Council of Elders

(1) In France, under the 1795 Constitution, one of the chambers of the legislature. The Council of Elders was abolished during Napoleon’s coup of 18 Brumaire (Nov. 10,1799).

(2) In the USSR, a consultative body formed on the strength of experience accumulated by each chamber of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and by the supreme soviets of Union and autonomous republics. The Council of Elders meets, jointly or singly, to hold a preliminary discussion of organizational questions concerning the work of the session—for example, the agenda, the sequence in which reports will be heard, and proposals concerning the personnel of the working bodies of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its chambers.