Federation Council of Russia

Federation Council of Russia is the upper house of the Russian Parliament, comprising representatives from each of the 85 federal subjects of Russia, including oblasts, krais, republics, federal cities, autonomous okrugs, and autonomous oblasts, such as Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and Chechnya. The Federation Council works closely with the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, to pass federal laws and exercise legislative power, as outlined in the Constitution of Russia. The council also interacts with other institutions, including the President of Russia, the Government of Russia, and the Constitutional Court of Russia, to ensure the effective functioning of the Russian state, as demonstrated during the Russian financial crisis and the Russian constitutional crisis.

● History

The Federation Council was established in 1993, following the Russian constitutional crisis, which led to the adoption of the Constitution of Russia and the creation of the Russian Parliament. The council's history is closely tied to the development of the Russian state, including the Kievan Rus', the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and the Russian Empire, which was ruled by monarchs such as Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great. The Federation Council has played a significant role in shaping Russia's foreign policy, including its relations with NATO, the European Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as its participation in international events, such as the G8 and the G20. The council has also been involved in key decisions, including the Russian annexation of Crimea and the War in Donbas, which have had significant implications for Russia's relations with Ukraine and the international community.

● Composition

The Federation Council consists of 166 members, with each of the 85 federal subjects represented by two senators, one appointed by the head of the federal subject and the other by the legislative assembly of the federal subject, such as the Moscow City Duma and the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly. The council includes representatives from various regions, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and the North Caucasus Federal District, which have diverse economic, cultural, and historical profiles, as reflected in the works of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. The Federation Council also has a number of committees, including the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Defense and Security, which work closely with other institutions, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, to develop and implement Russia's foreign and defense policies.

● Powers

The Federation Council has a range of powers, including the approval of federal laws and the exercise of legislative initiative, as well as the power to declare War and to approve the President's appointments to the Government and the Constitutional Court, such as the appointment of Dmitry Medvedev as Prime Minister of Russia. The council also has the power to impeach the President and to approve the President's decision to dissolve the State Duma, as outlined in the Constitution of Russia. The Federation Council works closely with other institutions, including the Central Bank of Russia and the Accounts Chamber of Russia, to ensure the effective functioning of the Russian state and to promote the country's economic development, as reflected in the economic policy of the Government of Russia.

● Procedure

The Federation Council operates according to a set of rules and procedures, which are outlined in the Regulations of the Federation Council. The council meets in Moscow and is chaired by the Chairman of the Federation Council, who is currently Valentina Matviyenko. The council's proceedings are open to the public and are broadcast on Russian television channels, such as Channel One Russia and Russia-1. The Federation Council also has a number of committees, which work on specific issues, such as the Committee on Economic Policy and the Committee on Social Policy, and which interact with other institutions, such as the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Health, to develop and implement policies in these areas.

● Chairmen

The Chairman of the Federation Council is the presiding officer of the council and is responsible for setting the council's agenda and overseeing its proceedings. The current Chairman is Valentina Matviyenko, who has been in office since 2011 and has played a key role in shaping the council's activities, including its relations with the State Duma and the Government of Russia. Previous Chairmen have included Sergey Mironov and Sergey Shoygu, who have also made significant contributions to the development of the Russian state, including its foreign policy and its military doctrine. The Chairman of the Federation Council also represents the council in international forums, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament, and interacts with other international institutions, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

● International Cooperation

The Federation Council plays an active role in international cooperation, including its participation in international parliamentary organizations, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament. The council also has a number of bilateral agreements with other countries, including China, Germany, and France, and interacts with other international institutions, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe. The Federation Council has also been involved in key international events, including the G8 and the G20, and has played a significant role in shaping Russia's foreign policy, including its relations with NATO and the European Union. The council's international activities are coordinated by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which works closely with other institutions, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, to develop and implement Russia's foreign policy.