A politburo is the executive branch of a communist political party. A central committee, elected by Congress, elects the politburo. The first politburo was created by the by the Russian Bolshevik Party in 1917.

The Politburo was the main parliament in Soviet Russia. The Politburo made decisions regarding everything from the economy to international relations. The communist party was the majority, so it controlled the Politburo [and thus the government] throughout the entirety of the Soviet regime. The Politburo began two years after the civil war and communist revolution, in 1922.

The Politburo was the name given the top governing body of the former Soviet Union.

Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania was created in 1948.

China is ruled by a self-perpetuating oligarchy. When there is an opening in the ruling politburo, the members of the politburo elect another member. Nobody outside the politburo has any say in the matter.