ABSTRACT
The Soviet, or Council, was composed of persons elected by means of an elastic franchise. It was, in its early stages, a revolutionary committee, self-appointed, but related to other similarly appointed revolutionary committees, from which were sent delegates to a council of councils, and in this way, by means of a pyramid of councils, the Soviet system was formed. The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet decided to convoke a General Congress of Soviets in November. Power had been seized by the Soviet while responsibility rested upon the Government. The Provisional Government had been unable to protect the country against the external enemy, and it was hourly showing its incapacity to maintain internal order. The growth of the power of the Petrograd Soviet, together with the formation of numerous Soviets of similar character throughout European Russia, led to many regulations which were sent at their instance to the army at the front.
