A Window on the Congress

Here are some facts about the Congress of People’s Deputies, which is convening in Moscow to map out the political future of Russia.

The Deputies: The 1,033 deputies who registered for the current emergency session of the Russian Congress were elected to five-year terms by voters in 1990, when Russia was part of the Soviet Union. The Communist Party was the only legal party then, and 86% of the deputies were members of the party. But independents made a strong showing, as leading Communist lawmakers were sitting in the larger and more important Soviet Congress of People’s Deputies, which is now defunct.

The Powers: According to the Soviet Constitution of 1978, which is still in effect as Russia’s Constitution (with amendments), the Congress is the supreme power of the republic. It normally meets twice a year but the current session is its eighth. From its members, it elects a smaller standing legislature of 248 deputies, the Supreme Soviet, which is in session most of the time.

The Factions: The Communists and independents elected in 1990 have evolved into 14 factions but three broad groupings: The pro-Yeltsin camp of reformers counts on about 420 votes; the anti-Yeltsin Communists and ultranationalist hard-liners number about 340. The middle 200 swing votes belong to moderate factions of collective farmers, industrialists and representatives of far-flung autonomous regions.