The Supreme Soviet () was the common name for the highest organs of state authority of the Soviet socialist republics (SSR) in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). These soviets were modeled after the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, established in 1938, and were nearly identical.
Party-approved delegates to the Supreme Soviets were periodically elected unopposed in show elections. The first free or semi-free elections took place during perestroika in late 1980s, in which Supreme Soviets themselves were no longer directly elected. Instead, Supreme Soviets were appointed by directly elected Congresses of People's Deputies based somewhat on the Congresses of Soviets that preceded the Supreme Soviets. The soviets until then were largely rubber-stamp institutions, approving decisions handed to them by the Communist Party of the USSR or of each SSR.
The soviets met infrequently (often only twice a year for only several days) and elected the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a permanent body, to act on their behalf while the soviet was not in session. The presidiums were also empowered to issue decrees in lieu of law. If such decrees were not ratified by the Supreme Soviet at its next session, they were to be considered revoked. In practice, the principles of democratic centralism meant this power of veto was almost never exercised, meaning that Presidium decrees de facto had the force of law.
Under the 1936 and 1977 Soviet Constitutions, the Presidium of a Supreme Soviet served as the collective head of state of its republic. The Supreme Soviets also elected Councils of Ministers (Councils of People's Commissars before 1946), which were executive bodies.
After the dissolution of the USSR in late December 1991, the soviets transformed into liberal democratic legislatures of independent countries until Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan abandoned the system in 1995.
Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics
EmblemSoviet RepublicSupreme SovietEstablishedDisbandedSucceeded by/Supreme Soviet of RussiaCongress of People's Deputies of Russia
Верховный Совет РСФСР (Российской Федерации)Съезд народных депутатов РСФСР (Российской Федерации)1938 (Supreme Soviet of Russia)1990 (Congress of People's Deputies of Russia)1993 Constitutional Conference (1993) Federal Assembly (1993–present):• Federation Council• State DumaSupreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR Верховный Совет Украинской ССР Верховна Рада Української РСР19371991 (De facto)1996 (De jure)Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR
Верховный Совет Белорусской ССР Вярхоўны Савет Беларускай ССР19381991 (De facto)1994 (De jure) (1994–96) (1996–present)Supreme Soviet of the Uzbek SSR Верховный Совет Узбекской ССР Ўзбекистон ССР Олий Совети19381991 Supreme Council (1991–1995) Oliy Majlis (1995–present)Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR Верховный Совет Казахской ССР Қазақ ССР Жоғарғы Советі19371993 Supreme Council (1993–95) Parliament (1995–present)Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR
Верховный Совет Грузинской ССР საქართველოს სსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო19381990 Supreme Council (1990–1992) Military Council/State Council (1992–1995)/ Parliament (1995–present)Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan
Верховный Совет Азербайджа́нской ССР (Азербайджанской Республики) Азәрбаjҹан ССР Али Совети Azərbaycan Respublikasının Ali Soveti19381995Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR Верховный Совет Литовской ССР Lietuvos TSR Aukščiausioji Taryba19401990 Supreme Council (1990–1992) Seimas (1992–present)Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR Верховный Совет Молдавской ССР Совиетул Супрем ал РСС Молдовеняскэ (Moldovan) Sovietul Suprem al RSS Moldovenească (Romanian)19411993 ParliamentSupreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR Верховный Совет Латвийской ССР Latvijas PSR Augstākā Padome19401990 Supreme Council (1990–1993) Saeima (1993–present)Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz SSR Верховный Совет Киргизской ССР Кыргыз ССР Жогорку Совети19381994Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR Верховный Совет Таджикской ССР Совети Олӣ РСС Тоҷикистон19371994 Supreme Assembly/Supreme Soviet of Armenia
Верховный Совет Армянской ССР (Республики Армения) Հայկական ՍՍՀ (Հայաստանի Հանրապետության) Գերագույն Խորհուրդ19381995 National AssemblySupreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR Верховный Совет Туркменской ССР Түркменистан ССР Ёкары Советы19381992 (1992–2021, 2023–present) National Council (2021–2023)Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR Верховный Совет Эстонской ССР Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu19401992 Riigikogu Supreme Soviet of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic 1940 1956
Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics EmblemAutonomous RepublicSupreme SovietEstablishedDisbandedSucceeded byВерховный Совет Башкирской АССР Башҡорт АССР-ы Юғары Советы19381995/ State AssemblyВерховный Совет Бурятской АССР Буряадай АССР-эй Верховно Совет19381994 People's KhuralВерховный Совет Дагестанской АССРСъезд народных депутатов Дагестанской АССР19381994Верховный Совет Калмыцкой АССР Хальмг АССР-ин Деед Совет1938195819431994/ People's KhuralВерховный Совет Карельской АССР Karjalan ASNT:n Korkein Neuvosto1938195619401994 Legislative AssemblyВерховный Совет Коми АССР Коми АССР-са Верховнӧй Сӧвет19381994/ State CouncilВерховный Совет Марийской АССР Марий АССР Верховный Совет19381994/ State AssemblyВерховный Совет Мордовской АССР Мордовскяй АССР-нь Верховнай Совет Мордовской АССР-нь Верховной Совет19381995/ State AssemblyВерховный Совет Северо-Осетинской АССР Цӕгат Ирыстоны ACCP-Йы Сӕйраг Совет19381994/ ParliamentВерховный Совет Татарской АССР Татарстан АССР Югары Советы19381995 State CouncilВерховный Совет Тувинской АССР Тыва АССР-ниң Дээди Соведи19621993/ Great KhuralВерховный Совет Удмуртской АССР Удмурт АССР-лэн Верховной Советэз19381994 State CouncilВерховный Совет Чечено-Ингушской АССР1938195719441991 Parliament of the ChechenRepublic of Ichkeria (1991–2000) Parliament of theChechen Republic (2003–present)/ People's Assemblyof the Republic of Ingushetia (1994–present)Верховный Совет Чувашской АССР Чӑваш АССР Верховнӑй Совечӗ19381994 State CouncilВерховный Совет Якутской АССР Саха АССР Верховнай Совета19381993 State AssemblySupreme Soviet of the Karakalpak ASSR
Верховный Совет Каракалпакской АССР Қорақалпоғистон АССР Олий Совети Қарақалпақстан АССР Жоқарғы Совети19381994 Supreme CouncilSupreme Soviet of the Abkhaz ASSR
Верховный Совет Абхазской АССР აფხაზეთის ასსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო Аҧснытәи АССР Иреиҳаӡоу Асовет19381996 People's AssemblySupreme Soviet of the Adjarian ASSR
Верховный Совет Аджарской АССР აჭარის ასსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო19381991/ Supreme CouncilSupreme Soviet of the Nakhichevan ASSR
Верховный Совет Нахичеванской АССР Нахчыван МССР Али Совети19381990/ Supreme Assembly (Nakhchivan)
References
See also Supreme Council (disambiguation) Soviet (disambiguation)