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Soviet Union [USSR] Amendment Process
Adoption of the Constitution was a legislative act of the
Supreme Soviet. Amendments to the Constitution were likewise
adopted by legislative act of that body. Amendments required the
approval of a two-thirds majority of the deputies of the Congress
of People's Deputies and could be initiated by the congress itself;
the Supreme Soviet, acting through its commissions and committees;
the Presidium or chairman of the Supreme Soviet; the Constitutional
Oversight Committee; the Council of Ministers; republic soviets;
the Committee of People's Control; the Supreme Court; the
Procuracy; and the chief state arbiter. In addition, the leading
boards of official organizations and even the
Academy of Sciences (see Glossary) could initiate amendments
and other legislation.
Soviet constitutions have been frequently amended and have been
changed more often than in the West. Nevertheless, the 1977
Constitution attempted to avoid frequent amendment by establishing
regulations for government bodies in separate, but equally
authoritative, enabling legislation, such as the Law on the Council
of Ministers of July 5, 1978. Other enabling legislation has
included a law on citizenship, a law on elections to the Supreme
Soviet, a law on the status of Supreme Soviet deputies, regulations
for the Supreme Soviet, a resolution on commissions, regulations on
local government, and laws on the Supreme Court and the Procuracy.
The enabling legislation provided the specific and changing
operating rules for these government bodies.
Data as of May 1989
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