regime, which saw the start of repression unprecedented in Romanian history. The ban on associations of "fascist or antidemocratic character" was broadly interpreted to suppress nearly all meaningful opposition. The MAN became the supreme organ of state power, “elected” for a four-year term. Executive power was exercised by a government, answerable for its activities before the MAN and the MAN Presidium. The local organs of state power were the Popular Councils, also elected for four years. As for judicial power, people's associate judges (asesori populari) were granted the right to sit in judgment. The subordination of the judicial system to the Communist authorities was provided for, inter alia, by granting the prosecutor’s office the role of punishing “crimes against the democratic order and liberty, the economic interests, the national independence and the sovereignty of the Romanian State”. The 1948 Constitution, which contained 105 articles in 10 titles, was amended once, in March 1952, and abrogated on September 24, 1952, when a new constitution came into force. Notes References Stoica, Stan (coordinator). Dicţionar de Istorie a României. Bucharest: Editura Merona, 2007. External links Text of the constitution Socialist Republic of Romania Constitutions of Romania Constitution Of Romania, 1948 Romania 1948 in law 1948 documents April 1948 events in Europe 1948 in politics