The Russian Federation Part 2

Elections Three types of national votes: Referendum Duma Elections Presidential Elections Referendum: (submission of a law to a direct vote of the people) 1993 constitution allows for the President to call for a national referenda by popular vote on important issues Clip art

Elections Duma Elections: (1993, 1995, 1999, 2003) 450 seats- ½ by proportional representation, ½ by single-member districts. Parties with a least 5% of the total vote receive seats according to proportional representation. Single member district seats are held by local power brokers. Elections follow a two-round pattern, top two candidates competing in a run-off two weeks after the first round 2005-The 450 seats in the Duma are assigned exclusively from party lists. Putin claimed it would strengthen the party system by reducing the number of parties in the Duma All seats are awarded by proportional representation.

Elections The threshold for eligibility to win seats is 7%. In 2007, 3 parties represented in the previous Duma passed this threshold--United Russia, the Communist Party and the Liberal Democrats, as did Fair Russia. 90 % of the vote. At the initiative of President Medvedev, in spring 2009 the Duma passed an amendment which would allocate 1 seat to parties winning between 5 and 6 % of the vote, and 2 seats to parties winning between 6 and 7 %. This allocation would occur before distributing seats to parties passing the 7 % threshold. There were no parties winning between 5% and 7% in 2007.

Elections 3. Presidential Elections: Two round model. In 2000, Putin received 52.94% and in 2004 he won 71% of the vote so no run-off election was required. 2012, Putin took 63.9%. Honesty of elections? 2001 law restricts small parties from running candidates.

Interest Groups: The Oligarchy and The Mafia 1991, state-run industries sold to members of the Nomenklatura for next to nothing Dubbed: Oligarchs Major influence on policy-making process Monopolized industries and built huge fortunes Financed the Unity Party Putin has resisted oligarchic control

Mikhail Khordorvsky and Vladimir Gusinsky Mikhail Khordorvsky (glasses) Controlled largest oil company in Russia Richest man in Russia in 2003 Arrested as a signal from Putin that he was consolidating power Vladimir Gusinsky Television magnate Criticized Putin’s reforms Arrested, Exiled and his company was given to a state-owned monolopy BBC

The Mafia Control Natural resources, local businesses, and banks Payoffs from businesses (protection money), money laundering, and bribes of government officials Murdered bankers, journalists, businessmen, and members of the Duma Both groups represent a threat to the survival of Russian democracy “Mafia is Immortal” movie poster wikipedia

The Russian Media Newspapers and Television stations are privately owned State controls many of them Freedom of the press? Not always clear. clip art

Institutions of Government The President Appoints the prime minister and cabinet: Approval by the Duma, but if the Duma rejects the president’s nominee three times, the Duma is dissolved. Issue decrees that have the force of law: cabinet has a great deal of concentrated, centralized power. Duma cannot censure the cabinet Dissolve the Duma: 1993, Yeltsin ordered the Duma disolved, they refused (coup), Yeltsin opened fire and they gave up The Prime Minister: Relationship between the two executives is unclear wikipedia

A Bicameral Legislature Weak check on executive branch Duma: Passes Bills Approves the Budget Confirms president’s appointments Limited power as the president rules by decree- difficult to impeach the president http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.duma.ru/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=9&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DDuma%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4TSHA_en___US208

A Bicameral Legislature Federation Council Upper House Two members: 1 elected locally from each of the 89 local legislatures and 1 appointed by the governor. May only delay legislation May change boundaries of the republics Ratify the use of armed forces outside the country Appoint and remove judges

The Judiciary Constitutional Court: Independent from the Executive? 19 members appointed by the president and appointed by the Federation Council Supreme Court is the final place to appeal for both civil and legal cases Most judges and prosecutors trained under Soviet system Corruption a serious problem: Guilty until you prove your innocence Putin reform movement included codifying law

The Military Shows no signs of becoming a political force Suffered Humiliation:1988 withdrawal from Afghanistan, and in 1994-1996 Chechen guerillas beat the Russian forces. 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; 2-year service obligation; plans call for reduction in mandatory service 1 year by 2008; reserve obligation to age 50 wikipedia

Public Policy The Economy How much of the centralized panning economy should be eliminated? 50% of the economy is dependent upon oil revenues How should the market economy be handled? “Shock Therapy” Oligarchs rule 1997- defaulted on billions of dollars of debt/stock market crashed High unemployment 2002: 30,000 Rubles = $1 2004: Turnaround 7% growth rate ( oil prices) Higher standard of living People question current policymakers

Foreign Policy Relations with the near-abroad: Confederation of Independent states (CIS) unites the 15 former republics of the Soviet Union- Russia leads (another EU) Trade Agreements: nationality issues Will the Confederation survive? 2004 Ukraine (Viktor Yushckenko- poisoned) wikipedia

Relations with the Rest of the World Loss of superpower status Both Clinton and Bush sponsored economic aid packages and foreign investment to Russia Welcomed into the G-7, now the G-8 Russia helped France block UN approval of US invasion in Iraq WTO member 2012 Terrorism: Beslan school siege