Federal Assembly

Federal Assembly. The Federal Assembly is the national legislature of the Russian Federation, established by the Constitution of Russia adopted in 1993. It is a bicameral body consisting of an upper house, the Federation Council, and a lower house, the State Duma. The assembly convenes in its official seat within the Moscow Kremlin, serving as the successor to the Supreme Soviet of Russia of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

History

The Federal Assembly was formed following the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, a political confrontation between President Boris Yeltsin and the Russian Congress of People's Deputies. The crisis culminated in the violent shelling of the White House and the dissolution of the Supreme Soviet of Russia. A new constitution, drafted under Yeltsin's direction and approved by a national referendum, replaced the 1978 Russian Constitution and created the current bicameral system. The first elections to the new State Duma and the formation of the Federation Council were held in December 1993. The assembly's development has been shaped by the presidencies of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, with significant legislative changes often aligning with the executive's agenda, such as those following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.

Structure and composition

The Federal Assembly is divided into two chambers with distinct methods of composition. The upper house, the Federation Council, comprises 170 members; two delegates from each of Russia's federal subjects, typically including the regional Governor and the head of the regional legislature. The lower house, the State Duma, consists of 450 deputies elected for five-year terms. Since 2016, all Duma deputies are elected through a mixed-member proportional representation system, with half elected from single-member districts and half from party lists. Key leadership positions include the Chairman of the Federation Council and the Chairman of the State Duma, who preside over their respective chambers. Major political factions represented have included United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and A Just Russia — For Truth.

Powers and functions

The assembly's primary constitutional role is the consideration, amendment, and adoption of federal laws. Legislative initiative rests with members of both chambers, the Government of Russia, the President of Russia, and other high-level bodies like the Constitutional Court of Russia. The State Duma holds specific powers, including granting consent to the President for the appointment of the Prime Minister of Russia and deciding the issue of confidence in the Government of Russia. The Federation Council approves changes to internal borders between federal subjects, martial law and state of emergency decrees, the appointment of Prosecutors General and Constitutional Court judges, and the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation abroad. Both chambers must pass a federal law before it is sent to the President for signing or veto.

Role in the political system

Operating within Russia's super-presidential system, the Federal Assembly functions with a dominant executive branch. The President of Russia possesses strong legislative tools, including the power of veto and the right to issue binding decrees. The pro-presidential United Russia party has maintained a constitutional majority in the State Duma for many years, ensuring the smooth passage of the executive's legislative agenda. While the assembly provides a forum for debate and represents various regions and political groups, its autonomy in challenging major presidential or governmental initiatives is limited. Its role is often characterized as legitimizing and refining policies formulated within the Presidential Administration of Russia and the Security Council of Russia.

Notable sessions and legislation

Notable legislative periods often coincide with geopolitical events or domestic political shifts. The first State Duma (1993-1995) grappled with the aftermath of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and economic shock therapy. Following the 1998 Russian financial crisis, the Duma engaged in protracted conflicts with President Boris Yeltsin over cabinet appointments. Under President Vladimir Putin, the assembly has passed significant packages of laws, including those centralizing power after the Beslan school siege, the political reforms of the 2000s, and a series of measures in response to international sanctions following the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the Russo-Ukrainian War. Other landmark legislation includes laws on NGOs (the "foreign agents" law), internet sovereignty, and constitutional amendments passed in 2020 that, among other things, reset presidential term limits.