The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a body of state power in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 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. In all its activities, the Presidium was accountable to the Supreme Council of the USSR. Beside the all-Union body there also were in all union republics and other regions including autonomous republics. Structure and functions of the presidiums in these republics were virtually identical. During discussions in regards to adaptation of the 1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union, on proposition to elect chair person of the Presidium by whole population of the country as in the United States the President, Stalin argued: "In the system of our Constitution, in the USSR should not be a president in one person elected by whole population equally with the Supreme Council and able to oppose to the Supreme Council. The experience of history shows that such a construction of the supreme organs is the most democratic, guaranteeing the country from undesirable accidents."
The building of the Presidium
Its building, situated inside the Moscow Kremlin, was appropriately named the Kremlin Presidium. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was elected by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR at a joint session of both chambers at the first session of each after convocation. The deputies of the Presidium were appointed for the duration of the term of office of the Supreme Soviet. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR consisted of a chairman, a first vice-chairman, his 15 deputies, a secretary, and 20 members. The Presidium was accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for all its activities. From 1936 to 1989, the chairman of the Presidium was reckoned as the Soviet Union's de jurehead of state, and was sometimes referred to as the "president of the Soviet Union" in non-Soviet sources.
Constitutional powers
At inception
According to the 1936 Constitution of the USSR, as in force as enacted originally, the basic powers of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were:
promulgation of decrees ;
interpretation of current Soviet laws;
dissolution of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of Article 47 of the 1936 Constitution of the USSR and scheduling new elections: implementing a national referendum on its own initiative or at the request of one of the republics of the Union;
of decrees, issued by the Council of Ministers and Council of Ministers of the republics of the Union in case there is a discrepancy with the law;
relieving the Premier of the Council of Ministers of his job and appointing Ministers of the USSR with the subsequent submittal for the Supreme Soviet’s approval;
establishment of orders and medals of the USSR and implementing the awarding procedures;
establishment of honorary titles of the USSR and their assignment;
establishment of military and diplomatic ranks and other special ranks;
declaration of the general and partial mobilization;
declaration of war in case of an attack on the USSR or in case when it was necessary to implement obligations of international mutual defense treaties;
declaration of the martial law in a given region or across the USSR in the interest of defending the USSR or preserving public order and state security.
The presidium also dealt with questions regarding the acquisition of the Soviet citizenship, its forfeiting or voluntary rejection.
At abolition
According to the 1977 Constitution of the USSR, as in force at the union's dissolution, the basic powers of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were:
There have been four individuals appointed vice head of state. At over eight years, Vasily Kuznetsov spent the longest time in office. Gennady Yanayev spent the shortest time in office.
