Formalization of the status of congresses of Soviets in the initial period of Bolshevik power

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks began to take measures to formalize their power in Russia. This was done on the basis of the political and ideological slogan "All power to the Soviets!", which expressed the desire of the Bolsheviks to implement the principle of democracy in the country. It was assumed that at all levels, from bottom to top, deputies would be elected, who, in fact, would personify the people's power. And this project was implemented. At the same time, in addition to the Councils of Deputies, a system of Congresses of Soviets was created, which also represented elective bodies, but deputies were not elected by the population, but rather the already elected deputies of lower Councils were delegated by their colleagues to higher Congresses of Soviets, which made the most important decisions of the corresponding level during plenary sessions, as a rule, in a short time, accordingly, the highest body of Soviet power was the All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Deputies. The article examines the initial period of the formation of this mechanism of public power in Soviet Russia (1917-1918). It is noted, in particular, that formally the Congresses of Soviets were a democratic institution, but in fact the deputies performed their functions on a voluntary basis, did not have the necessary knowledge, and in practice voted for those projects that were proposed by the structures of the ruling All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks).