The Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian SFSR (Russian: Съезд народных депутатов РСФСР) and since 1992 Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation (Russian: Съезд народных депутатов Российской Федерации) was the highest organ of state authority in the Russian SFSR (Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) and in the Russian Federation from 16 May 1990 to 21 September 1993. Elected on 4 March 1990 for a period of five years, it was dissolved (without constitutional authority) by presidential decree during the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993 and ended de facto when the Russian White House was attacked on 4 October 1993. The Congress played an important role in some of the most important events in the history of Russia during this period, such as the declaration of state sovereignty of Russia within the USSR (June 1990), the rise of Boris Yeltsin, and economic reforms.
The Congress had the power to pass laws by majority, which must then be signed by the President (with no right to veto until July of 1991). The Congress held the ultimate power in the country (that is, power to decide on "any questions within jurisdiction of the Russian Federation") and some of the most-important powers (passage of and amendment of the Constitution, approval of the Prime Minister of Russia and the holders of the highest public offices, selection of the members of the committee of constitutional supervision (judges of Constitutional Court since 1991), declaration of referendums, impeachment of the president, etc.) were exclusive powers of Congress, exercised solely by it.
The Congress officially consisted of 1068 deputies, most of whom were elected in the general election on 4 March 1990, but the actual size varied due to several reelections and structural changes.
900 deputies were elected from the territorial regions, proportional to population;
168 more from the national-territorial regions: 64 from the 16 Autonomous Republics (four from each), 10 from the five autonomous regions (two from each), 10 from the 10 autonomous area (one from each), 84 from krais, oblasts, and the cities of Moscow and Leningrad.
A total of 1,059 deputies were elected by the beginning of the first session of the Congress on 16 May 1990. 1037 deputies were present on 21 September 1993; 938 on 4 October 1993.
Two thirds of the deputies had to be present for the Congress to meet the quorum.
Constitutionally the Congress was required to meet every year, but actually due to the turbulent events during these years it met from two to three times a year. The Congress gathered in the Grand Kremlin Palace (except the Xth congress that gathered in the White House) and held a total of ten sessions. Its last session was held after the presidential dissolution decree, and was interrupted by armed attack on the White House by forces loyal to the president of the Soviet Union (preceding), and the President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin.
First: 16 May 1990 – 22 June 1990
Second (extraordinary): 27 November 1990 – 15 December 1990
Third (extraordinary): 28 March 1991 – 5 April 1991
Fourth: 21 May 1991 – 25 May 1991
Fifth (extraordinary): 10 July 1991 – 17 July 1991; 28 October 1991 – 2 November 1991
Sixth: 6 April 1992 – 21 April 1992
Seventh: 1 December 1992 – 14 December 1992
Eight (extraordinary): 10 March 1993 – 13 March 1993
Ninth (extraordinary): 26 March 1993 – 29 March 1993
Tenth (emergency): 23 September 1993 – 4 October 1993