Page "Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union" Paragraph 50

Under Lenin the Central Committee functioned like the Politburo did during the post-Stalin era, as the party's leading collective organ.

However, as the membership in the Central Committee steadily increased, its role was eclipsed by the Politburo.

Between congresses the Central Committee functioned as the Soviet leadership's source for legitimacy.

The decline in the Central Committee's standing began in the 1920s, and it was reduced to a compliant body of the Party leadership during the Great Purge.

According to party rules, the Central Committee was to convene at least twice a year to discuss political matters ( but not matters relating to military policy ).