In the late 1960s, Ulbricht made the Council of State as main governmental organ. The 24-member, multiparty council, headed by Ulbricht and dominated by its fifteen SED representatives, generated a new era of political conservatism.
During the late 1960s, Ulbricht made the Council of State the primary governing body. This 24-member, multiparty council, headed by Ulbricht and controlled by his fifteen SED representatives, marked a shift towards conservative politics.