The Soviets after their Reorganization

Abstract

The November (1962) Plenum of the CPSU Central Committee, which strengthened the role of the Communist Party in guidance to the economy, reorganized the party in accordance with the production principle. Corresponding reorganizations were carried out in the soviets. These bodies were reorganized in accordance with the production principle in all the union republics at the end of 1962 and early in 1963. In the Russian Federation, the basis for this reorganization was established by a decree of the Presidium of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, "On Reorganization of the Territorial, Regional, and District Soviets of Working People's Deputies of the RSFSR," dated December 26, 1962. In accordance with this decree, two organs of authority, industrial and rural soviets of working people's deputies, were established in 5 territories and 37 regions in which both industry and agriculture are substantial. In the remaining 12 regions and 5 autonomous regions, as well as in Khabarovsk Territory, where either industry or agriculture dominates, single agencies of state authority (regional or territorial soviets, respectively) were retained. The pre-existing 1,946 districts underwent considerable reorganization. They were replaced by 938 rural districts and 111 industrial districts. It should be noted that the rural districts, except for 143, were merged to correspond to the boundaries of the collective farm-state farm production administrations, while the 143 — northern, mountainous, and remote districts — were generally left unchanged as regards their boundaries.