Federal Assembly (Russia)
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| Federal Assembly (Russia) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation |
| Native name | Федеральное Собрание Российской Федерации |
| Legislature | Federal Assembly |
| House type | Bicameral parliament |
| Established | 1993 |
| Preceeded by | Congress of People's Deputies of Russia |
| Leader type | Chairman of the Federation Council |
| Leader | Valentina Matviyenko |
| Leader type2 | Chairman of the State Duma |
| Leader2 | Vyacheslav Volodin |
| Members | 450 (State Duma); 170 (Federation Council) |
| Meeting place | State Duma Building, Federation Council Building, Moscow |
Federal Assembly (Russia) is the bicameral national legislature of the Russian Federation, created after the 1993 constitutional crisis and institution of the 1993 Constitution of Russia. It comprises a lower house, the State Duma, and an upper house, the Federation Council, and operates within the constitutional framework established by President Boris Yeltsin, the Constitutional Court of Russia, and successive governments. The Assembly interacts with executive bodies such as the Government of Russia, the Presidential Administration, and regional authorities including governors and legislative assemblies.
History
The roots of the modern legislature trace to the dissolution of the Supreme Soviet and the 1993 constitutional referendum initiated by Boris Yeltsin and contested by deputies from the Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation and supporters of Gennady Zyuganov-era factions. The 1993 constitutional framework drew on models embodied in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic transition, post-Soviet reforms linked to Yegor Gaidar and Anatoly Chubais, and comparative practices from the United States Congress, Bundestag, and Parliament of the United Kingdom. Major historical episodes affecting the Assembly include the 1993 armed standoff at the White House (Moscow), the 1996 presidential election, legislative reform under Vladimir Putin, and constitutional amendments ratified in 2020 promoted by the State Duma leadership and the Federation Council.
Structure and Composition
The two chambers mirror functions seen in other parliamentary systems: the State Duma (450 deputies) reflects party-list representation influenced by parties such as United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and A Just Russia; the Federation Council (170 members) represents federal subjects including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and the Republic of Tatarstan via regional executives and legislative bodies. Key institutional offices include the Chairmen—most recently Vyacheslav Volodin in the State Duma and Valentina Matviyenko in the Federation Council—alongside factions analogous to caucuses seen in the Congress of Deputies traditions. Administrative organs involve committees and commissions patterned after those in the Council of Europe parliamentary structures and the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy affiliations.
Powers and Functions
Constitutionally enshrined competencies derive from the Constitution of Russia, including ratification of treaties with states such as Belarus, approval of federal budgets debated alongside the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, and oversight of executive appointments including the Chairman of the Government of Russia (Prime Minister) nominated by the President. The Assembly exercises powers parallel to those of bodies like the European Parliament in legislative review, while the Federation Council has exclusive authority on war and peace decisions linked to the President of Russia and declarations concerning federal subject status. Judicial-interface powers involve consultations with the Constitutional Court of Russia and impeachment procedures influenced by precedents from the Duma impeachments episodes.
Legislative Procedure
Bills may originate from the President, the Government (headed by the Prime Minister of Russia), members of both chambers, regional legislatures, and constitutional bodies such as the Accounts Chamber. Draft legislation moves through committee hearings, first, second, and third readings in the State Duma, and subsequent consideration by the Federation Council; presidential signature or veto follows, with veto override mechanisms resembling procedures in the U.S. Congress and veto practices debated during the 1993 constitutional crisis. Law-making also engages the Government Commission on Legislative Activity and uses review by bodies like the Prosecutor General of Russia for conformity concerns.
Relationship with Other State Bodies
Interactions include confirmation dialogues with the President of Russia over ministerial and judicial nominations, budget negotiation with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, and oversight of security organs such as the Security Council of Russia and the Federal Security Service (FSB). The Assembly's work intersects with the Constitutional Court of Russia on questions of constitutionality, with the Supreme Court of Russia on legal harmonization, and with regional executives (governors) and legislatures of federal subjects like the Chechen Republic on federalism issues. It also engages with international parliamentary bodies including the Inter-Parliamentary Union and bilateral interparliamentary commissions with countries such as China and India.
Elections and Membership
State Duma deputies are elected under mixed or proportional systems subject to electoral law changes promoted by the Central Election Commission of Russia; major electoral cycles include the 1993, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2016, and 2021 Duma elections involving parties like Yabloko and figures such as Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Federation Council membership is appointment-based, with two representatives per federal subject appointed by regional heads and legislatures—arrangements evolved following reforms under Vladimir Putin and critical decisions by the Constitutional Court of Russia concerning mandates and immunities.
Criticism and Political Influence
Scholars and observers from institutions including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, academic centers at Higher School of Economics (Russia), and think tanks such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have criticized the Assembly for centralization of power, party dominance by United Russia, and constraints on opposition actors such as Alexei Navalny and parties including PARNAS. Debates focus on legislative independence relative to the Presidential Administration of Russia, electoral fairness overseen by the Central Election Commission of Russia, and the role of the Assembly in endorsing constitutional amendments proposed by the President. International reactions have involved resolutions in the European Parliament and scrutiny by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe regarding electoral and legislative standards.