Supreme Soviet of The Soviet Union - Structure

Structure

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

• The Soviet of the Union, elected on the basis of population with one deputy for every 300,000 people in the Soviet federation
• The Soviet of Nationalities, supposed to represent the ethnic populations, with members elected on the basis of 32 deputies from each union republic, 11 from each autonomous republic, five from each autonomous oblast (region), and one from each autonomous okrug (district). The administrative units of the same type would send in the same number of members regardless of their size or population.

Under the Soviet constitutions of 1924, 1936 and 1977, the Supreme Soviet was imbued with great lawmaking powers. In practice, however, it functioned as a rubber stamp for decisions already made by the CPSU. This later became common practice in all Communist countries. However, with the advent of Perestroika and the partially free elections in 1989, the Supreme Soviet acquired a greater role in the government.

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. The Presidium carried out the day-to-day operations of the Supreme Soviet when it was not in session.