State Duma (Russian Federation)
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| State Duma (Russian Federation) | |
|---|---|
| Name | State Duma (Russian Federation) |
| Native name | Государственная Дума Российской Федерации |
| Legislature | Federal Assembly of Russia |
| House type | Lower house |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Leader type | Chairman |
| Leader | Vyacheslav Volodin |
| Party | United Russia |
| Members | 450 |
| Last election | 17–19 September 2021 |
| Next election | 2026 |
| Meeting place | State Duma Building, Moscow |
State Duma (Russian Federation) The State Duma is the lower chamber of the Federal Assembly of Russia, established after the 1993 constitutional crisis and the adoption of the Constitution of Russia (1993). It functions as a national legislature in the Russian Federation alongside the Federation Council of Russia, enacting federal laws, approving the Prime Minister of Russia under presidential nomination, and exercising oversight through hearings and inquiries. The Duma's composition, electoral rules, and institutional powers have been central to political developments involving United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and other parliamentary groups.
History
The origins trace to imperial bodies like the State Duma (Russian Empire) created after the 1905 Russian Revolution and the later Soviet-era institutions including the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. The contemporary Duma was constituted by provisions of the Constitution of Russia (1993) following the standoff between Boris Yeltsin and the 1993 Congress of People's Deputies, a crisis culminating in the shelling of the White House (Moscow) and the promulgation of a new constitutional order. Early convocations featured figures such as Gennady Zyuganov, Grigory Yavlinsky, and Vladimir Zhirinovsky who shaped post-Soviet party politics, while the 2000s saw consolidation by United Russia and leadership changes during the presidencies of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.
Structure and Powers
The Duma comprises 450 deputies with powers defined by the Constitution of Russia (1993), federal laws, and internal regulations. It shares legislative initiative with the President of Russia, the Federation Council of Russia, and regional legislatures such as those of Moscow Oblast and Saint Petersburg. Constitutional responsibilities include adoption of federal laws, ratification of international treaties like the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, approval of the Prime Minister of Russia nominee, consent to the appointment of the Prosecutor General of Russia, and initiation of impeachment proceedings against the President of Russia. The Duma can also authorize the deployment of armed forces abroad under certain conditions, interacting with institutions like the Security Council of Russia and the Ministry of Defence (Russia).
Electoral System and Composition
Electoral rules have alternated between mixed systems and proportional representation. The 1993–2003 convocations used a mixed single-member districts and party-list system, while reforms in 2007 and 2011 moved to full party-list proportional representation influenced by parties such as United Russia, A Just Russia, and Yabloko. The 2016 reforms reinstated a mixed system. Deputies are elected from party lists and single-member constituencies; major parties include United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and newer entrants such as New People. Regional elites from areas like Tatarstan and Chechnya often secure representation, and electoral outcomes reflect interactions among figures like Sergei Mironov, Nikolai Valuev, and Ksenia Sobchak across cycles.
Legislative Procedure
Bills may be introduced by deputies, factions, the President of Russia, the Federation Council of Russia, regional legislatures, and executive agencies including the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The standard procedure involves three readings: first reading for general principles, second reading for detailed amendments, and third reading for final text adoption. Passed laws require approval by the Federation Council of Russia and signature by the President of Russia; in cases of presidential veto, the Duma can override with a two-thirds majority. Legislative drafting often engages ministries such as the Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) and state corporations like Gazprom, with parliamentary scrutiny involving hearings, expert testimony, and collaboration with academic centers like the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Committees and Factions
The Duma organizes permanent committees (commissions) on portfolios including budget, defense, foreign affairs, and health; notable committees include the Committee on International Affairs, Committee on Budget and Taxes, and Committee on Defense. Parliamentary factions mirror party groupings such as United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and A Just Russia — For Truth, influencing committee assignments and legislative priorities. Prominent committee chairs have included politicians like Sergey Naryshkin and Vyacheslav Volodin, while deputies from regions such as Khabarovsk Krai and Primorsky Krai have shaped regional policy debates within factional dynamics.
Relationship with Other Government Bodies
The Duma's interactions extend to the President of Russia, whose legislative initiatives and nominations require parliamentary consideration, and to the Federation Council of Russia, which reviews Duma-passed legislation. Executive bodies including the Government of Russia and ministries coordinate policy and budgetary proposals, while judicial institutions like the Constitutional Court of Russia adjudicate constitutional disputes over legislation. Relations with regional parliaments, governors such as those of Moscow Oblast and Sverdlovsk Oblast, and supranational organizations like the Council of Europe have figured in debates over federalism, human rights, and international obligations.
Notable Legislation and Political Impact
Key statutes enacted include federal codes on criminal and civil procedure, budget laws affecting the Central Bank of Russia and state enterprises, and laws on media and elections that influenced actors like Alexei Navalny and Anna Politkovskaya. The Duma approved significant measures during crises, including counterterrorism laws after the Beslan school siege and sanctions-related legislation following disputes with European Union and United States policy. Its role in legitimizing executive policy has drawn attention from international bodies such as the United Nations and human rights organizations, and landmark votes—such as those concerning constitutional amendments in 2020—had lasting effects on leadership trajectories involving Vladimir Putin and the configuration of Russian state institutions.