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The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was a state body in the Soviet Union elected by the Supreme Soviet. It consisted of a President, 16 Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and 24 other members. The Presidium could not make laws, but it could exercise the following powers:
- Convene sessions of the Supreme Soviet
- Interpret laws and issue decrees
- Dissolve the Supreme Soviet and order new elections
- Conduct referendums
- Annul decisions of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR or individual union republics
- Appoint members of the Council of People's Commissars with approval from the Supreme Soviet
- Award titles of honor
- Pardon people convicted of crimes
- Appoint and remove high-ranking military officers
- Declare war in the event of a foreign invasion while the Supreme Soviet was not in session
- Order general or partial mobilization of the military
- Ratify international treaties
- Appoint and recall representatives of the USSR to other countries
- Receive recalls of representatives from foreign countries
- Proclaim martial law to defend public order and state security[1]
References
- ↑ Joseph Stalin (1936). Constitution (Fundamental law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: 'The Highest Organs of State Authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'. Moscow: Kremlin.