Conversational topic: Russia’s Political System

The Russian Federation is set up by the Constitution of 1993.

Under the Constitution, Russia is a Presidential Republic. The President is the head of the state. He is elected by popular vote for a six-year term, and has the right to be elected for two terms. The Russian Federation is fundamentally structured as a multi-party representative democracy, with the federal government composed of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President.

The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers. The Upper Chamber is the Council of Federation. The Lower Chamber is the State Duma. Federal Assembly, adopts federal law, declares war, approves treaties, and has the power of impeachment of the President. Each Chamber is headed by the Chairman. Legislature is initiated in the Lower Chambers. But to become a law a bill must be approved by both Chambers and signed by the President. He may also veto the bill.

The President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces; he makes treaties, enforces laws, and appoints ministers to be approved by the State Duma.

The executive power belongs to the Government which is headed by the Prime Minister. The first action of the Prime Minister on appointment is to form the cabinet. Ministers of the government are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Arbitration and regional courts. The judicial branch has a function of control.

Leading political parties in Russia include United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and Fair Russia.