12.12.2002, Gvozdeva E.
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As demonstrated by the findings of a nationwide poll, the overwhelming majority of Russians (68%) see Constitution Day as just an extra day-off, and only 18% view it as a holiday.
- "Another day-off. Neither more, nor less..."
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- "Don't have to go to work. No one celebrates it "
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- "We'll have three days' rest "
(DFG, Moscow).
- "Three days-off, we'll go fishing."
(DFG, Samara).
It is quite natural that among people who feel negative about the current Constitution, the proportion of those seeing Dec. 12 as an additional day-off is the highest.
Remarkably, even among those who feel positive about the Constitution, only one-third see Dec. 12 as a holiday.
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All respondents |
Overall, would you say our Constitution is good, or bad? |
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good |
bad |
hard to answer |
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Question: Dec. 12 is Constitution Day. Do you regard it as a holiday or just an extra day-off?" |
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Holiday |
18 |
30 |
10 |
15 |
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Extra day-off |
68 |
60 |
75 |
69 |
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Hard to answer |
14 |
10 |
15 |
16 |
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While more than half of those surveyed appraised the Russian Constitution, very few actually know its basic points.
Also, only a few remember the year in which the Constitution was adopted and when this date became a state holiday. Interviewees recalled different dates, from 1992 to 2002.
- «I'm no good at all these holidays. It seems this is the second year we've celebrated it.»
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- "
Moderator: And how long have we had this day-off?
DFG participant: Around a decade." (DFG, Moscow).
Thirty percent said they know the major points of the Russian Constitution, but they basically mean they've only looked it through, and remember very little of what they read.
- «I read it, but don't remember its differences from the old one.»
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
As revealed by the focus group discussions, those «knowing» the major points of the Constitution actually referred to the 1977 Constitution they studied as students.
- «I remember very vaguely. I read a few parts of it at school; I don't remember where it was...»
(DFG, Samara) –36 years old discussion participant.
Meanwhile the number of those stating they «know» the Constitution has dropped 6% in the last year.
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Dec. 1-2, 2001 |
Dec. 7-8, 2002 |
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Question: Do you know the basic points of the Russian constitution, or not? |
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Yes |
36 |
30 |
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No |
55 |
59 |
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Hard to answer |
9 |
11 |
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The main reasons for this «forgetfulness» may be insufficient coverage of constitutional issues in the media, the main source of information for the greater number of those surveyed.
In addition, the Constitution itself, as the public believes, is not a «social contract» on the key principles of social and state system, but a law to be referred to should the necessity arise:
- "A constitution is a constitution, a law book. Nothing more. "
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- «The Constitution has to be referred to only if there is a need to look up a specific law.»
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- «A constitution is a law book adopted for the particular period and applicable for the particular circumstances.»
(DFG, Samara).
- «A statute book, in accordance with which the state lives: social guarantees of the citizens, their rights and duties. And the state's attitude towards a citizen.»
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- «The day the Constitution was adopted? Look how often our laws are changing. No, it's not a holiday for me.»
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
As the poll findings show, over the last year, people have become more ignorant of their Constitution. The proportion of those finding it difficult to appraise the Constitution has grown, at the expense of a decreased number of critics.
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Dec. 1-2, 2001 |
Dec. 7-8, 2002 |
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Question: Overall, would you say our Constitution is good, or bad? |
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Good |
28 |
28 |
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Bad |
38 |
29 |
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Hard to answer |
34 |
43 |
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The respondents evaluate the Constitution's «quality» through the prism of the particular economic situation. Full stores and resolved social problems are evidence indicating that the Constitution is «good,» while shortages and low standards of living show that it is «bad.»
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Moderator: Anyone want to say something about the Constitution? The current one, or the old one?
DFG participant: What can I say? You have to compare two eras. The Brezhnev Constitution, is there any point in comparing? Everything was good then. Sausages, two brands, butter was available, long lines for milk...» (DFG, Samara).
Regardless of whether people feel positive or negative about the current Constitution, nearly all of them see it as a formal document that doesn't prevent the authorities from setting limits on civil rights and freedoms.
- «It's well-written. But how it is fulfilled is a completely different thing.»
(DFG, Novosibirsk).
- «We have good laws, but they are poorly fulfilled. The same with the Constitution. The Stalinist Constitution was also democratic, but the reality was totally different.»
(DFG, Samara).
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