Article 5
A Socialist society is the goal of the State.

Article 6
The economic system of the State is a Socialist economic system.

Article 7
Socialist democracy is the basis of the State structure.

Article 8
There shall be no exploitation of man by man nor of one national race by another in the State.

Article 9
The State safeguards the interests of the working people whose strength is based on peasants and workers.

Article 10
The State shall cultivate and promote the all-round physical, intellectual and moral development of youth.

Article 11
The State shall adopt a single-party system. The Burma Socialist Programme Party is the sole political party and it shall lead the State.

Article 12
The sovereign powers of the State, legislative, executive and judicial reside in the people, comprising all national races whose strength is based on peasants and workers. The Pyithu Hluttaw[1]1, elected by citizens having the right to vote, exercises the sovereign power invested in it by the people and delegates to Organs of State Power in accordance with this Constitution.

Article 13
The Pyithu Hluttaw shall exercise the legislative power solely by itself while it may delegate executive and judicial powers to the Central and Local Organs of State Power formed under this Constitution.

Article 14
The Organs of State Power at different levels shall function in accordance with socialist democratic practices which include mutual reporting, mutually offering, accepting and respecting of advice and wishes, collective leadership, collective decision making, abiding by collective decisions, lower organs carrying out the decisions and directives of the higher organs which in turn respect the views submitted by the lower organs.

Article 15
Every citizen has, in accordance with this Constitution and other relevant laws, the right to-
(a) elect, and to be elected as, people's representatives to the Organs of State Power at different levels;
(b) recall elected people's representatives.

Article 16
Every people's representative, elected to any Organ of State Power, shall report back to the electorate on his work and shall also ascertain the wishes of the people.

Article 17
The working people shall have full participation in local matters, so that such matters may be resolved as far as possible, at the local level. They shall be invested with duties and powers.

Article 18
The State-

(a) is the ultimate owner of all natural resources above and below the ground, above and beneath the waters and in the atmosphere, and also of all the lands;
(b) shall develop, extract, exploit and utilize the natural resources in the interest of the working people of all the national races.

Article 19
The State shall nationalize the means of production within the land. Suitable enterprises shall be owned and operated by co-operatives.

Article 20
The State may, in accordance with law, permit such private enterprises which do not undermine the socialist economic system.

Article 21
(a) The State shall be responsible for constantly developing and promoting unity, mutual assistance, amity and mutual respect among the national races.
(b) The national races shall enjoy the freedom to profess their religion, use and develop their language, literature and culture, follow their cherished traditions and customs, provided that the enjoyment of any such freedom does not offend the laws or the public interest.

Article 22
All citizens shall-

(a) be equal before the law, regardless of race, religion, status, or sex;
(b) enjoy equal opportunities;
(c) enjoy the benefits derived from his labor in proportion to his contribution in manual or mental labor;
(d) have the right to inherit according to law.

Article 23
No penal law shall have retrospective effect.

Article 24
Punishments shall not be awarded in violation of human dignity.

Article 25
Laws shall be enacted to enforce the freedoms, powers, rights, duties and restrictions prescribed by this Constitution.

Article 26
The State consistently practices an independent foreign policy, aimed at international peace and friendly relations among nations, and upholds the principles of peaceful co-existence of nations.

Article 27
These basic principles constitute the guidelines for interpreting the provisions of this Constitution and of other laws.
[1] People’s Congress