was attended by 1,601 voting delegates and 747 delegates with observer status. Industrial workers made up 47.1 percent of the delegates, peasants, 28.3 percent, and nonindustrial workers, 24.6 percent. Party membership was held by 72.5 percent of the delegates, and 116 of the delegates were women.

The agenda of the congress included the summary report of the government of the USSR, which was delivered by A. I. Rykov. V. V. Kuibyshev reported on the state of industry and the prospects of its development. M. I. Kalinin identified the primary goals of agriculture in terms of the overall development of the economy and the industrialization of the country, and K. E. Vo-roshilov spoke on the defense of the country and on the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. Constitutional questions and Central Executive Committee elections were also part of the agenda.

The congress approved the activities of the Soviet government. Kuibyshev noted in his report that overall industrial production had increased by 20 percent in 1926 and 1927 and that the output of the industries responsible for producing the country’s means of production had grown by 23 percent. The delegates adopted a resolution enjoining the government to draw up as soon as possible a five-year plan for the economy of the USSR.

Kalinin pointed out in his report that the Soviet state was the first in history to look upon agriculture as part of an integrated national economy. A special section of the report was devoted to the development of kolkhozes and sovkhozes. The congress defined goals for agriculture that were linked with the industrialization of the country.

Voroshilov’s report dealt with measures that were needed to increase the defense capability of the USSR. The delegates confirmed the unswerving will of the peoples of the USSR to maintain friendly relations with other states.

Among the amendments to the Constitution of the USSR that were introduced by the congress was an amendment involving proportional representation at the All-Union Congresses of soviets. It was established that city soviets would send one deputy for every 25,000 voters and that provincial and okrug congresses of soviets would send one deputy for every 125,000 voters. The congress combined two commissariats to form the People’s Commissariat of Internal and Foreign Trade of the USSR, and the Central Statistical Board was granted the status of a consolidated people’s commissariat of the USSR. The new Central Executive Committee that was elected represented 48 nationalities.