Public Administration. Хрестоматия для студентов-магистров направления подготовки 38.04.02 «Менеджмент», профиля «Управление имущественным комплексом»

Answer the questions:

1.What does the governmental function of selfpreservation imply?

2.According to the article, under what condition can political authority be preserved from the threat of civil war?

3.What does a shared «ideology» provide fellow citizens with?

4.What is patriotism typically the product of?

5.What do governments do to preserve themselves against external as well as domestic threats?

6.Why can representative institutions be called a device for the resolution of conflict?

7.What constitutes the governmental function of regulation of the economy?

8.What other functions do modern governments perform?

History of Russia's public administration

1. While Russia’s history can be traced back to the ninth century, the Russian centralized state came into being in the sixteenth century. An important historical shift occurred in the early eighteenth century when Tsar Peter the Great initiated a large-scale program of reforms and proclaimed Russia an empire. Among the many institutional innovations Tsar Peter introduced were elements of modern administrative systems, including a regular army and a council of

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ministers working on a permanent basis. Peter put into action regional reform, which divided Russia into eight major territorial units, each headed by a governor, who was a public servant, and a military commander.

By the mid-1700s Russia already had a rather vast and extensive bureaucratic system, and it grew further in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The revolution of 1917 swept away the monarchy. Revolutionary Soviets suggested a truly innovative way to manage a “brave, new world” of socialism which was supposed to be an egalitarian and classless society run by an unselfish elite of ideologists and technocrats. Another important institutional innovation introduced by the Bolsheviks was a federal system that was aimed to transform the Russian imperial state into a union of free nations and nationalities.

During the Soviet era the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic was a sovereign socialist state within a federal structure. Until the late 1980s, however, the government was dominated at all levels by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which was all-powerful and whose head was the country’s leader. (From: Public administration in postcommunist countries)

2. From the late 1980s through 1991fundamental changes took place in the political system and government structures of the Soviet Union

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that altered both the nature of the Soviet federal state and the status and powers of the individual republics. There have been several attempts to implement a public administration reform in Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

In 1992 the first attempt of working out the legal basis for civil service was undertaken in the course of drafting the Constitution of the Russian

Federation. Later, in 1995 a Federal law “On the basic principles of the Civil Service in the Russian Federation” was put into force. However it soon became evident that the Federal law and existing regulations suffered from grave disadvantages and were not sufficient. Therefore in 1997-1998, the leading Russian experts tried to elaborate a new Concept of Administrative reform. Some provisions of the Concept were included in president Eltsyn’s annual address to the Parliament in 1998, but unfortunately at that time the reform did not get any further. In 2000 president Putin made a renewed call for a public administration reform. This new reform was divided into three main parts: the Civil Service reform, the Administrative reform, the Municipal government reform. The budgetary reform was also launched to underpin the public administration reform. (From: http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/document s/NISPAcee/UNPAN025557.pdf)

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Vocabulary

occur [ə'kɜː] – происходить, случаться, совершаться proclaim [prə'kleɪm] – провозглашать, объявлять regular army – регулярная армия, постоянная армия vast [vɑːst] – огромный

to sweep away the monarchy ['mɔnəkɪ] – покончить с монархией

egalitarian and classless society – равноправное бесклассовое общество

unselfish [ʌnʹselfıʃ] – неэгоистичный, бескорыстный

technocrat [ʹteknəkræt] – технократ

alter ['ɔːltə] – менять, вносить изменения

to implement a public administration reform –

осуществить реформу государственного управления break-up – распад

in the course of drafting – в ходе разработки

put into force – проводить в жизнь, вводить в

действие (о законе)

grave – серьезный, важный, тяжелый

sufficient [sə'fɪʃ(ə)nt] – достаточный; обоснованный to elaborate – детально разрабатывать

provision – положение (договора, закона)

annual address to the Parliament – ежегодное послание Парламенту

to make a renewed call for – вновь призвать к to underpin – поддерживать

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Answer the questions:

1.When did an important historical shift occur in Russia?

2.What institutional innovations did Tsar Peter introduce?

3.What form of government did the revolution of 1917 sweep away?

4.What innovations did the Bolsheviks introduce?

5.Describe the attempts to implement a public administration reform in Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

6.Why did the leading Russian experts try to elaborate a new Concept of Administrative reform?

The government of Russia

The Prime Minister, the deputy prime ministers, and the federal ministers are part of the Government of Russia, with the President being the chief executive.

