Supreme Soviet of the USSR

Верховный Совет СССР
Badge of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.svg
Type
Type
ChambersSoviet of Nationalities
Soviet of the Union
History
Established1938; 85 years ago (1938)
Disbanded1991; 32 years ago (1991)
Preceded byCongress of Soviets
Succeeded by
Structure
Seats1,500 (after 1984 election)
542 (at dissolution)
Soviet of Nationalities (1984-1989).svg
Soviet of Nationalities political groups
After the 1984 election:
  Communist Party of the Soviet Union (521)
  Independents (229)
Soviet of the Union (1984-1989).svg
Soviet of the Union political groups
After the 1984 election:
  Communist Party of the Soviet Union (551)
  Independents (199)
Elections
Direct show elections (1937–1989)
Elected by the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union (1989–1991)
12 December 1937
4 March 1984 (last direct election)
26 March 1989 (last—and only—indirect election)
Meeting place
Supreme Soviet 1982.jpg
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow Kremlin
(Joint sessions of both houses)[1][2]

The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russian: Верховный Совет Союза Советских Социалистических Республик, tr. Verkhovnyy Sovet Soyuza Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik) was, beginning in 1936, the most authoritative legislative body of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and the only one with the power to approve constitutional amendments. Prior to 1936,[3] the Congress of Soviets was the supreme legislative body. During 1989–1991 a similar, but not identical structure was the supreme legislative body. The Supreme Soviet elected the USSR's collective head of state, the Presidium;[3] and appointed the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court, and the Procurator General of the USSR.

By the Soviet constitutions of 1936 and 1977, the Supreme Soviet was defined as the highest organ of state power in the Soviet Union and was imbued with great lawmaking powers. In practice, however, it was a pseudo-parliament that did little more than rubber-stamp decisions already made by the USSR's executive organs and the CPSU — always by unanimous consent[3] — and listen to the General Secretary's speeches.[3] This was in accordance with the Stalinist CPSU's principle of democratic centralism and became the norm for other Communist legislatures.

Structure

The Supreme Soviet was composed of two chambers, each with equal legislative powers, with members elected for four-year terms:[4]

The Supreme Soviet convened twice a year, usually for less than a week. For the rest of the year, the Presidium performed its ordinary functions. Often, the CPSU bypassed the Supreme Soviet altogether and had major laws enacted as Presidium decrees. Nominally, if such decrees were not ratified by the Supreme Soviet at its next session, they were considered revoked. In practice, however, the principle of democratic centralism rendered the process of ratifying Presidium decrees a mere formality. In some cases, even this formality was not observed.[3]

After 1989 it consisted of 542 deputies (divided into two 271 chambers) decreased from a previous 1,500. The meetings of the body were also more frequent, from six to eight months a year. In September 1991, after the August Coup, it was reorganised into the Soviet (council) of Republics and the Soviet of The Union, which would jointly amend the Soviet Constitution, admit new states, hear out the President of the Soviet Union on important home and foreign policy issues, approve the union budget, declare war and conclude peace. The Soviet of Republics would consist of 20 deputies from each union republic, plus one deputy to represent each autonomous region of each republic, delegated by the republics' legislatures. Russia was an exception with 52 deputies. The Soviet Union consisted of deputies apportioned by the existing quotas.[5]

In 1989, its powers were:

Acts by the Supreme Soviet entered into force after signature by the President and publication.

Between 1938 and February 1990, more than 50 years, only 80 laws were passed by the Supreme Soviet, less than 1% of total legislative acts.[6]

Leaders

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1938–1989)

No. Portrait Name
(Born-Died)
Term of office
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Mikhail Kalinin
Mikhail Kalinin
(1875–1946)
17 January 193819 March 19468 years, 61 days
2
Nikolai Shvernik
Nikolai Shvernik
(1888–1970)
19 March 194615 March 19536 years, 361 days
3
Kliment Voroshilov
Kliment Voroshilov
(1881–1969)
15 March 19537 May 19607 years, 53 days
4
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
(1906–1982)
7 May 196015 July 19644 years, 69 days
5
Anastas Mikoyan
Anastas Mikoyan
(1895–1978)
15 July 19649 December 19651 year, 147 days
6
Nikolai Podgorny
Nikolai Podgorny
(1903–1983)
9 December 196516 June 197711 years, 189 days
(4)
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
(1906–1982)
16 June 197710 November 1982 †5 years, 147 days
Vasili Kuznetsov
Vasili Kuznetsov
(1901–1990)
Acting
10 November 198216 June 1983218 days
7
Yuri Andropov
Yuri Andropov
(1914–1984)
16 June 19839 February 1984 †238 days
Vasili Kuznetsov
Vasili Kuznetsov
(1901–1990)
Acting
9 February 198411 April 198462 days
8
Konstantin Chernenko
Konstantin Chernenko
(1911–1985)
11 April 198410 March 1985 †333 days
Vasili Kuznetsov
Vasili Kuznetsov
(1901–1990)
Acting
10 March 198527 July 1985139 days
9
Andrei Gromyko
Andrei Gromyko
(1909–1989)
27 July 19851 October 19883 years, 66 days
10
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
(1931–2022)
1 October 198825 May 1989236 days

