Sovnarkom + 1918 Constitution

• Also known as the Council of People's Commissars, the Sovnarkom was formed in 1917 following the October Revolution.
• The Sovnarkom was the executive branch of the Soviet government and the chairman was the equivalent of a Prime Minister.

  • They met everyday.
• The 1918 Constitution was published in July.

  • Although it claimed to place power in the hands of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, which was responsible for electing the Sovnarkom, this was purely a propaganda exercise.
• Although officially appointed by the Congress, the Sovnarkom was in reality chosen by the Bolshevik leadership in the Communist Party Central Committee.
• The Congress of Soviets only met infrequently whereas the Sovnarkom ran the country on a day-to-day basis.