| the legislature of the former Soviet Union and its successor states, consisting of an upper house (Soviet of the Union or Council of the Union), whose delegates are elected on the basis of population, and a lower house (Soviet of Nationalities or Council of Nationalities), whose delegates are elected to represent the various nationalities. |
| Supreme Soviet n. The bicameral legislature of the former Soviet Union, with members elected in one house from the population at large and in the other from the constituent national republics. [Translation of Russian Verkhovnyĭ Sovet.] |
