p Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic. All the Union Republics have higher organs of stale power—a unicameral Supreme Soviet—which implements their sovereign rights.

p The national and slate interests of the Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions and Nalional Areas are represented, as we have already said, directly in the Soviet of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R.

p At the same time, thanks to the broad democratic representation, even the numerically small nationalities in the Union Republics—the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan—have their representatives in the Supreme Soviets of these republics.

p In conformity with the Constitution, the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic is elected by citizens on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a term of four years.

p The basis of representation to the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics is established by their Constitutions and depends on the numerical and national composition of the population, the historical features of the development of one or another republic, and its geographical conditions.

p As in the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the composition of the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics makes them genuinely popular representative organs. Approximately a third of their deputies are women, over 40 per cent are workers or collective farmers and about 30 per cent are non-Parly people.

p The Supreme Soviets elect standing commillees from among their deputies. In recent years, in line with the further development of Soviet democracy and extension of the rights of the Union Republics, and the growing role of their higher organs of power, the number of standing commiltees and their membership have increased considerably. In addition to committees for legislative proposals, the budget, foreign affairs and credentials, the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics have set up industrial,
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112 HIGHER ORGANS OF STATE POWER AND ORGANS OF STATE ADMINISTRATION IN A UNION REPUBLIC SUPREME SOVIET OF A UNION REPUBLIC Chairman and Vice-Chairmen PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME SOVIET OF A UNION REPUBLIC President of the Presidium, Vice-Presidenls, Secretary and members of the Presidiun COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF A UNION REPUBLIC Chair man, Vice-Chair men, Ministers, Union-Republican Ministries of a Union Republic Chairmen of State Committees, Commissions and other departments as listed in the Constitution Republican Ministries of a Union Republic Sfate Committees Committees and Administration: 113
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agricultural, public education, public health and several other committees. Standing committee members, relying on their electors, help the Supreme Soviets to direct the economy and to promote social and cultural development. The number of standing committees in the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics varies, ranging i’rom 9 to 1C), and they embrace i’rom 70 to 80 per cent oi’ the deputies.

p The main powers of the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic are: the adoption of a Constitution and amendments to it; approval of the constitutions of the Autonomous Republics in the given Union Republic; adoption of republican laws; the setting up of higher organs of state power and the appointment of higher officials; the adoption of decisions on major problems of policy within the jurisdiction of the republic; approval of the republican economic development plan and budget; supreme control over the activity of republican state organs and officials.

p The right to amend the Constitution and adopt the laws of the republic lies exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Soviet, for it is the sole legislative organ of a Union Republic.

p As the custodian of the sovereign rights of a Union Republic, the Supreme Soviet elects its Presidium, forms the Council of Ministers, elects the Supreme Court and, when necessary, changes its composition.

p It has the right to control all the higher slate organs of the republic. This right is exercised by hearing reports submitted by the organs accountable to it, through its standing and temporary committees, and by asking questions.

p The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic consists of specific number of deputies determined by the Constitution of the republic.

p The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic plays a similar role in the system of its state organs as that played by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. in the system of state organs of the Soviet Union. It is the highest standing organ of state power of a Union Republic. Its powers are defined by the Constitution of the U.S.S.R. and that of the Union Republic concerned, as well as by major legislative acts of the U.S.S.R. and the 114 Union Republic. It issues decrees and decisions on mailers lying within its jurisdiction.

p Supreme Soviet of an Autonomous Republic. The highest organ of slalt: power in an Aulonomous Republic is its unicamcral Supreme Soviet, elected by its citizens on Ihe basis of universal, equal and direct sull’rage by secret ballot for a term of four years.

p The basis of representation is established by the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic and ranges from 2,000 to 20,000 of population electing one deputy.

p Numerically the Supreme Soviet consists of from 60 to 150 deputies, depending on the size of the republic’s population and territory, and its national features. Socially it consists of front-rank industrial workers, collective farmers, Party functionaries, statesmen and civic leaders. Its structure resembles that of the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic.

p It has the right to adopt and amend the Constitution of the given Autonomous Republic and submit it for approval to the Supreme Soviet of the appropriate Union Republic; to pass the laws operating in the Autonomous Republic; form higher stale organs of the Autonomous Republic and appoint or release officials; decide importanl domestic issues lying within its jurisdiction; approve the economic plan and budget of the Aulonomous Republic; and exercise supreme control over the activily of ils slalc organs and officials.

p The jurisdiction of Ihe Supreme Soviet of an Autonomous Republic naturally covers a somewhat narrower field than that of the Supreme Soviel of a Union Republic. Some importanl decisions of the Supreme Soviet of an Autonomous Republic, for example, the adoption and amendment of the Constitution, division of the territory into districts, demarcation of lown frontiers require the approval of the Supreme Soviet of the appropriate Union Republic. The Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics elecl from 7 lo 17 standing committees.

p All told the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics of Ihe 6th convocation sel up 173 slanding committees, consisting of 59.9 per cent of Ihe total number of deputies.

p The Supreme Soviel of an Autonomous Republic, elects
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115 HIGHER ORGANS OF STATE POWER AND ORGANS OF STATE ADMINISTRATION IN AN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC SUPREME SOVIET OF AN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC Credentials Commitlee Chafitnan and Vice-Chafrmen Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of an Autonomous Republic President of the Presidium, Vice-Presidents, Secretary and members of the Presidium Council of Ministers of an Autonomous Republic Ministries Committees Administrations 116
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its Presidium, forms the Council of Ministers and elects the Supreme Court.

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of an Autonomous Republic is a standing organ. It consists of a President, two Vice-Presiclcnts, a Secretary and members. Numerically it is smaller than the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic. It is fully accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic, and its powers are defined by the Constitution of the U.S.S.R., the Constitution of the Union Republic to which it belongs, and by the relevant laws of the Autonomous Republic.