Administrations [upravleniya] and departments [otdely] are the core of city government [said a Leningrad official]. They produce things, house people, keep order, spend money, build buildings, listen to the complaints of citizens. When a sewer is laid or a building erected, municipal administrations and departments are the governmental organs immediately responsible for the successful execution of such tasks. They carry out policies made by the party and the executive committee, participating in the making of this policy in various meetings of the executive committee at which heads of administrations and departments may be present; at sessions of the Soviet where heads of these bodies consult with deputies and listen to their advice; and through direct contacts with the citizens who submit petitions and complaints to the various administrations and departments, commissions and organizations, thus making known to these bodies what kinds of policies would be most useful.