The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly (the Parliament of the Russian Federation) is the permanently functioning representative and legislative organ of the Russian Federation. The Federal Assembly consists of two chambers:  The Federation Council - the upper chamber and The State Duma – the lower chamber. The procedure for forming the Federation Council and the procedure for electing deputies to the State Duma is established by federal law of the Russian Federation. The Federal Assembly forms the Audit Chamber to monitor the implementation of the federal budget of the Russian Federation.

The State Duma

The State Duma is the lower house of the Federal Assembly, the Parliament of the Russian Federation. The first State Duma was elected on December 12, 1993 simultaneously with the adoption of the new Constitution in a national referendum.

The State Duma consists of 450 deputies, elected for a four-year term (the first State Duma  was elected for a transitional period of two years): 225 members are elected from single mandate constituencies and 225 members by proportional representation.

In the December 1999 elections, six parties made the 5% barrier for representation in the Duma. These parties are entitled to form a parliamentary faction. In total 225 members were elected through their party lists and 216 members were elected from single mandate constituencies. The new Duma, therefore, consists of 441 members. Six factions and three deputy groups have been registered at the current Duma.

The State Duma can be dissolved by the President of the Russian Federation before its term in cases stipulated in Articles 111 and 117 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. In the event of the dissolution of the State Duma, the President of the Russian Federation shall determine the date of elections so that the newly-elected State Duma shall convene not later than four months since the time of dissolution.

Any citizen of the Russian Federation aged 21 or over who has the right to take part in elections may be elected a Deputy of the State Duma. A Deputy of the State Duma may not simultaneously be a member of the Federation Council, a deputy of other representative bodies of federal or local government or a public servant; and should work at the Duma on a permanent professional basis.

The State Duma adopts the draft laws and then passes them for review to the Federation Council within five days. A federal law is considered passed if more than half of the Federation Council deputies vote for it or if, within fourteen days, it has not been considered by the Federation Council.

In the event that the State Duma disagrees with the decision of the Federation Council, it can vote again, and if at least two-thirds of the total number of deputies vote for it, the law is considered as adopted and sent to the President for signing and publication within fourteen days.

The Jurisdiction of the State Duma:

granting consent to the President of the Russian Federation for the appointment of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation;

decisions on confidence in the government of the Russian Federation;

the appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation;

the appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the Accounting Chamber and half of its staff of auditors;

the appointment and dismissal of the Plenipotentiary for Human Rights acting in accordance with the Federal Constitutional Law;

granting amnesty;

bringing charges against the President of the Russian Federation for his impeachment. Each deputy of the State Duma, with the exception of the Speaker, deputy speakers and faction leaders, must serve on one of the 28 standing committees of the Duma. Temporary commissions can be created if needed.