Russian Federation. State System

The Russian Federative Republic is set up by the Constitution of 1993. Under the Constitution adopted in 1991 Russia is a Presidential Republic. The head of the state is President.

The federal government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by President.

All legislative power in the country is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers: The Upper chamber is the Council of Federation. It is made of the representatives of all the subjects of the Federation (two representatives from each subject). The Council enforces federal laws adopted by the State Duma, and all the decrees issued by President.

The Lower Chamber of the Federal Assembly is the State Duma (a Constituent Assembly). It is made up of 450 deputies. The Duma introduces, considers and adopts new bills. A new bill must be approved by a majority vote. In order to become a law, the bill must be also enforced by the Council and then signed by President, President may veto the bill. The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by popular vote for a four year term. Each Chamber is headed by the Speaker who is elected by the members of the Chambers.

The executive branch is represented by President and Government which is headed by the Prime Minister, The first action of Prime Minister on appointment is to choose the Ministers who are responsible for framing Government policy.

President is the head of the state and the commander-in chief of the Russian army. President decides domestic and international matters, makes treaties, issues decrees, enforces federal laws adopted by the Federal Assembly. President also forms the Government and appoints Prime Minister whose candidacy must be approved by the State Duma. Thus the two powers balance each other.

An important role in the Russian state system plays the Constitutional Court. It represents the judicial branch. The Constitutional Court may veto any federal law adopted by the Federal Assembly, or a decree issued by President if the Court regards them contradictory to the Constitution.

Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolizes the earth and peace, the blue one stands for the sky and loyalty, and the red stripe represents liberty and valour. It was the first state symbol that replaced the former symbols in 1991. The hymn of Russia is "The Patriotic Song" by M. Glinka. The national emblem is a two-headed eagle, the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of the Ruricovichies. So far all these symbols are unofficial. They have not been approved by the Federal Assembly.

Post-Text Exercises

5. Name the main points of the text answering the following questions:

1. What is Russia according to the Constitution?

2. Who is the head of the state?

3. What branches does the federal government consist of?

4. What is the Federal Assembly?

5. What chambers does it consist of?

6. What are the functions of the Federal Assembly?

7. Who heads the Chambers of the Federal Assembly?

8. Who represents the executive branch in Russia?

9. What are the functions performed by President of Russia?

10. What role does the Constitutional Court play in the Russian political system?