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet (1989–1991)

No. Portrait Name
(Born-Died)
Term of office
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
(1931–2022)
25 May 198915 March 1990294 days
2
Anatoly Lukyanov
Anatoly Lukyanov
(1930–2019)
15 March 19904 September 19911 year, 160 days

Convocations

Supreme Soviets of union and autonomous republics

Beside the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, each of its constituting union republics and each autonomous republic had a supreme soviet. These supreme soviets also had presidiums, but all consisted of only one chamber. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, some soviets of the succeeded independent republics simply changed their name to their more historic name or to emphasise their importance as a national parliament, while others changed to double-chamber assemblies.

Supreme soviets of union republics

Main article: Supreme Soviet

  Soviet Republics dissolved before the dissolution of the Soviet Union   Parliaments not formally recognized by some countries such as the Western Bloc


Soviet Republic Supreme Soviet Established Disbanded Succeeded by
Coat of arms of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.svg
 Russian SFSR Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR

Верховный Совет РСФСР

1938 1993 Russia Constitutional Conference (1993)
Russia Federal Assembly (1993–present)
Emblem of the Ukrainian SSR.svg
 Ukraine Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR

Верховный Совет Украинской ССР
Верховна Рада Української РСР

1937 1996 Ukraine Verkhovna Rada
Emblem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (1981–1991).svg
 Byelorussia Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR

Верховный Совет Белорусской ССР
Вярхоўны Савет Беларускай ССР

1938 1994 Belarus Supreme Council (1994–96)
Belarus National Assembly (1996–present)
Emblem of the Uzbek SSR.svg
 Uzbekistan Supreme Soviet of the Uzbek SSR

Верховный Совет Узбекской ССР
Ўзбекистон ССР Олий Совети

1938 1992 Uzbekistan Supreme Council (1992–1995)
Uzbekistan Oliy Majlis (1995–present)
Emblem of Kazakh SSR.svg
 Kazakhstan Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR

Верховный Совет Казахской ССР
Қазақ ССР Жоғарғы Советі

1937 1993 Kazakhstan Supreme Council (1993–95)
Kazakhstan Parliament (1996–present)
Emblem of the Georgian SSR.svg
 Georgia Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR

Верховный Совет Грузинской ССР
საქართველოს სსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო

1938 1992 Georgia (country) State Council (1992–1995)
Georgia (country) Parliament (1995–present)
Emblem of the Azerbaijan SSR.svg
 Azerbaijan Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR

Верховный Совет Азербайджа́нской ССР
Азәрбаjҹан ССР Али Совети

1938 1995 Azerbaijan National Assembly
Emblem of the Lithuanian SSR.svg
 Lithuania Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR

Верховный Совет Литовской ССР
Lietuvos TSR Aukščiausioji Taryba

1940 1990 Lithuania Supreme Council (1990–1992)
Lithuania Seimas (1992–present)
Emblem of the Moldavian SSR (1981-1990).svg
 Moldavia Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR

Верховный Совет Молдавской ССР
Совиетул Супрем ал РСС Молдовеняскэ (Moldovan)
Sovietul Suprem al RSS Moldovenească (Romanian)

1941 1993 Moldova Parliament
Emblem of the Latvian SSR.svg
 Latvia Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR

Верховный Совет Латвийской ССР
Latvijas PSR Augstākā Padome

1940 1990 Latvia Supreme Council (1990–1993)
Latvia Saeima (1993–present)
Emblem of the Kirghiz SSR.svg
 Kirghizia Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz SSR

Верховный Совет Киргизской ССР
Кыргыз ССР Жогорку Совети

1938 1994 Kyrgyzstan Supreme Council
Emblem of the Tajik SSR.svg
 Tajikistan Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR

Верховный Совет Таджикской ССР
Совети Олӣ РСС Тоҷикистон

1937 1994 Tajikistan Supreme Assembly
Emblem of the Armenian SSR.svg
 Armenia Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR

Верховный Совет Армянской ССР
Հայկական ՍՍՀ Գերագույն Խորհուրդ

1938 1995 Armenia National Assembly
Emblem of the Turkmen SSR.svg
 Turkmenia Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR

