Republics were formally constituent units of a federal state
	Most structures of power at the central level were replicated in union republics

 

But…

 

	The Party controlled formal governmental organs at all levels
	The party structure was centralised and rejected the federal principle
	The central authorities controlled major productive resources throughout the country
	Apart from the party, there were other powerful union-wide control structures: KGB, army, and economic ministries

 

Verdict:

 

A unitary state with a measure of administrative devolution

 

 

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