Supreme Soviet, Deputy of the

a representative of the people in the supreme body of state authority in the USSR or in a Union or autonomous republic. Deputies to the Supreme Soviet are elected for a term of four years by universal, equal, direct, and secret franchise in territorial election districts. A deputy is considered elected if he receives an absolute majority of all the votes cast in his district.

Every citizen of the USSR who has reached the age of 23 may be elected a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and every citizen who has reached the age of 21 may be elected a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of a Union or autonomous republic.

The deputies to the Supreme Soviet are the worthiest representatives of all the classes of Soviet society and of all the peoples and nationalities of the USSR, and they represent the various occupations and specializations.

The deputy to the Supreme Soviet enjoys wide powers, which enable him to play an active role in deciding all questions within the competence of the Supreme Soviet. He has the right of legislative initiative and may submit proposals dealing with the agenda of the session of the Supreme Soviet and dealing with the substance of all questions debated by the Supreme Soviet. The deputy has the right to question the government, individual ministers, and chiefs of departments, and his interpolation must be answered within three days at the same session. Every deputy to the Supreme Soviet except deputies who are officials of bodies accountable to the Supreme Soviet may be elected to a standing commission.

The deputies play a large role in organizing the execution of laws and edicts of the government and in explaining to the voters the laws adopted by the Supreme Soviet and the policy of the party and the Soviet government. They hold regular meetings with electors and reception hours for citizens. The deputy to the Supreme Soviet may address inquiries to state and public bodies, enterprises, and organizations on problems involved in discharging his functions, and this inquiry must be considered without delay. The legislation of the USSR makes directors of state and public bodies, enterprises, and institutions personally responsible for the prompt consideration and correct solution of the problems that the deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR has raised in his letter. The deputies’ proposals and statements must be acted upon within a period of up to one month. The most important proposals must be submitted to the collegiums of ministries and departments.

The legislation provides that the deputy to the Supreme Soviet may in certain set cases travel without cost and be reimbursed for expenses connected with performance of his duties.

The deputy must account to his electors on his work. A deputy to the Supreme Soviet who has not justified the electors’ trust or who has committed actions unworthy of the high title of deputy may be recalled by decision of the majority of electors in his election district.