According to British historian Archie Brown the constitution was never an accurate guide to political reality in the USSR.

For example, the fact that the Communist Party played the leading role in making and enforcing policy was not explicitly mentioned in it until 1977.

The 1924 Constitution established the Congress of Soviets to be the supreme body of Soviet state authority, with the Central Executive Committee having this authority during the interims and serving as the country's collective presidency.

The Central Executive Committee, effectively the legislature, was divided into the Soviet of the Union representing the constituent republics, and the Soviet of Nationalities representing directly the interests of nationality groups.

The Presidium supervised the government administration between sessions of the Central Executive Committee.