Federal Assembly (Russia)

Federal Assembly (Russia). The Federal Assembly is the national bicameral legislature of the Russian Federation, established by the 1993 Constitution of Russia. It consists of an upper house, the Federation Council, and a lower house, the State Duma, which together exercise legislative authority. The assembly operates from its seats in Moscow, with the Federation Council meeting in the Kremlin and the State Duma convening in a dedicated building on Okhotny Ryad.

History

The Federal Assembly was formed following the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, which culminated in the violent dissolution of the previous Supreme Soviet of Russia by forces loyal to Boris Yeltsin. Its creation was mandated by the new constitution approved in a national referendum in December 1993, replacing the Soviet-era parliamentary system. The first elections to the State Duma were held concurrently with the referendum, marking the beginning of the post-Soviet legislative era. Throughout the Presidency of Vladimir Putin, the assembly has seen its powers and independence increasingly aligned with the executive branch, a process accelerated after the 2003 Duma elections which brought a pro-Kremlin majority to power.

Structure and composition

The Federal Assembly is composed of two chambers with distinct methods of composition. The Federation Council comprises 170 members, with two delegates representing each of Russia's 85 federal subjects: one from the regional executive branch and one from the regional legislative branch. Notable members have included Valentina Matviyenko and Sergei Mironov. The 450-member State Duma is elected for five-year terms through a mixed electoral system of party-list proportional representation and single-member districts. Leadership positions include the Chairman of the Federation Council and the Chairman of the State Duma, currently held by Vyacheslav Volodin.

Powers and functions

Constitutionally, the Federal Assembly holds the power of federal legislative initiative and is responsible for passing federal constitutional laws and federal laws. The State Duma holds specific powers, including granting consent to the President of Russia for the appointment of the Prime Minister of Russia, and can express a vote of no confidence in the Government of Russia. The Federation Council approves changes in borders between federal subjects, martial law and states of emergency decreed by the president, and appoints judges to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Higher Arbitration Court upon the president's nomination.

Legislative process

The legislative process typically begins with the introduction of a bill, which can be submitted by the President of Russia, the Government of Russia, members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma, or the legislative bodies of federal subjects. All bills must first be considered and adopted by a majority in the State Duma. Subsequently, approved bills are sent to the Federation Council, which has fourteen days to review them; if not considered, the bill is deemed passed. A bill rejected by the Federation Council can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in the State Duma. Finally, all federal laws are sent to the president for signing and promulgation.

Relationship with other government bodies

The Federal Assembly operates within a strong presidential system where the President of Russia wields significant influence, including the power to dissolve the State Duma under conditions outlined in the Constitution of Russia. The assembly interacts with the Government of Russia, particularly during the confirmation of the Prime Minister of Russia and the review of the federal budget. It also plays a role in the judicial system through the Federation Council's power to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Russia. The Central Election Commission oversees elections for the Duma, and the Prosecutor General presents annual reports to the chambers.

Political dynamics and criticism

Since the early 2000s, the State Duma has been dominated by the United Russia party, which consistently secures a constitutional majority, limiting effective opposition from parties like the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and A Just Russia — For Truth. Critics, including organizations like Amnesty International and Golos, argue the assembly functions as a rubber-stamp legislature for the policies of the executive, citing laws such as the "foreign agents" law and regulations on LGBT propaganda. International observers from the OSCE have frequently questioned the fairness of Duma elections, while the 2020 constitutional amendments further centralized power, affecting the assembly's nominal checks and balances.