How did Stalin use the Soviet Constitution of 1936 while maintaining personal control?

Joseph Stalin utilized the Soviet Constitution of 1936 as a facade to project an image of legitimacy while maintaining absolute personal control. Although the document formally guaranteed various human rights and established a Supreme Soviet, Stalin never permitted it to function as a genuine framework for Soviet law.12

Instead, Stalin operated outside the constraints of the constitution, acting as the final arbiter of state ideology and policy. He ensured his dominance through several methods:2

• Control of Elections: While the constitution provided for direct elections, the Communist Party controlled candidate selection, resulting in only one candidate per seat in the 1937 elections.13
• Institutional Flux: By refusing to allow the constitution to become a sacrosanct rulebook, Stalin created an environment of procedural uncertainty, which increased terror and repressed dissent.24
• Suppression of Opposition: Stalin used the state apparatus, including the NKVD, to purge political rivals and potential threats, effectively nullifying any constitutional protections for citizens or officials.12

Ultimately, the constitution served as a decorative instrument of totalitarianism rather than a check on his power.2