The supreme body of state power: The Supreme Soviet normalized and contested, 1955-1985

The Supreme Soviet remained a nominal legislature. As demonstrated in this chapter, its main functions were the performance of loyalty to the party, descriptive representation, integration of the singular Soviet people, and amplification of official discourse. It also became permanently involved in foreign policy since 1955. The official discourse on parliaments and the Supreme Soviet was ambiguous and shifted over time, but a complete rejection of parliamentarism was not possible due to the Supreme Soviet's normalization as a parliament through international exchanges. The Supreme Soviet was widely criticized domestically and internationally, being called a "rubber stamp." Many dissident and émigré intellectuals supported democratization, although there were those who supported non-parliamentary regimes.