Latvian SSR (1940–1941, 1944–1990)TypeTypeHistoryEstablished1940
1947 (Re-established)Disbanded1941 (Nazi occupation)
1990Preceded byPeople's ParliamentSucceeded bySupreme Council of the Republic of LatviaLeadershipElections1990Meeting placeHouse of the Livonian Noble Corporation, Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union

The Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR (Latvian: Latvijas PSR Augstākā Padome; Russian: Верховный Совет Латвийской ССР, Verkhovnyy Sovet Latvyyskoy SSR) was the supreme soviet (main legislative institution) 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^[1] 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 amount of five-year terms.^[2] 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 several days twice a year and decisions were made unanimously and without much discussion. Elections for the Supreme Soviet were held in 1947, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. The amount 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.

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet

Portrait	Chairman	From	To
	Alexander Masecis	25 August 1940	14 October 1948
	Peteris Zvaigzne	14 October 1948	1953
	Edgar Apinis	1956	1957
	Janis Vanags	5 June 1957	20 March 1963
	Peteris Valeskalns	20 March 1963	7 July 1971
	Alesandrs Malmeisters	7 July 1971	3 July 1975
	Valentina Klibik	3 July 1975	29 March 1985
	Alexander Drizul	29 March 1985	27 July 1989
	Anatolijs Gorbunovs	27 July 1989	4 May 1990

Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet

Portrait	Chairman	From	To
	Augusts Kirhenšteins	25 August 1940	10 March 1952
	Kārlis Ozoliņš	10 March 1952	27 November 1959
	Jānis Kalnbērziņš	27 November 1959	5 May 1970
	Vitālijs Rubenis	5 May 1970	20 August 1974
	Peteris Strautmanis	20 August 1974	22 July 1985
	Janis Vagris	22 July 1985	6 October 1988
	Anatolijs Gorbunovs	6 October 1988	4 May 1990

See also

• On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia
• Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
• Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia
• Saeima

References