Constitution of Russia (1993)

Constitution of Russia (1993)
Name	Constitution of the Russian Federation
Caption	Official copy of the Constitution
Jurisdiction	Russian Federation
Date created	1993
Date ratified	12 December 1993
Date effective	25 December 1993
System	Federal semi-presidential republic
Branches	Three (executive, legislative, judicial)
Chambers	Bicameral (Federation Council, State Duma)
Executive	President (head of state), Government (headed by the Prime Minister)
Judiciary	Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, system of general jurisdiction courts
Federalism	Federal
Location of document	Moscow, Kremlin Senate
Commission	Constitutional Conference of Russia
Signatories	President Boris Yeltsin and citizens via referendum
Supersedes	1978 Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Constitution of Russia (1993) is the supreme law of the Russian Federation, adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993. It came into force on 25 December 1993, dissolving the Supreme Soviet and officially ending the constitutional crisis. The document establishes Russia as a democratic, federal, law-based state with a republican form of government and enshrines the separation of powers between the President, the Federal Assembly, and the courts.

History and adoption

The development of the new constitution was precipitated by the intense political conflict between President Boris Yeltsin and the Supreme Soviet following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union. This clash culminated in the violent 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, which included Yeltsin's shelling of the White House. To break the impasse, Yeltsin dissolved the parliament by decree and convened a Constitutional Conference of Russia to draft a new foundational law. The final draft was put to a popular referendum on 12 December 1993, where it was approved by voters, simultaneously with elections to the new State Duma.

Structure and content

The constitution consists of a preamble and two sections. The first section contains nine chapters covering the fundamentals of the constitutional system, rights and freedoms, the federal structure, the status of the President of Russia, the Federal Assembly, the Government of Russia, the judicial power, and local self-government. The second section contains concluding and transitional provisions. Key institutions established include the Federation Council as the upper house and the State Duma as the lower house of the legislature, as well as defining the powers of the Constitutional Court of Russia.

Fundamental principles and rights

The first chapter declares Russia a federal, democratic, law-based state with a republican form of government. It guarantees separation of powers and establishes the multi-party system. The second chapter is a comprehensive bill of rights, directly enforceable in court, guaranteeing civil and political rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, as well as socio-economic rights including the right to health care and education. These rights are declared inalienable and are to be protected by the state.

Amendments and revisions

The procedure for amending the constitution is deliberately rigorous. Chapters 3–8, covering the federal structure and government organization, can be amended by a supermajority vote in the Federal Assembly and subsequent approval by at least two-thirds of Russia's federal subjects. The core provisions found in Chapters 1, 2, and 9—the fundamentals of the constitutional system, rights and freedoms, and the amendment process itself—can only be revised by convening a Constitutional Assembly or through a nationwide referendum. Significant amendments were passed in the 2020 constitutional reform.

Political system and government

The constitution establishes a strong semi-presidential system with a dominant executive. The President, as head of state, holds extensive powers including control over the Government and the armed forces, and the right to issue decrees. The Federal Assembly, a bicameral parliament consisting of the Federation Council and the State Duma, exercises legislative power. The Government of Russia, headed by the Prime Minister, is responsible for the implementation of domestic and foreign policy.

Role in the legal system

As the supreme law of the land, the constitution has the highest legal force, and all other laws, including federal laws and international treaties, must conform to it. The Constitutional Court is the ultimate judicial arbiter of constitutional compliance, with the power to review legislation and resolve disputes between federal and regional authorities. All courts, including the Supreme Court, are obligated to apply constitutional norms directly, and the constitution mandates that its provisions define the meaning, content, and application of all laws.

Russia Category:Government of Russia Category:1993 in law Category:1993 in Russia