❖NAME: PRIYANKA
❖ROLL NO: PS22086
❖TOPIC: POLITICAL REGIME OF
RUSSIA
“The most dangerous time,” wrote the 19th-century
French historian Alexis de Tocqueville, “is when a bad
government begins to reform itself.” Seldom has this
been However,, than in Russia since the breakup of
the Soviet Union.
POLITICAL Russia's political region has undergone significant
REGIME transformations, shaped by its imperial past over
Soviet centralization and post Soviet governance from
OF the autocratic rule of the Tsars to the rigid one-party
system of the Soviet union and emergence of a semi
RUSSIA presidential system in the Russian federation.
Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991 Russia
adopted a new constitution in 1993 in the hands of the
president democratic constitution IN 1993, establishing
a federal democratic framework. However, over the
past two decades power has become increasingly
concentrated in the hands of the president particularly
under Vladamir Putin. While the country formally
retains democratic institutions such as elections, a
multi party system and constitutionally defined
separation of powers, in practice, it operates as an
authoritarian region with limited and restricted civilities.
The Executive Branch: President and Prime Minister
Semi-Presidential System President's Role
The constitution establishes a semi-presidential The president is the head of state and holds
system, primary power.
formally resembling the French system but with The prime minister, appointed by the
stronger president but approved
executive power. The executive branch has two by the lower house of parliament, is the
heads: the head of the
president and the prime minister, introducing a government.
potential
context for intra-state tension.
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
HEAD OF STATE : Represents Russia domestically
and internationally
▪ Signs or vetoes federal laws
LEGISLATIVE POWERS: ▪ Issues Decrees and Executive
orders
▪ Can dissolve the state Duma
▪ Appoints PM (With Duma
EXECUTIVE POWERS: approval)
▪ Appoints ministers, governors,
and federal agency heads
• JUDICIAL POWERS: ▪ Nominates judges for
constitutional and supreme
courts
• MARTIAL LAWS AND STATE OF
EMERGENCY
THE LEGISLATURE: FEDERAL ASSEMBLY
Russia's bicameral parliament is known officially as the federal assembly. It comprises a lower house, the 450-seat state
Duma, and an upper house, the 166-seat federation council.
THE FEDERATION COUNCIL:
Much like the US senate the federation council is designed to represent the regions but unlike the senate it
is relatively weak. The body represents all of the 85 federal administrative units and each unit has two
representative. Since 2002, one representative has been selected by the governor of each reason and
another by the regional legislature. The council has jurisdiction over relations between the federal
Government and the regions and republic and can discuss all laws passed by the Duma, but its approval is
wedded only for laws involving economic or defense issues.
It confirms presidential nomination to the constitutional and supreme court, approved decisions by president
to declare martial law or state of emergency and has the soul power to initiate impeachment proceeding.
THE STATE DUMA
The state Duma is lower chamber of federal assembly and
Russia's major law-making body. It has 450 members elected
for maximum 4 years term using a system of proportional
representation. The Duma is overseen by a chairman
(equivalent to speaker).
❖ can propose, accept or reject laws
❖ can override the president’s veto with a two -third majority
❖ approves the PM appointment
❖ can vote no confidence in the PM and government
❖ if no confidence motion is voted twice in three months the
president must respond by dismissing the government or
calling new elections
❖ repeated rejection of the PM could lead to the Dumas
dissolution
❖ previously Duma had a strong role in drafting laws, but
weakened under Putin. In practice constitutional
amendments are quickly approved by the president
example, in 2008 the president extended presidential and
Duma terms and the duma passed it within 10 days
THE JUDICIARY: Russia's judiciary includes the Constitutional court (ensures law
compliance with the constitution), Supreme court (handles civil criminal and administrative
cases). Judges are appointed by the president. Court interpret laws, protect rights and oversee
government actions, but judicial independence is often questioned.
COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS WITH POLITICAL REGIME OF USA, BRITAIN
AND FRANCE:
The USA in contrast has a presidential system, where the President (Donald Trump) is both had
of state and government elected separately from the legislature. The system is based on strong
checks and balances, and independent judiciary and a free press.
Britain as a parliamentary democracy has a monarch as the symbolic head of state while real
executive power lie with the PM.
While both Russia and France follow a semi presidential system, Russia’s regime is
authoritarian leaning with a dominant executive, weak opposition whereas France maintains a
strong democracy with power sharing and judicial independence.
CONCLUSION
Russia's political course since 1991 has
been under went radical transformation.
Managing so much change in a short time
has been difficult and has produced
mixed results. Efforts to democratize the
political system have been only partially
successful and experts disagree both
about whether the political controls
initiated by Putin were needed to ensure
stability and under what conditions they
might be reversed.
