A practice of the former Soviet political system, by which the Communist Party exercised control over important appointments. It comprised a list of responsible posts, such as ministerial positions, newspaper editors, factory managers, heads of schools, and other institutions, together with a list of individuals approved by the Party to hold such positions. This created an élite within Soviet society with special rights and privileges, such as access to special shops, hospitals, or schools. Nomenklatura was one of the targets of Mikhail Gorbachev’s programme of glasnost and perestroika.