|
Soviet Union [USSR] Sessions of the Supreme Soviet
Until 1989 the Supreme Soviet was convoked for five-year terms
but met in session only for a few days twice a year. Thus, each
five-year convocation had ten or more sessions. The Supreme Soviet
elected to a five-year term in early 1989 was the twelfth
convocation. According to the 1988 amendments and additions to the
Constitution, the Supreme Soviet was slated to meet daily, holding
two sessions a year, with each lasting three to four months.
Councils of elder members, meeting briefly before sessions,
have traditionally helped organize the meetings of both chambers.
The staff of the Presidium has assisted in the preparatory
paperwork. At the twelfth convocation in 1989, the two councils of
elders met in a joint session chaired by Gorbachev to discuss
procedures for opening the session, the leadership of the chambers,
the agendas, and the composition and functions of commissions and
committees. The councils have scheduled meetings of the two
chambers in separate session--one after the other--in the same
semicircular amphitheater of the Presidium building in the Kremlin,
although joint sessions of both chambers have taken place in the
Great Hall of the Palace of Soviets. The oldest deputy has opened
the sessions. The two chambers then have elected chairmen and two
vice chairmen on the recommendations of the councils of elders. The
chairmen has set speaker lists and ensured the observance of the
established schedule. Until the next session, when they faced
another election, the chairmen of the two chambers worked with the
Presidium and the chairman of the Supreme Soviet.
The sessions have followed a standard sequence of events. The
Supreme Soviet first approved changes in the Council of Ministers
and changes in its own membership. It then heard regular reports on
the actions taken by the Council of Ministers and by its own
Presidium since the last session. Debate and approval of these
actions followed. The two regular sessions of the Supreme Soviet in
the spring and fall have served different purposes. The spring
session traditionally has heard reports from government bodies and
its own commissions. It then has passed legislation based on these
reports. The second session has approved the budget for the
following year. The fall sessions have also ratified the annual and
five-year economic plans of the government.
Data as of May 1989
|
