1. The Russian Federation Part 2

2. Elections Three types of national votes: Referendum Duma Elections
Presidential Elections
Referendum: (submission of a law to a direct vote of the people) constitution allows for the President to call for a national referenda by popular vote on important issues
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3. 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.

4. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. The Russian Media
Newspapers and Television stations are privately owned
State controls many of them
Freedom of the press? Not always clear.
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11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. The Military Shows no signs of becoming a political force
Suffered Humiliation:1988 withdrawal from Afghanistan, and in 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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