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Soviet Union [USSR] Soviet of the Union and Soviet of Nationalities
The two chambers that made up the Supreme Soviet--the Soviet of
the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities--were selected from among
the membership of the Congress of People's Deputies at the
beginning of a convocation by a general vote of the deputies. The
members of the Soviet of Nationalities were selected by each
republic's delegation to the congress (in actuality by the
republic's party officials) on the basis of eleven deputies from
each union republic, four deputies from each
autonomous republic (see Glossary), two deputies from each
autonomous oblast (see Glossary), and one deputy from each
autonomous okrug (see Glossary). The members of the
Soviet of the Union were selected on
the basis of the population of the union republics and regions.
One-fifth of the membership of each chamber was changed each year
from the pool of congress deputies.
The two-chamber system has attempted to balance the interests
of the country as a whole with those of its constituent
nationalities. The Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of
Nationalities could meet either separately or jointly. Officials
elected from each chamber could preside over the sessions. Either
chamber could propose legislation. Legislation passed by majorities
in each chamber did not need to be referred to joint session. If
the two chambers met in joint session, the chairman of the Supreme
Soviet presided. If the chairman was absent, the first deputy
chairman presided. Disagreements between the two chambers, if they
occurred, could be referred to a conciliation commission, then back
to the chambers sitting in joint session. If still unresolved, the
question would be decided by the Congress of People's Deputies.
The two chambers of the Supreme Soviet have exercised equal
powers and have shared equal status, although they theoretically
served different purposes. The Soviet of the Union, established in
1924, grew out of the system of workers' councils at the time of
the Bolshevik Revolution
(see Soviet Union USSR - Revolutions and Civil War
, ch. 2). It
has been the primary venue for discussion of issues on
socioeconomic development of the country as a whole, the rights and
duties of citizens, foreign policy, defense, and state security.
The Soviet of Nationalities, also established in 1924, ostensibly
represented the interests of the national minorities in the central
government. Because of its limited power, however, its significance
remained more symbolic than real. Its sphere of authority included
only issues of national and ethnic rights and interethnic
relations. Nevertheless, the regime has traditionally pointed to
the existence of this body as proof that the country's
nationalities had an equal voice in decision making and policy
formation.
Data as of May 1989
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