In 1989 the Congress of People's Deputies, was largely a ceremonial forum meeting only a few days a year to ratify and debate party and government decisions.

It elected from its own membership the Supreme Soviet to carry out legislative functions between sittings of the congress.

Congress of People's Deputies

The Supreme Soviet would serve as a permanent legislature, deciding all but the most important issues, such as amendments to the Soviet constitution, which were left to the full Congress only

Supreme Soviet

Supreme Soviet ratified council membership

The council enacted the decisions of the party and therefore administered, every aspect of Soviet life.

Its primary task, however, was to manage the economy.

The Council of Ministers had the power to issue decrees, which carried the same force of law as legislative acts of the Supreme Soviet. The Supreme Soviet or, indirectly, the Congress of People's Deputies, could annul a decree if it found the decree to be in violation of the Constitution

Council of ministers

As well as changing the entire political landscape of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev also wished to reform the Communist Party.

He believed that such reforms would legitimise their dominance on power.

Read through the bullet points of reforms Gorbachev implemented on p.152 under “Reform of the Party”.

Take notes on which you think were the THREE most important.

Explain the ambiguities of these reforms using the paragraph underneath the bullet points.

Gorbachev realised that his new parliamentary system was not working effectively.

Therefore he created an executive presidency in 1990. This position was initially meant to be elected by the people. However, Gorbachev got himself elected by Congress though with only 71% of deputies voting for him (there were no other candidates).

Presidency seemed a powerful position. Its powers included:

Right to veto legislation Appoint PM and other important gov’t

positions Dissolve both government and Supreme

Soviet. Declare a state of emergency.

Gorbachev wanted a return to strong government, without the fragmentation of the parliamentary system.

However, his authority was considerably dented by not submitting himself for popular election.

Explain the results of these changes using p.155.

Explain the different interpretations of Gorbachev’s political changes using “Exploring the detail” box on p.155.

A new programme for the Communist Party was drafted in August 1991.

The notion that the USSR was moving towards a Communist society had disappeared. Even the mention of Communism had almost vanished.

Socialism was seen as an end in itself, rather than a means to Communism. And the Soviet Union was encouraged o learn from capitalism.

Such a programme was seen as a severe threat to the “old” Communist, who organised a coup to overthrow Gorbachev from power.

Soviet tanks in Moscow as ordered by the coup plotters