Presidium of the Supreme Soviet

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Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Президиум Верховного Совета
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Established	17 January 1938 (1938-01-17)
Disbanded	25 May 1989 (1989-05-25)
Preceded by	Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union
Succeeded by	President of the Soviet Union (as head of state)
Seats	39
Elections
Voting system	Election by joint session of both houses of the Supreme Soviet
Meeting place
Kremlin Presidium, Moscow Kremlin 55°45′08″N 37°37′12″E / 55.7523°N 37.6200°E / 55.7523; 37.6200

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The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Russian: Президиум Верховного Совета, romanized: Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was the standing body of the highest body of state authority in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).^[1] The presidium was elected by joint session of both houses of the Supreme Soviet to act on its behalf while the Supreme Soviet was not in session. By the 1936 and 1977 Soviet Constitution, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet served as the collective head of state of the USSR.^[2] In all its activities, the Presidium was accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.^[1]

Beside the all-Union body they were also in all union republics (e.g.: Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, Presidium of the Ukrainian SSR, etc.) and other regions including autonomous republics. Structure and functions of the presidiums in these republics were virtually identical.^[3]

During discussions in regard to the adoption of the 1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union, on proposition to elect the chairman of the Presidium in a nationwide election, Stalin argued:

According to the system of our Constitution, there must not be an individual President in the U.S.S.R., elected by the whole population on a par with the Supreme Soviet and able to put himself in opposition to the Supreme Soviet. The President of the U.S.S.R. is a collegium, it is the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, including the President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, elected, not by the whole population but by the Supreme Soviet and accountable to the Supreme Soviet. Historical experience shows that such a structure of the supreme bodies is the most democratic and safeguards the country against undesirable contingencies."^[4]