p The central and local Soviets comprise a single system of representative organs ensuring the genuine rule by the working people.

p This system is highly ramified because the Soviet Union is a federal state with an enormous territory inhabited by a huge population and consisting of the most diverse national and administrative and territorial divisions.

p At present the system of Soviets, in conformity with the federal structure of the U.S.S.R. and the administrative and territorial organisation of its constituent republics, includes the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., 15 Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics, 20 Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics, and 48,770 local Soviets (territory, regional, area, district, town, village and township).

Yet the centre has never and will never come into opposition with the localities, and there neither are nor can be differences between the higher and the local organs of state power. The community of goals and tasks of all the Soviets and the uniform principles underlying their organisation and activity ensure a harmonious combination of all their echelons. In this connection, we recall Lenin’s words that under the Soviet system the “unity of essentials, of fundamentals, of the substance, is not disturbed but 98 ensured by variety in details, in specific local features, in methods of approach, in methods of exercising control....”  [98•*  Let us now turn to facts illustrating the manner in which the Supreme and local Soviets organise and conduct their day-to-day activities.