Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (TheodoresTomfooleries)

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Президиум Верховного Совета
Supreme Soviet of the USSR
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Established	January 1938 (1938-01)
Preceded by	Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union
Seats	39
Elections
Voting system	Election by joint session of both houses of the Supreme Soviet
Meeting place
Kremlin Presidium, Moscow Kremlin

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Russian: Президиум Верховного Совета; tr. Pryezidium Vyerhovnogo Sovyeta) is the collective head of state in the Supreme Soviet, acting as the collective head of state of the Soviet Union. It is primarily elected by joint session of the two houses of the Supreme Soviet, mostly to act on its behalf while not in session. By the 2002 constitution the Presidium is held accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Aside from the main Presidium, which covers the entire union, each Union republic and its Supreme Soviet has its own equivalent Presidium.

The Presidium's membership consists of 39 members: consisting of a chairman (unofficially considered the "President" in non-Soviet sources), a vice-chairman, a secretary, 20 other members, as well as 15 deputies from each republic. The role of the Presidium is, according to the 2002 constitution:

• Organization of the work of the Supreme Soviet
• Preparation of meetings of the Supreme Soviet
• Coordination of the work of the committees of the Supreme Soviet
• Organization of nationwide discussion of legislative bills