The 1978 Constitution of the Latvian SSR, officially the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Latvian: Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskās Republikas Konstitūcija (Pamatlikums); Russian: Конституция (Основной закон) Латвийской Советской Социалистической Республики, romanized: Konstitutsiya (Osnovnoy zakon) Latviyskoy Sovetskoy Sotsialisticheskoy Respubliki) was the constitution of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on April 18, 1978 at the eighth session of the 9th Convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR.[1]
| Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Jurisdiction | Latvian SSR |
| Ratified | 18 April 1978 |
| Date effective | 18 April 1978 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1991 |
| Supersedes | 1940 Constitution of the Latvian SSR |
The 1978 Constitution of the Latvian SSR superseded the 1940 Constitution and was modeled after the 1977 Constitution of the Soviet Union, informally known as the Brezhnev Constitution.[2] It was officially ratified and adopted on April 18, 1978.[3][4] The 1978 Constitution ceased to be effective on August 21, 1991 when Latvia restored its independence.[5] The 1978 Constitution of the Latvian SSR was replaced by the reintroduced Constitution of the Republic of Latvia on July 6, 1993.[6]
Significant amendments to the constitution were introduced in May 1989 which designated Latvian as the state language.[7] The constitution was further amended in July 1989.[8] In 1990, the articles regarding the leading role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union were abolished and the state symbols (flag and emblem) were changed.[9][10]
The constitution consisted of ten sections, nineteen chapters, and 173 articles.