The government of Russia is considered a federal semi-presidential republic, according to the 1993 Constitution. Under a semi-presidential structure, the President, and the Prime Minister share governing responsibilities as the head of state and head of government, respectively. The President does, however, hold more power. Multiple political parties are represented throughout the government and its administration. Three branches share the

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responsibilities of running the country: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.

The President acts as the head of the executive branch of the Russian Government and is elected by the general population to serve a 6-year term.

This office is limited to two consecutive terms. The President is heavily involved in both the domestic and foreign policies of the country. This includes appointing foreign ambassadors, participating in international discussions, and signing international treaties and agreements. Additionally, this official is Commander-in-Chief of the military and has the power to veto any laws or policies set forth by the legislative branch. The President of Russia also has the ability to establish laws without review or approval by other governmental bodies. This power is beyond what a President typically has under this type of governmental systems.

Under direction from the President is the remainder of the executive branch. This branch consists of the Cabinet, which is also referred to as the Government. Its members include the Prime Minister, deputy prime ministers, and federal ministers. The federal ministers carry out the duties of ministries and departments. The President nominates both the Parliament as well as the Prime Minister, the legislative branch must approve the nomination. After this, the Prime Minister then nominates deputy prime ministers and federal ministers.

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The executive branch is responsible for administering laws created by the legislative branch and the President.

The legislative branch has two branches: the 166 member Federation Council and the 450 member State Duma. The Federation Council represents the matters of the federal subjects of Russia, the political divisions of the country. The Council works to pass legislation by voting on policies and regulations that the State Duma has approved. Decisions on laws require at least a 51% vote. For constitutional amendments, however, a 75% vote is required.

The State Duma has the power to overrule a veto from the Federation Council. The Duma is the first parliamentary body to receive and decide on new law proposals. In addition, the State Duma approves the presidential appointment of Prime Minister and reviews annual reports from the executive branch of government.

The judicial branch ensures that the laws of Russia are upheld. It is separated into three kinds of courts: general jurisdiction, arbitration, and constitutional. General jurisdiction courts consist of municipal courts at the lowest level, regional courts at the middle level, and the Supreme Court at the highest level. These courts oversee criminal and civil cases. Arbitration courts are responsible for issues of property and commercial disputes. The highest level of this type of judicial body is the Supreme Court of

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Arbitration. These judges of the Constitutional Court have the power to interpret laws and presidential decrees and overturn any that they consider unconstitutional.

The President recommends nominees for judges of the highest courts and the Federation Council decides on and appoints these nominations.

(From: http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-type- of-government-does-russiahave. html)

Vocabulary

the Prime Minister – Председатель Правительства the deputy prime ministers – заместители Председателя Правительства

the federal ministers – федеральные министры executive branch – исполнительная власть legislative branch – законодательная власть judicial branch – судебная власть

consecutive [kən'sekjutɪv] – (непрерывно)

следующий друг за другом

domestic and foreign policies – внутренняя и внешняя политика

ambassador [æm'bæsədə] – посол

to set forth – издавать, разрабатывать the remainder – остальная часть

to carry out – выполнять, осуществлять to nominate – назначать на должность

Federation Council – Совет Федерации

State Duma – Государственная Дума

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federal subject – субъект федерации to pass legislation – принять закон

constitutional amendment – поправка к конституции to overrule a veto ['viːtəu] – отклонить вето

to uphold the law – соблюдать закон general jurisdiction – общая юрисдикция arbitration – арбитраж

to interpret laws and presidential decrees – толковать законы и указы Президента

to overturn – отменять, объявить неконституционным (о законе)

nominee [ˌnɔmɪ'niː] – кандидат, предложенный на какую-л. должность

Answer the questions:

1.What kind of republic is Russia? What does it mean?

2.How many branches share the responsibilities of running the country?

What are they?

3.Which branch does the President act as the head of?

4.How many years does the President serve? Are there any limitations?

5.What duties does the President of Russia have?

6.What members does the executive branch consist of?

7.How many members are there in the legislative branch?

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8.What kind of matters does the Federation Council represent?

9.What power does the State Duma have?

10.What role does the judicial branch play?

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION:

1.What images spring to mind when you hear the country Russia?

2.What is the position of Russia in the modern world? What role does Russia play in world economy and policy?

3.Is it important for Russia to be on good terms with the rest of the world?

Or do you think Russia can manage without any support of other countries?

4.Is it possible that Russia will become a superpower again? Under what conditions do you think this can happen?

5.How different is Russian government today from Russian government during the time of the Soviet Union?

6.What do you think Russia will be like 50 years from now?

7.What do you think about Russia’s leaders?

8.Try to describe the relationship of Russia with former republics of the Soviet Union. What countries are (are not) our friends now?

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