Russia: Institutions of Government AP Comparative Government

Institutions of Government: Under the Constitution of 1993, Russia uses a semi- presidential model of government This is a mix of both presidential and parliamentary systems This is supposed to allow for a strong presidency, but at the same time place some democratic checks on executive power

President and Prime Minister The executive branch separates the head of state (the president) and the head of government (the prime minister) Under Putin the presidency has come to dominate the prime minister The president can serve six year terms, with a limit of two successive terms (A six year term started in 2012, with previous elections electing the president for 4 years.) Anyone who gets a million signatures can run for president

Powers of the President The President has the power to: Appoint the prime minister and cabinet- The Duma must approve the prime minister’s appointment, but if they reject the president’s nominee three times, the president may dissolve the Duma Issue decrees that have the force of law- The president runs a cabinet that has a great deal of concentrated, centralized power According to the Constitution, the Duma has no real power to censure the cabinet, except that they may reject the appointment of the prime minister Dissolve the Duma- Yeltsin dissolved his Duma before taking the presidency He had to force them out with military power There is no Vice President, if the president dies, the prime minister becomes president

Bicameral legislature The Russian legislature is a weak check on executive power The Duma is the lower house made up 450 deputies All seats are determined through proportional representation The Duma passes bills, approves the budget, and confirms the president’s political appointments Their power is very limited since the president may rule by decree and the Duma can be dissolved if they reject the president's prime minister appointment three times The Duma has tried using impeachment powers before, but they failed terribly The Duma does debate laws and has more power in crafting legislation than in Britain

Bicameral Legislature The Federation Council consists of two members from each of the 89 federal administrative units One representative is selected by the governor of each region and another by the regional legislature It really only has the power to delay legislation If they try and kill legislation, the Duma can override that action with a two-thirds vote They also technically have the power to change boundaries of the republics, ratify the use of armed forces outside the country, and appoint and remove judges, but these powers have never been exercised

The Judiciary The Constitutional Court was created with the Constitution of 1993 The Court’s nineteen members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Federation Council It is the final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases The judiciary is not very independent and is wildly political There also issues with the idea that you are innocent until proven guilty There is no judicial review