Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union

Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
Верховный Совет СССР
Type
Type Bicameral
Timeline
Country Soviet Union
Established 1938
Preceded by Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union
Succeeded by

Congress of People's Deputies

Disbanded 1991
Members 542 (at dissolution)
1500 (at peak)
Chambers Council of the Republics
Soviet of the Union
Election
voting system Direct non-competitive elections (1936—1989)
Elected by Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union (1989—1991)
Last election 4 March 1984 (last direct election)
25 May 1990 (last - and only - indirect election)
Meeting place
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow Kremlin

The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (Russian: Верховный Совет СССР, Verkhóvnyj Sovét SSSR) was the Supreme Soviet (highest legislative body) in the Soviet Union[1] and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments. It elected the Presidium, formed the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court, and appointed the Procurator General of the USSR.

Contents

Structure

The Supreme Soviet was made up of two chambers, each with equal legislative powers, with members elected for four-year terms:[2]

Until Perestroika and the partially free elections in 1989, the Supreme Soviet functioned as a rubber stamp to legislation originating from less representative but more powerful bodies, like the Politburo.

After 1989 it consisted of 542 deputies (down from previously 1,500). The meetings of the body were also more frequent from six to eight months a year.[3] The Presidium carried out the day-to-day operations of the Supreme Soviet when it was not in session.

Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1938–1989)

Also known as President of the USSR SS Presidium

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1989–1991)

Also known as President of the USSR Supreme Soviet

See also

References

  1. ^ The Congress of Soviets was the supreme governing body from 1917 to 1936. In 1989-1991 a smillar. but not identical (elected directly by the people instead of local Soviets) structure (Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union) was the supreme governing body.
  2. ^ Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd edition, entry on "Верховный Совет СССР", available online here
  3. ^ Peter Lentini (1991) in: The Journal of Communist Studies, Vol. 7, No.1, pp. 69-94

External links