Russia: Government

The Russian Federation is governed under the constitution of 1993 as amended. The head of state is a popularly elected president who is eligible to serve two consecutive six-year terms (and additional nonconsecutive terms). The president appoints the prime minister and can dissolve the legislature if it three times refuses to approve his choice for that post. The legislature, or Federal Assembly, is divided into an upper Federation Council and a lower State Duma. The Federation Council has 170 members, consisting of two representatives from the governments of each republic, territory, region, area, and federal city; their terms parallel the terms of the governmental body or official that elected or appointed them (unless that body removes them from office). An additional 30 members, serving either six-year terms or (limited to seven members) for life, may be appointed by the president, and former presidents also may serve as members for life. The State Duma has 450 members. Half the seats are distributed proportionally among those parties whose national vote is at least 7%, the rest are elected by districts. Members of the State Duma serve five-year terms. The Civic Chamber, which was established in 2005, is empowered to investigate elected and appointed government officials and advise on national legislation. Its 126 members are appointed by the president or chosen by the members of the chamber from among prominent nongovernmental individuals. Members serve two-year terms. Administratively, the country is divided into 46 Russian regions, 22 ethnically non-Russian republics (including Crimea), 4 autonomous national areas, 9 largely Russian territories, the federal cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sevastopol, and one autonomous region.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Russo-Ukrainian War
• Post-Soviet Russia
• War and Revolution
• Reaction, Reform, and RevolutionExpansion
• Empire and European Eminence
• Consolidation of the Russian State
• Early Russia
• History
• Government
• Russian Far East
• Northern and Northeastern Siberia
• Eastern Siberia
• Western Siberia
• Ural Area
• North Caucasus
• Volga
• North and Northwest European Area
• Central European Area
• General
• Religion and Education
• Political Subdivisions and Major Cities
• Population and Ethnic Groups
• Major Geographic Features
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: CIS and Baltic Political Geography