The Great Terror had an enormous impact upon the elite, leading to the fundamental transformation of the nature of elite politics. This transformation was both structural, in terms of the formal organisational contours of the leading institutions, and personal through substantial levels of turnover in the elite. By the end of this period, the Stalinist political system as sketched in the introduction was in place.

Changing institutional parameters

The most important change in the contours of the state structure during this period was associated with the introduction of the Stalin Constitution in December 1936. This ushered in a new governmental structure in which the former Ail-Union Congress of Soviets was replaced by a bicameral Supreme Soviet as ‘the highest organ of state power’ (#30). As an executive organ, the legislature elected a Presidium which, formally, had wide powers in the issuing of decrees, the vetting of decisions and orders of Sovnarkom to ensure their legality, and the right, between sessions of the Supreme Soviet, to appoint and dismiss ministers. ‘The highest executive and administrative organ’ remained Sovnarkom. Formally responsible to the Supreme Soviet and its Presidium, Sovnarkom had wide powers to issue decisions and orders, and had particular responsibility in the economic sphere. This is reflected in the reorganisation of STO (The Council of Labour and Defence) into the Economic Council of Sovnarkom in 1937 and in the formation in 1940 of six subordinate economic councils responsible for defence industry, metallurgy and chemicals, engineering, fuels and electricity, mass consumption goods, and agriculture.