Верховный Совет Туркменской ССР
Түркменистан ССР Ёкары Советы

1938 1992 Turkmenistan Assembly (1992–2021, 2023–present)
Turkmenistan National Council (2021–2023)
Emblem of the Estonian SSR.svg
 Estonia Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR

Верховный Совет Эстонской ССР
Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu

1940 1991 Estonia Supreme Council (1990–92)
Estonia Riigikogu (1992–present)
Emblem of the Karelo-Finnish SSR.svg
 Karelo-Finnish SSR Supreme Soviet of the Karelo-Finnish SSR

Верховный Совет Карело-Финской ССР

1940 1956 Republic of Karelia Supreme Soviet (ru)

Supreme councils of autonomous republic

List of known autonomous republics councils:

Autonomous Republic Supreme Soviet Established Disbanded Succeeded by
Coat of arms of Bashkir ASSR.svg
Bashkiria Supreme Soviet of the Bashkir ASSR (ru)

Верховный Совет Башкирской АССР
Башҡорт АССР-ы Юғары Советы

1938 1995 RussiaBashkortostan State Assembly
Coat of arms of the Buryat ASSR.svg
Buryatia Supreme Soviet of the Buryat ASSR (ru)

Верховный Совет Бурятской АССР
Буряадай АССР-эй Верховно Совет

1938 1994 RussiaBuryatia People's Khural
Coat of arms of Karelian ASSR.svg
Karelia Supreme Soviet of the Karelian ASSR (ru)

Верховный Совет Карельской АССР

1938
1956
1940
1994
RussiaRepublic of Karelia Legislative Assembly
Coat of Arms of Tatarstan ASSR.png
Tatarstan Supreme Soviet of the Tatar ASSR (ru)

Верховный Совет Татарской АССР
Татарстан АССР Югары Советы

1938 1995 RussiaTatarstan State Council
Coat of arms of the Tuvan ASSR (1978-1992).svg
Tuva Supreme Soviet of the Tuvan ASSR (ru)

Верховный Совет Тувинской АССР
Тыва АССР-ниң Дээди Соведи

1961 1993 RussiaTuva Great Khural
Coat of Arms of Chuvash ASSR (1978-1992).svg
Chuvashia Supreme Soviet of the Chuvash ASSR (ru)

Верховный Совет Чувашской АССР
Чӑваш АССР Верховнӑй Совечӗ

1938 1994 RussiaChuvashia State Council
QoraqalpogistonASSRgerbi.png
Karakalpakstan Supreme Soviet of the Karakalpak ASSR

Верховный Совет Каракалпакской АССР
Қарақалпақстан АССР Жоқарғы Совети

1938 1994 UzbekistanKarakalpakstan Supreme Council
Emblem of the Abkhaz ASSR (1978–1992).svg
Abkhazia Supreme Soviet of the Abkhaz ASSR

Верховный Совет Абхазской АССР
Аҧснытәи АССР Иреиҳаӡоу Асовет

1938 1996 Abkhazia People's Assembly
Emblem of the Adjar ASSR.svg
Adjara Supreme Soviet of the Adjarian ASSR

Верховный Совет Аджарской АССР
აჭარის ასსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო

1938 1991 Georgia (country)Adjara Supreme Council
Coat of Arms of Nakhichevan ASSR.png
Nakhichevan Supreme Soviet of the Nakhichevan ASSR

Верховный Совет Нахичеванской АССР
Нахчыван МССР Али Совети

1938 1990 Azerbaijan Supreme Assembly (Nakhchivan)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Совместное заседание Совета Союза и Совета Национальностей Верховного Совета СССР восьмого созыва. Кремль". RIA Novosti Mediabank. Rossiya Segodnya media group. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Совместное заседание Совета Союза и Совета Национальностей третьей сессии Верховного Совета СССР девятого созыва. Кремлевский Дворец Съездов (ныне - Государственный Кремлевский дворец)". RIA Novosti Mediabank. Rossiya Segodnya media group. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Armstrong, John Alexander (1986) [1978]. Ideology, Politics, and Government in the Soviet Union: An Introduction (fourth ed.). Lanham, MD / New York City / London: University Press of America. ISBN 0-8191-5405-9. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  4. ^ Верховный Совет СССР, Great Soviet Encyclopedia
  5. ^ Peter Lentini (1991) in: The Journal of Communist Studies, Vol. 7, No.1, pp. 69–94
  6. ^ «Avante!», newspaper of Portuguese Communist Party, February 22, 1990, section «Em Foco», page IX
  7. ^ Supreme Council of the Soviet Union. "Portal SSSR".
  8. ^ Supreme Council of the Soviet Union new composition. "Portal SSSR".

Further reading