The new Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the so-called Stalin Constitution, was adopted in Moscow on December 5, 1936. Among other things, this new constitution established a Soviet parliament, the Supreme Soviet, and introduced universal suffrage. In addition, the Autonomous Karelian SSR was renamed the Karelian ASSR.

On June 16-17, 1937, the own Constitution was adopted in Petrozavodsk. Soviet Karelia got its own parliament, the Supreme Council of the Karelian ASSR.

The first elections to the Supreme Council of the Karelian ASSR were held in June 1938.