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Soviet Union [USSR] POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Political Party: Communist Party of the Soviet Union
(CPSU), only party permitted by Constitution, controlled government
apparatus and decisions affecting economy and society. CPSU
followed ideology of Marxism-Leninism and operated on principle of
democratic centralism. Primary CPSU bodies: Politburo, highest
decision-making organ; Secretariat, controller of party
bureaucracy; and Central Committee, party's policy forum. CPSU
membership more than 19 million (9.7 percent of adult population in
1987), dominated by male Russian professionals. Party members
occupied positions of authority in all officially recognized
institutions throughout country.
Government: As authorized by 1977 Constitution, fourth
since 1918, government executed decisions of CPSU pertaining
primarily to economy but also to security affairs and social
issues. Congress of People's Deputies created in 1988 by amendment
to Constitution; highest organ of legislative and executive
authority; consisted of 2,250 deputies, about 87 percent of whom
CPSU members or candidate members and some of whom selected in
first multicandidate (although not multiparty) elections since
early Soviet period; slated to meet once a year for a few days; met
for first time in May 1989; deputies openly discussed issues,
elected a chairman, and selected about 542 deputies from among its
membership to constitute a reorganized, bicameral Supreme Soviet,
a standing legislature slated to remain in session six to eight
months annually. Prior to 1989, former Supreme Soviet was
constitutionally highest organ of legislative and executive
authority but met only a few days annually; its Presidium managed
affairs throughout year. Council of Ministers administered party
decisions, mainly regarding economic management, by delegating
authority to its Presidium; chairman of Council of Ministers also
sat on CPSU Politburo.
Judicial System: Supreme Court, highest judicial body,
had little power, lacking authority to determine constitutionality
of laws, to interpret laws, or to strike laws down.
Administrative Divisions: Country administratively
divided into one soviet federated socialist republic (Russian) and
fourteen soviet socialist republics (Armenian, Azerbaydazhan,
Belorussian, Estonian, Georgian, Kazakh, Kirgiz, Latvian,
Lithuanian, Moldavian, Tadzhik, Turkmen, Ukrainian, and Uzbek).
Below republic level, administrative subdivisions complicated,
varying with each republic and including following categories:
autonomous oblast, autonomous okrug, autonomous republic,
krai, oblast, and raion. Only Russian Republic had
all categories.
Foreign Relations: Diplomatic relations with majority of
world's nations. Main foreign policy objectives as determined by
CPSU Politburo: enhance national security, maintain presence in
Eastern Europe, continue "peaceful coexistence" with free world
democracies, and seek increased influence in Third World.
International Agreements and Memberships: Dominant
partner in Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon) and
Warsaw Pact. Active participant in United Nations and its
specialized agencies. Signatory to Final Act of Conference on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Accords) and many
other multilateral and bilateral agreements.
Data as of May 1989
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