According to the constitution and other legislation, the soviets were supposed to form the political basis of the Soviet Union and all the other state bodies were to be under their supervision and accountable to them. Reality was quite the opposite – soviets were a tool of the communist party.
Konstitutsiooni jms seaduste järgi moodustasid (T)RSN-id NSV Liidu poliitilise aluse ja kõik teised riigiorganid pidid olema nende kontrolli all ning andma neile aru. Tegelikkus oli vastupidine — (T)RSN-id oma täitevkomiteedega olid kommunistliku partei tööriistaks.