ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the nature of the new Supreme Soviet by taking a look at the birth of its committee system. It focuses on how the committees were created during the first days of the new Supreme Soviet's first session. The 1988 constitutional amendments created a new Supreme Soviet, a standing legislature whose 542 members were subordinate to the Congress of People's Deputies and elected from and by its deputies. The procedure used to establish the new Supreme Soviet's committees and its chambers' commissions significantly differed from past practice. Mikhail S. Gorbachev nominated candidates for committee and commission chairmen at separate and joint sessions of the chambers. Staffing, infrastructure, and budget questions are part of the foundation of any committee system. The personal and professional qualities of chairmen and members influenced the effectiveness of the committee system. Political activity organized outside the party was anathema to the old Supreme Soviet.
