Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union

The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (Russian: Верховный Совет СССР, Verkhovny Sovet SSSR) was the highest corresponding body to the legislative branch in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to approve constitutional amendments. He elected the Presidium, formed the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court and appointed the Attorney General of the Union.

History

The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was established by the 1936 Soviet Constitution. As the highest representative body of state power in the USSR, it replaced the Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee. The latter continued to function until the first session of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, which took place in Moscow on January 12, 1938.

Elections of deputies to the Supreme Soviet were held by universal, equal, and direct suffrage.

Structure

Presidium

The presidium was the governing body of the Supreme Soviet, which had legislative powers during the periods between sessions of the Supreme Soviet. He was elected by the deputies at the beginning of each call, in a joint session of both chambers. It was made up of the president of the presidium, fifteen deputies (one for each constituent republic), a secretary and twenty-one ordinary deputies.

Cameras

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

• The Union Sovietelected on the basis of the population included a deputy for every 300,000 inhabitants of the Soviet federation.
• The Soviet of the Nationalities, which represented the ethnic populations, with members elected on the basis of 32 deputies of each republic of the Union (excluding the autonomous republics, autonomous Oblates and autonomous wars in their territory, which would send independent members), 11 of each autonomous republic, five of each autonomous Oblate (regions) and one of each autonomous (district). The administrative units of the same type would send the same number of members regardless of size or population.

After 1989, it was made up of 542 deputies (a number less than the 1,500 previously). The organ's meetings were also more frequent, running six to eight months out of the year. The Presidium carried out the daily operations of the Supreme Soviet when it was not in session.

Faculties

The main duties and functions of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union were the approval and initiation of laws, the appointment of the Council of Ministers as well as the appointment of its president, the ratification of declarations of war, the establishment of government bodies local authorities, implement and ratify development plans, ratify international treaties and the determination of national security.

Summons

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

• Mikhail Kalinin 1938-1946
• Nikolái Shvérnik 1946-1953
• Kliment Voroshilov 1953-1960
• Leonid Brézhnev 1960-1964
• Anastás Mikoyán 1964-1965
• Nikolái Podgorni 1965-1977
• Leonid Brézhnev (second period) 1977-1982
• Yuri Andropov 1982-1984
• Konstantin Chernenko 1984-1985
• Andréi Gromyko 1985-1988
• Mikhail Gorbachev 1 October 1988 - 25 May 1989

Chairmen of the USSR Supreme Soviet (1989-1991)

• Mikhail Gorbachev 25 May 1989 - 15 March 1990
• Anatoli Lukyánov 15 March 1990 - 22 August 1991

Supreme Soviets of the Republics