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p Composition of the local Soviets. The Soviets of Working People’s Deputies are an integral part of a single system of the representative organs.

p They exercise state power and independently decide matters lying within their jurisdiction in territories, regions, areas, towns, townships or villages.

p All local Soviets are elected for a term of two years on the basis of representation defined by the Union Republics.

p They direct the work of administrative organs subordinated to them, ensure the maintenance of law and order, the observance of laws and the protection of the rights of citizens, direct local economic and cultural affairs and draw up the local budget. They play a particularly important role in expanding trade and boosting consumer goods production, developing cultural and welfare facilities, building roads and promoting public services and amenities in towns and villages. As organs of power standing the closest to the population, they show daily concern for the people and ensure the fullest satisfaction of their requirements. At the same time, they can take part in discussing matters of state significance by submitting their suggestions to appropriate organs.

p In March 1967, a total of 2,045,419 deputies were elected to more than 48,000 local Soviets.  [116•*  This is many
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117 COMPOSITION OF THE DEPUTY BODY OF LOCAL SOVIETS ELECTED IN 1967 SEX: WORKING IN Men m?^m per(57.2 )cent industry, construction and transport perM9 9jcepf Women agriculture PARTY MEMBERSHIP : trade and catering Members and candidatemembers of the C.P.S.U. housing, communal and other public services. Non- Party people Science, culture, education and public health YCL members Soviets EDUCATION: Parly bodies Primary Trade unions and YCL Incomplete secondary other organisations Secondary AGE: Higher Up to 24 OCCUPATION: 25 to 29 Factory workers 30 to 39 Collective farmers 40 to 49 Office and professional workers %$&$***&?% ’"”“” "Xl 39 1 K^X/ 50 and over e;>^ V-i 118
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more than wore elected in the preceding elections. These figures strikingly testify to the growing trend towards greater representation of all sections of the people.

p In the Soviet multinational state it is very important for all nations and national groups to be represented in the Soviets. This representation is secured by the election of deputies from the more than 100 nations and nationalities inhabiting the U.S.S.R.

p The principle of replacing deputies is consistently implemented in all elections. Suffice it to say that nearly half of the deputies in the present Soviets have been elected for the first time. This vividly demonstrates the fact that more and more millions of people are given the opportunity to work in the Soviets and in this way acquire experience of state administration and the political knowledge.

p The Soviets play a very important role. They have extensive powers and an adequate financial and material basis for implementing these powers.

p The considerable funds (the local budget) at their disposal increase from year to year. At the same time, in order to promote communist construction successfully it is imperative to enhance the role of the local Soviets still further and to grant them greater independence in all local problems.

p Sessions of the local Soviets. The basic organisational form by means of which the Soviets carry out their functions are sessions or meetings of deputies at which problems lying within the jurisdiction of the Soviets arc discussed and the corresponding resolutions are passed in the presence of the deputies and invited persons. This ensures the Soviets with the necessary collegiality, publicity, and comprehensive examination of problems of state administration and economic and cultural development, and broad criticism of shortcomings in the work of various organisations. The sessions discuss reports submitted by executive bodies (Executive Committees, their departments and administrations) and deputies’ questions, and control the activity of the administrative apparatus subordinated to the Soviets.

p These sessions are convened periodically as prescribed by the Constitutions of the republics. They may also be held

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at the request of a higher Soviet or its Executive Committee or upon the demand of a group of deputies. A session can legally transact its business if a quorum of not less than two-thirds of the deputies is present.

DEPUTIES TO LOCAL SOVIETS 1939 y 1.277.091 ^ 1959 y 1.801.663 ^ 1961 y 1.822.049 ’ 1963 y 1.958.565 1965 _> 2.010.303 _v 1967 y 2.045.419

p The deputies elect a chairman of the session and a secretary.

p At their sessions the local Soviets discuss a wide range of economic and cultural problems.

p Many of the Soviets inform the population of a forthcoming session and its agenda, and also sponsor preliminary discussions of the draft decisions at meetings of. citizens held in auditoriums at factory level.

p Noteworthy in this respect is the activity of the Novosibirsk City Soviet. Some 4.000 people took part in discussing the draft resolution of the city Soviet “On the situation and further measures to strengthen socialist law and public order in Novosibirsk”. As a result of this all-sided preliminary discussion the draft resolution was substantially amended and became more viable, purposeful and in greater measure reflected the suggestions of the public.

p Circuit sessions held directly at enterprises or collective farms are widely practised. As a rule, these sessions examine ways and means of improving cultural and welfare services, housing programmes, the organisation of public services and amenities in the various localities, and so forth.

p These sessions are attended by workers, collective farmers and specialists well acquainted with local conditions. They advise the deputies and help them pass the best decisions.

p In recent years it has become customary for deputies to organise meetings with their electors after each session of the Soviet in order to explain to the population the 120 decisions taken by the Soviet and secure active support for them. Such meetings also help to strengthen public control over the observance of these decisions.

p Standing committees. All Soviets without exception form standing committees. In some Union Republics, not only deputies but also activists—workers, collective farmers and intellectuals—are members of these standing committees.

p The local Soviets elected in 1967 set up at their first sessions over 300,000 standing committees consisting of a total of 1,666,513 deputies. Thus, the bulk of the deputies not only take part in the sittings of the Soviets but also in the day-to-day business of their standing committees. But even this figure does not give a full picture of the mass character of the standing committees. The fact is that without any remuneration over 2,500,000 activists devote their free time to helping the standing committees.

p The law does not limit the number of standing committees a local Soviet may have.

p Each Soviet takes into account the strength of the deputy bodj’ and local conditions, and independently decides how many committees it requires.

p A rural Soviet usually has from four to five standing committees—credentials, budget and finance, agriculture, and culture and welfare.

p A district Soviet has from 10 to 12 standing committees supervising various branches of economy and culture.

p Regional Soviets have from (> to 14 standing committees: budget, planning, industry and building, agriculture, municipal economy, housing and town planning, trade and public catering, education and culture, health services and social security, transport and communications, road building, socialist legality, the maintenance of law and order, and others.

p The standing committees are auxiliary bodies of the local Soviets and perform a great deal of work.

p They prepare the drafts of the decisions passed by the Soviets, submit co-reports at the sessions of Soviets and at meetings of their Executive Committees, and annually carry out hundreds of thousands of checks and inspections.

p The powers of the local Soviet standing committees arc being further extended and an increasing number of questions now under the jurisdiction of the departments and 121 sections of the Executive Committees are referred to them for decision.

In some regions mailers such as placing children in kindergarlcns and creches, renovating apartmenls, and so on, have been referred to the standing committees for decision.