Introduction: Crisis and Constitutional Reform in Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union. Understanding Constitutionalism. The Quest for a Constitution in the Russian and Soviet Past. The USSR in Crisis: From Constitutional Reform to Political Decline -- 1. Brezhnev and the Soviet Constitution of 1977: Codifying De-Stalinization. The Path of Constitutional Reform. Continuity and Change. A Soviet "Systems" Approach. The Citizen and the State. Participation and Public Discussion. Constitutional Revision and Ratification. The Constitution as "Magic Wall" Epilogue -- 2. The Andropov-Chernenko Interregnum: Juridicizing the System. The USSR at the End of the Brezhnev Era: Diagnosing the Problems. Interim Remedies, 1980-82. Andropov Takes Charge: Campaigning for Discipline. Legislating for Discipline: The Andropov Record. Andropov's Legacy. The Chernenko Record. Demise of a Campaign: From "Discipline" to "Upbringing" Epilogue
3. Gorbachev and the Soviet Constitutional Crisis: From De-Stalinization to Disintegration. The Transition to Constitutionalism. The Dimensions of Constitutional Reform. Constitutional Traditionalism. The Politics of Constitutionalism. The Limits of Constitutionalism in the USSR. A "Constitutional" Coup. Epilogue: Constitutional Futures
Analysis
Constitution History
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-171) and indexes
