Constitutions of the Mongolian People's Republic

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Three constitutions ruled the Mongolian People's Republic, coming into effect in 1924, 1940, and 1960.

- 1924 Constitution (effective 1924): This first constitution ended the old monarchy under Buddhist theocracy and created a people’s republic. It explained how the government would be organized, set out basic political and social rights, and promoted a plan to reach socialism directly by skipping capitalism.

- 1940 Constitution (effective 1940): This document modeled its structure on the Soviet Union’s 1936 constitution. Over the years it was revised several times (1944, 1949, 1952, 1959) to bring it closer to the Soviet model. Initially, some people could not vote and elections were indirect. After 1944, reforms restored political rights, introduced direct secret-ballot elections, and reorganized the legislature. The National Little Khural’s functions were moved to the National Great Khural, which was renamed the People’s Great Khural in 1951. Mongolia said these changes reflected its socialist progress and followed the USSR’s example.

- 1960 Constitution (effective 1960): Adopted July 6, 1960, it opened with a short preamble praising the revolution and Soviet help, and stated that the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party would guide the country, based on Marxist-Leninist ideas. It aimed to finish building socialism and eventually communism, and it promoted peaceful coexistence and international worker solidarity. The 1960 constitution was shorter than the 1940 one: four major sections and ten chapters (instead of twelve).
- Section 1 covered the socialist economy and means of production, allowing private ownership of some things (income, savings, housing, small properties) as long as this did not harm the state or society.
- Section 2 described the state structure (executive, legislative, and judicial bodies) at national and local levels.
- Section 3 listed rights and duties of citizens, including equality and freedoms (speech, press, assembly) but with limits to serve the interests of workers and the state. Citizens were expected to work toward socialism and support international friendship, especially with the Soviet Union.
- Section 4 contained other provisions.
- Amendments required a two-thirds vote of the People’s Great Khural. A notable feature was Article 94: the constitution could be gradually repealed when the state was no longer needed, to be replaced by a communist association of workers.