President of the Soviet Union facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Unionof Soviet Socialist Republics |
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Flag of the President as the
Commander-in-chief |
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| Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Government of the Soviet Union |
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| Style | Mr. President (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic) Comrade Supreme Commander (military) |
| Residence | Kremlin Senate, Moscow |
| Appointer |
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| Precursor | Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (as head of state) |
| Formation | 15 March 1990 |
| First holder | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| Final holder | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| Abolished | 25 December 1991 |
| Succession | None (USSR dissolved) |
The President of the Soviet Union was the top leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). This important job existed for a short time, from March 15, 1990, to December 25, 1991.
Mikhail Gorbachev was the only person to ever hold this position. He was also the leader of the Communist Party. Over time, his power shifted more to his role as president. This happened especially after a failed attempt to remove him from power in 1991.
Contents
History of the Presidency
Why a President?
The idea of having a single leader, like a president, first came up in the 1930s. This was when the Soviet Constitution of 1936 was being written. However, Joseph Stalin, who was the most powerful person at the time, didn't like the idea.
Stalin believed that a single president could become too powerful. He thought it would go against the spirit of their constitution. Instead, he preferred that a group of leaders, called the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, act as the head of state. This group was chosen by the Supreme Soviet, not by everyone. Stalin felt this system was more democratic and safer for the country.
Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, the idea of a president came up again. Leaders like Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev considered it. But each time, the group leadership (the Presidium) remained the official head of state.
The First Election
Finally, on February 7, 1990, members of the Communist Party voted to create the presidency. The first and only presidential election happened on March 14, 1990.
The Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union decided who would be the first president. They chose a president for a five-year term. The plan was for future presidents to be chosen by a public vote starting in 1995.
What the President Did
Important Responsibilities
The President of the Soviet Union had many important duties. This role was a mix of the powers seen in the presidents of the United States and France.
Before this new role, the official head of state was the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. But for most of Soviet history, the real power was held by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Chairman of the Presidium mostly had symbolic duties.
The president had many powers, including:
- Being the top commander of the armed forces.
- Suggesting new laws and stopping laws they disagreed with.
- Choosing the Prime Minister and other government officials. The Supreme Soviet had to approve the Prime Minister.
- Declaring emergencies or martial law in parts of the Soviet Union.
- Representing the country to other nations and signing international agreements.
- Calling for national votes (referendums) on important issues.
- Giving military ranks and special honorary titles.
- Allowing people who had been exiled or disagreed with the government to return.
- Overruling government decisions that broke the constitution or harmed citizens' rights.
The Vice President's Role
The Vice President of the Soviet Union was the second-in-command. If the president could not do their job, the vice president would take over.
Gennady Yanayev was the only person to be Vice President. In August 1991, he became the acting president during a coup attempt. This attempt to take power failed after three days. Mikhail Gorbachev was then put back in his role as president.
End of the Office
After the failed coup, Gorbachev remained president. But the Soviet Union was falling apart. On December 25, 1991, he resigned. He announced that his office no longer existed because the country was dissolving. The powers of the Soviet President then went to the new President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin.
Oath of Office
When he became president, Mikhail Gorbachev took a special oath. He placed his right hand on a copy of the Soviet Constitution. He promised: "I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the peoples of our nations, to strictly observe the Soviet Constitution, to guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens and to conscientiously fulfill the high responsibilities placed in me as president of the Soviet Union."
Presidential Administration
The President had several groups and councils to help with governing. These included:
- The State Council
- The Presidential Council
- The Federation Council
- The Defense Council
- The Security Council
List of Presidents
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born-Died) |
Term of office | Political Party | Election | Vice President | Prime Ministers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||||
| 1 | .jpg) |
Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–2022) |
15 March 1990 | 25 December 1991 | 1 year, 285 days | Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
1990 | Office vacant (until 27 December 1990) |
Nikolai Ryzhkov | |
| Gennady Yanayev | Valentin Pavlov | |||||||||
| Office abolished (after 21 August 1991) |
Ivan Silayev | |||||||||
| — | Gennady Yanayev (1937–2010) Acting |
19 August 1991 | 21 August 1991 | 2 days | Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
— | Office vacant | Valentin Pavlov | ||
| — | Office vacant | 25 December 1991 | 26 December 1991 | 1 day | — | — | Office vacant | Office vacant | ||
See also
In Spanish: Presidente de la Unión Soviética para niños
