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The '''Soviet Union''' (Russian: Советский Союз, ''Sovyetskiy Soyuz''),  officially the '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics''' (or '''USSR''') (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик, ''Soyuz Sovietskykh Sotsialisticheskykh Respublik'', abbreviated ''СССР'') was a [[progressive]] [[police state]] that existed from 1922 to December 25, 1991,<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ussr-established/ This Day in History USSR Established 1922]</ref> then broke into 15 separate countries, most notably [[Russia]]. The USSR guaranteed free healthcare and jobs as a basic right, even if the employment was in a [[gulag]] as a [[slave]] of the [[state]].  Throughout its history, the leadership in the [[Kremlin]] and [[Politburo]] was never dominated by ethnic Russians.  The communist ideology suppressed the dominant culture and national identity while promoting [[diversity]] and inclusion. of minorities.   

The '''Soviet Union''' (Russian: Советский Союз, ''Sovyetskiy Soyuz''),  officially the '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics''' (or '''USSR''') (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик, ''Soyuz Sovietskykh Sotsialisticheskykh Respublik'', abbreviated ''СССР'') was a [[progressive]] [[police state]] that existed from 1922 to December 25, 1991,<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ussr-established/ This Day in History USSR Established 1922]</ref> then broke into 15 separate countries, most notably [[Russia]].  Throughout its history, the leadership in the [[Kremlin]] and [[Politburo]] was never dominated by ethnic Russians.  The communist ideology suppressed the dominant culture and national identity while promoting [[diversity]] and inclusion. of minorities.   

The Soviet Union was the most powerful established [[socialist]] state in history, coming to power under [[Lenin]] in 1918 and killing tens of millions of its people to establish an extreme [[leftwing]] ideology. Neither Russia nor the Soviet Union had any tradition of [[democracy]], and the Russian people never voted for socialism or communism.   

The Soviet Union was the most powerful established [[socialist]] state in history, coming to power under [[Lenin]] in 1918 and killing tens of millions of its people to establish an extreme [[leftwing]] ideology. Neither Russia nor the Soviet Union had any tradition of [[democracy]], and the Russian people never voted for socialism or communism.   

[[File:200px-Coat of arms of the Soviet Union.svg.png|thumbnail|200px|Coat of arms of the Soviet Union. The legend on the red ribbon repeats, in the fifteen national languages spoken in the original "republics," the final line from Karl Marx' Communist Manifesto: [[Workers of the world, unite!|"Workers of all countries, unite!"]] The hammer-sickle device overspreading the world signifies the spread of Communism worldwide.]]

[[File:200px-Coat of arms of the Soviet Union.svg.png|thumbnail|200px|Coat of arms of the Soviet Union. The legend on the red ribbon repeats, in the fifteen national languages spoken in the original "republics," the final line from Karl Marx' Communist Manifesto: [[Workers of the world, unite!|"Workers of all countries, unite!"]] The hammer-sickle device overspreading the world signifies the spread of Communism worldwide.]]

{{Main|Soviet Union government}}

{{Main|Soviet Union government}}

The Soviet Union administered the country's economy and society through decisions made by the extremely authoritarian leading political institution in the country, the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU).

The Soviet Union administered the country's economy and society through decisions made by the extremely authoritarian leading political institution in the country, the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU). The USSR guaranteed free healthcare and jobs as a basic right, even if the employment was in a [[gulag]] as a [[slave]] of the [[state]].  

   

   

In the late 1980s, the government appeared to have many characteristics in common with other Western, democratic political systems. For instance, a constitution established all organs of government and granted to citizens a series of political and civic rights. A legislative body, the Congress of People's Deputies, and its standing legislature, the Supreme Soviet, represented the principle of popular sovereignty. The Supreme Soviet, which had an elected chairman who functioned as head of state, oversaw the Council of Ministers, which acted as the executive branch of the government. The chairman of the Council of Ministers, whose selection was approved by the legislative branch, functioned as head of government. A constitutionally based judicial branch of government included a court system, headed by the Supreme Court, which was responsible for overseeing the observance of Soviet law by government bodies. According to the Constitution of 1977, the government had a federal structure, permitting the republics some authority over policy implementation and offering the national minorities the appearance of participation in the management of their own affairs.  

In the late 1980s, the government appeared to have many characteristics in common with other Western, democratic political systems. For instance, a constitution established all organs of government and granted to citizens a series of political and civic rights. A legislative body, the Congress of People's Deputies, and its standing legislature, the Supreme Soviet, represented the principle of popular sovereignty. The Supreme Soviet, which had an elected chairman who functioned as head of state, oversaw the Council of Ministers, which acted as the executive branch of the government. The chairman of the Council of Ministers, whose selection was approved by the legislative branch, functioned as head of government. A constitutionally based judicial branch of government included a court system, headed by the Supreme Court, which was responsible for overseeing the observance of Soviet law by government bodies. According to the Constitution of 1977, the government had a federal structure, permitting the republics some authority over policy implementation and offering the national minorities the appearance of participation in the management of their own affairs.