Organization of the Communist Party of the USSR

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Became synonymous with leader of the party under Stalin.

Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee
Leading body within the Politburo. Headed by the General Secretary or First Secretary.

Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee
The political bureau of the Central Committee and the most powerful political group of the Communist Party.

Central Committee of the Communist Party
The governing body of the Party between each Congress. Conducted the day-to-day business of the Party and the government.

Congress of the CPSU
The gathering of Party delegates every five years. It was the oversight body of the entire Party, in theory.

Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The only legal political party from 1923 until March 1990.