OOC: Pictures and information on Soviet Politicians from 1960-70 is hard to find, so I am going to use modern Russian politicians, which I know quite a bit about, and we will just pretend they were alive.
IC:
The Empire Must Endure
A random day in Moscow...
Leonid Brezhnev - old, hard line Communist
Brezhnev was at odds with Smirnov. The Czar that Brezhnev used to support so much was moving the country into a direction that the old Communist did not agree with. Walking down the path inside the Kremlin Brezhnev was considering what the Czar have said to him earlier. "Civil and Political rights are a foundation of a sound state. We must have both, or we will have no state." The Czar of course was not thinking of democracy or, God forbid, capitalism, but still...Brezhnev did not like the way the nation was going, and was going to do his best to change its course.
2 days later...
Gennady Zyuganov - a young and prominent Communist
Alexei Kosygin was fired by the Czar as the economic minister. Replaced by a very liberal Sedov. Kosygin, an old ally of Brezhnev hated Sedov and was wondering if Kremlin has begun an attack on Communists. While he was getting ready to get out of his office Gromyko walked in, and they talked quitely about something. Zyuganov joined them in a bit. The three of them went outside and started off towards the building of the Moscow Soviet...
Same day...
Mikhail Gorbachev - a leading reformer in the Communist Party
Shvenik, Gorbachev and Smirnov were sitting and drinking tea. The three were discussing what and how needs to change in Russia. How exactly do we build true Communism was the question they fased. Lenin tried, Stalin tried, Khruschev tried, and now it was their job to try and do their best. Finally, well into the night the three Communist leaders left the room and went to meet with their respective followers. Russia was going to change...fast.
Next day...
Alexei Kosygin - one of the strongest Brezhnev supporters
The Supreme Soviet was meeting today. As the meeting opened Brezhnev apeared and together with Gromyko and Kosygin announced that the Czar has taken course that was going to lead the nation to capitalism. This caused a furor and the Czar's representative, Chernenko, was rushed out of the building. The Supreme Soviet announced a special session and opened the debate as to what to do. At 3 pm that day came Czar's order to dismiss the Supreme Soviet. The leaders of the Soviet refused.
Day after that...
Another reformer in the Communist Party
Brezhnev presented his cause to the Supreme Soviet while at the same time the Czar and Gorbachev went on national radio and explained what was going on. Russia would remain Communist, the power center would simply change and the population would reseive more freedoms. Russia was moving in a progressive direction, not regressive. After the announcement the Supreme Soviet, instead of backing Brezhnev passed a vote of no confidence in government. Gromyko, Kosygin, Malenkov resigned immediatley, Brezhnev after a few hours. Nikolay Shvernik was given the task of forming a new government.
Two weeks later...
Shvernik appeared before the Supreme Soviet and presented the new government structure that the leaders have designed. Shvernik himself was a supporter of what he called "people's communism" and spoke out against party-dominated politics of Russia. His government system looked like this:
Federal Government
Legislature
People's Congress - The representative body, with members elected by direct popular vote from all republics. The base of legislative power, 2,700 representatives meet 2 times a year to confirm the actions of the higher branches or to take them down and re-form them.
Congress of Soviets - Members elected by regional and city soviets. The higher legislative assembly. The republics send a total of 1,400 representatives who's job is to monitor the activities of higher legislative powers.
Duma - 250 Representatives, 100 elected from the People's Congress, 100 from the Congress of Soviets and 50 by direct popular election. The main legislative body that makes laws of Russia.
Speaker of Duma - the leader of the majority in Duma, who is responsible for organization, is the chairman of the organization and is the main majority representative
Leader of the Minority in Duma - leaders of smaller factions in Duma. No official powers, but they represent their respective factions in most affairs.
President - The President of Russia, he is elected by the Duma, and needs to aprove all legislature before it is made a law. The head of State of Russia.
Council of Federation - The upper legislative house. 150 representatives proportionally from the republics. Nominated by the legislatures of the republics and confirmed by the Czar. Have to aprove laws passed by Duma.
Executive
Council of Ministers - The basis of executive power of Russia. An organization of 12 ministers who are responsible for specific areas. The ministers are apointed by the Premier and confirmned by Duma.
Premier - The head of Government of Russia. Responsible for all executive desisions of the government. Elected by the Council of Federation.
Czar - Highest power in Russia. Confirms all laws and can declare passed laws null. Is the leader of the Armed Forces.
The Supreme Soviet started the debate, but then Mikhail Smirnov appeared and asked them to pass it. With the Czar present the Supreme Soviet passed the new constitution, Mikhail signed it immediatley.
As soon as that was done, Shvernik resigned his position and announced elections to be help in 2 months. All political parties are legal, although not many have a chance to get into the Congress of Soviets, and so members of the now disbanded Supreme Soviet begun to organize.
The Russian Empire was slowly, but surely, heading to true Communism