Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

The Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR was the highest organ of state authority of the Latvian SSR, one of the union republics of the Soviet Union. The Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR was established in 1940 as the People's Saeima and finally disbanded in 1990 and was briefly succeeded by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia. According to the 1978 Constitution of the Latvian SSR, representatives could serve an unlimited number of five-year terms. The Supreme Soviet consisted of 325 deputies before its dissolution.

Organization

The structure and functions of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR were copied from the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. The sessions of the Supreme Soviet lasted only a few days twice a year, and decisions were made unanimously and with minimal discussion. Elections for the Supreme Soviet were held in 1947, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. The number of deputies in the Supreme Soviet was increased from 310 to 325 in the 1978 Constitution of the Latvian SSR. The Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR gathered and met at the House of the Livonian Noble Corporation; the building currently houses the Saeima of Latvia.