Directorate of Intelligence
A Guide to Soviet Institutions of Power
A Reference Aid
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A Guide fo Soviet Institutions of Power
Institutions USSR Presidency
In0 Ihc 3rd Extraordinary Congress of USSR People's Deputies (CPD> created the office of the USSR president and elected Mikhail Gorbachev to that post.
The CPD also resolved lhat. in Ihc future, Ihewill be elected by the citizens of the USSR on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Candidates for the presidency must be betweenndears old. The candidate who receives more thanercent of the total number of votes cast- both in the USSR overall andajority of the unionbecomeThe USSR Constitution stipulates that tlie president is to be electedive-year term: no president may serve for more than two terms. Under the termsraft union treaty that has yet to receive Ihc requisite approval from all lhe republic legislatures, President Gorbachev mayace for reelection sometime before his current term ends
Key Powers of the President
The following are the president's key powers:
Represents lhe USSR in domestic and international relations.
Conducts negotiations and signs inter national treaties
Serves as commander in chief of the Soviet armed foicesL appoints and dismisses the supremeof the armed forces, and awards the highest mili;ary ranks.
In ihc event itic USSR is attacked, maytate of war; the Supreme Soviet wouldapprove the decision.
May declare martial law in particular localities but not nationwide for the defense of the USSR and iho security of ils citizens.
May initiate legislation.
Signs laws, mayraft law with histo the USSR Supreme Soviel for additional discussionew vote.
decrees, which are binding throughout the
nation.
May suspend resolutions and decisions of theof Ministers.
Nominates candidates for ministerial posts andhigh stale positions for USSR Supreme Soviel approval
Appoints and recalls ambassadors.
Presents annual reports on Ihc state of ihc union to the Congress of USSR People's Deputies.
Grants pardons and decides questions of citizenship and political asylum.
Checks on Presidential Power
The Congress of USSR People's Deputies has the right lo repeal presidential decrees if they arc found to be unconstitutional. Il also has the rieht to recall the president should he violate the Constitution or laws of the USSR.
The president may remand legislation to lhe USSR Supreme Soviet; however, if Ihc USSR Supreme Sovic: confirms its original decisionwo-thirds majority in both chambers, the president must sign the law.
The l'"eiidcrt may noleople's Deputy.
Adtisory StatT to the USSR President
The presidenttaff of full-time advisers, 'i, i-n ivjiu'V, ci'd urltUiy policy He also consults, as necessary,roup of sari-iimc advisers wilh expertise On various issues
USSR President's Defense Council
0 ihe Congress of USSReputies created (bo office of USSR vice provident and elected Gcnnadiy Yanayevhat post. In the fulurc the vice president will stand for election along with (he president. The first election is scheduled to take placehe election could be moved upnion trcaly is adopted. The vice president carries out prcudcntia. instructions and lakes thelace when the latter is absent or unable to fulfill his duties The Constitution stipulatesopular election for president must occur wilhin ihree months if Ihc president dies in office or is for any reason unable lo continue to execute his duties. In ihc interim, Ihe vice president serves as president.
Council uf the federation
In0 tbe USSR Supreme SovietPresident Gorbachev* proposal toouncil of lhe Federation to serve at (he USSR') supreme ctecultve policymaking body and io prov.de center-1epublie coordination. The Council wasio give republic leaders greater influence in the national policymaking process. Members include the president, lhe vice president, and the highest stale officials of the union republic*hus including RSI SR leader Boris Yei'tain. The leaders of some republics have refused lo attend sessions of theJid oftenroxy. The highest slate officials of autonomous republics (ASSRs) may participate in meetings af (be Council, as may the chairman of the USSR Supicmc Soviet and lhe chairmen of il* two chambers
USSR Security Council
In1 ihe USSR Security Coitalio coordinate policies relating ioandrder, including economic,and intetethmc issues Among theihc vice president, the pfimc minis-
ler, and leaders ol key internal affairs, defense, and foreign policy bureaucracies.
The Defense Council unites leaders of institutions such us the Communist Party of ihc Soviel Union, the Ministry of Defense, the Committee forhe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and lhe nalion's defense industries sectormall, secretive body whose meetings normally are not reported.
Cabinet nf Ministers
Tasked primarily with management of the Soviel economy, (he Cabinet of Ministersndie committees, ot* whichay be transformed into stale companies, joint stockaad other new entitieshe Cabinet, which is headed by the prune minister, is directly subordinate to lhelso reports io lhe USSR Supreme Soviet. Although lhe Cabinet does not have the rigid of legislative initiative, it may submit draft laws to lhe USSR Supreme Soviel via lhe president. The Supreme Soviet can repta] acts of the Cabinet if it deems them unconstitutional The Presidium ol* lhe Cabinet, which includes the ftrsl deputy prime minister and the deputy prime mints-lerv meets regularly to resolve iniersectoral disputes and to set Cabinet policy.
The Cabinet has three standing bodies: two oversee key sectors of (lie economy (energy and defense industries', and (he ihildoubles boutbody creaicd io handle emergency situation* such asdisasters. Key ministries andhe Cabinet of Ministers include
fur State Security (KGHi
Agriculture and food
Ministry of Defcise
Ministry of Economics and Forccas'ing (formerly Go*plan|
Ministry of Finance.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
'.try ol foreign Hconomic Relations
Legislative Institutions
of USSR People's Deputies
The Congress of USSR People's Deputieshe highesi organ of Soviet state power, consistseputies who arc elected every five yon. In the initial election for the currentineputies were elected by popular0 from districts determined by populationrom districts allocated equally among the territorialaneats were reserved for representative* of all-union public organization, such as the CPSU, the Komsomol, and the Academy of Sciences. Powers of the CPD include:
lhe Supreme Soviet and its chairman.
