The Supreme Soviet of the USSR was the highest organ of state government of the country, combining all branches of government. The organ of the same name existed at the first stage of life of the independent Russian Federation in 1991–1993.
History of Government
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR was first established by the Constitution of the Soviet State
1936 year. According to the highest law, this format of government power was to replace the Congress of Soviets that had functioned earlier, and with it the Executive State Committee. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the first convocation was elected at the end of 1937. It included nearly 1,200 deputies representing their republics and regional administrative units. The term of office of this first convocation in connection with the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War was the longest in the entire history of the existence of this body. The next election took place only in February 1946. The cadet of the deputy corps lasted four years; after the 1974th meeting, it lasted five years. The last convocation of the government council, elected in 1989, was dissolved ahead of schedule in connection with the formal abolition of the state status of the Soviet country. Those citizens who were twenty-three years old at the time of the ballot could be elected here.
Government powers
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR, being the highest organ of state government, was in charge of the most important issues of domestic and foreign policy. Among other things, the Constitution (both 1936 and later) enshrined the right to determine the internal cultural and ideological policy of the state. Issues related to the development of infrastructure, heavy and light industry in the country, adoption of
the composition of the USSR of new republics, the final establishment of internal borders between republics, the formation of young autonomous regions or republics, the conduct of foreign diplomacy, the conclusion of international treaties, the declaration of war, armistice and peace. In addition, the exclusive right of legislative activity also belonged to this body. The Supreme Council was elected by direct
popular vote by the population of all federal entities.
Government functioning
The higher government education of the Soviet Union consisted of two absolutely equal chambers. They were the so-called Council of Nationalities, as well as the Council of the Union. Both of these chambers equally possessed the rights of legislative initiatives. If, on the same issue, disagreements arose between them, the issue was considered by a special commission formed on an equal footing from representatives of the chambers. At the head of this rather bulky authority was the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He was already elected to the Council at the beginning of each of his cadences at a joint meeting.
The composition of the Presidium throughout all the years of
Soviet power constantly changed: from thirty-seven people at the dawn of their existence to fifteen to sixteen in accordance with various constitutional amendments of later years. However, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (for example, such famous personalities as Kalinin, Brezhnev, Andropov, Gorbachev), the Secretary of the Presidium, its members and deputies, were surely present here. Actually, it was the Presidency that held the supreme right of ratification, denunciation and other acts in the system of international relations. Of course, with the approval of the Supreme Council.