Adopting and amending tbe Soviet Constitution
Approving the state plac and budge!
Repealing laws passed by tbe USSR Supremeif ihey are found to be unconstitutional.
Confirming appointments of key stale officials,the prime minister.
the presidentwo-thirds majority-vote if he violates the USSR Constitution or laws
USSR Supreme So.iti
Tbe USSR Supreme Soviet is the Soviet Union's bicameral national legislature. Soviet law stipulates that up lo . of the deputies may bennual rotations. In the first rotation of deputies, however,erceni of (lieembers left theAll bul four of them were replaced by deputies rotating in front lhee current Supreme Sovic:embers.
Po-ers ofSK Supreme Sotiet
The follow.ng ire lhe USSR Supreme Soviet powers
lam and resolutions
decrees and resolutions of ihe Cabinet o' Ministers (hat have been found lo be uneorstiiut tonal.
Approving top appointments in the government.
Monitoring resolutions of national and republic governments.
the State Plan and Budget andtheir implementation.
Ratifying or denouncing international treaties
ote of no confidence in the government (Ihu Cabinet ofwo-thirds majority, thereby forcing the government's resignation
tate of war.
Imposing martial lawtate of emergency nation wide
Presidium of tbe USSR Supreme So>iet
The Presidiumariety of administrative functions Accountable lo the Supreme Soviet, it can also issue decrees and awards, appoint or recall diplomatic officials, and gram pardons Theinclude*.
The chairman of the Supreme Soviet.
The chairmen and deputy chairmen of the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities.
The chairmen of Ihe joini commitiees.
chairmen of the commissions of the two Councili.
uaioa rccmbbc* and tome autonomous republics are represented on Ihe Presidium by one people's deputv each
Council of the Union
This chamber of the Supreme Soviet handles all-union matters Ihe commisswas of the Council of ihe Union- reduced1 reorgaaiutioA from four to two--handle budgetary, tabor, and socia1 issues Commission members arc split betweenof the Union deputies and deputies of the CPD whu atecurrently serving on the Supreme Soviet.
Council of Nationalities
This chamber of lhe Supreme Soviel is responsible primarily for interethnic issues. The1 reorgani7ation from four lowilh republic and interethnic issues. Commission members arc split betweenof Nationalities deputies and deputies of the CPD who are not currently serving on lhe Supreme Soviet.
Join! Committees of the USSR Supreme Soviet
Joint committee are made up of deputies from boih chambers of the legislature, as well as CPD deputies who do not currently serve on the Supreme Soviet. The committees deal with issues such as agriculture, economic reform, health, internaiional affairs, and defense and state security. Many committees oversee ministerial activities; the president's nominees for top ministerial posts must appear before the appropriate committee for approval.
Political Parties and Movements
Ruling Party: Communist Party of (he
As the only political party In the USSR for seven decades, the CPSUonolithic organization that influenced every aspect of Soviet society. The emerging multiparty system generated by (icnera! Secretary Gorbachevs reforms is pressuring (he CPSU to evolveompetitive partyiminished rote in the economic sphere and with the candiosic-snd-riolicy-rxORUMion role (hat is more typical of Western political parties.
CPSU Congress
The highest body of (heJJOO-dclegate congress meets evciy five years. The most recentongressh) was held in
Cealral Committee
Policymaking bodyembers) elecied every five yearsPSU Congress Accordinghe statutes of tbe CPSU. the Central Committee guides the party between CPSU Congresses. The Central Committee convenes for plenums several times each year.
Politburo
Supreme policymaking body of the CPSU. The CPSU Congress elects lhe general secretary and his deputy: the remaining members are elected by lhe Central Committee The Politburo, which usually has aboutembers, includes, es officio, the first tccrcuwict of (he republic Communist parties
Secretariat
Top administrative body of the CPSU. With the exception ol the general secretary and his deputy, the lecrciancs are elecied by the Central Committee. Since0 the Secretariat, which usuallyaboul IS, hasandful of collective farm and industrial enterprise workers to givereater voice in party affairs.
Commissions of the Central Committee
Numberingozen, the commissions submit policy recommendations to the Politburo on subjects such as ideology, international affairs, military policy, nationalities issues, and legal policy.
Derailment* nt the Central Coounitice
The departments, also numberingo/en. are the working bodies of Ihe Central Committee
commissions.
Centralemission
Created in0 to replace the Central Control Committee and the Central Auditing Commission, ihe Central Cosmo"isio the CPSUCPSUwith ihe Constitution, especially on issues of methods and finances. It is authorized lo appeal io the CPSU Congress decisions of tbe Central Committee that run counter to the party program and rules.embers are elected by the CPSU Congress Members of the Central Control Commission may not belong lo the CPSU Central Committee or be workers in its apparatus.
Emerging Opposition Parties
Although Ihc CPSU remains the dominant political party. Gorbachev's reform* and the abolitionf ihe Constitutional article that guaranteed (he CPSU's leading role in society haveroiifcraiioa of fledgling opposition parties Based primarily in (he Russian Republic, some of the key new parties arc
The Republican Party of Russia.
Social Democratic Party of RussiaDemocratic Parly of Russia.
Democratic Russia
Democratic Russia is an umbrella organization that unites democratic parties and organizations in the Russian Republic. It isolitical party; rather, it servesoordinating body, and participatingretain their independence.
Movement for Democratic Reforms
In1 nine prominent Sovietincluding former Foreign Minister Eduardthe national Movement forReforms. The founders have said that their goal ix to unite democratic parties and movements to ensure the continuation of political and economic reforms. The movement has scheduled its firstto be held int thatecision will be made on whether or not to transform the movementolitical parly.
SOVIET INSTITUTIONS OF POWER
Organization Overview
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