AP Comparative Government - Russia

knowts for AP Comp Gov - Russia

President of Russia

Chief executive and highest-ranking government official in Russia, serves as the head of state. Elected to two, 6-year terms which cannot be served consecutively. Wields wide-ranging executive power which is rarely checked by other branches of the Russian government.

Federalism (Russia)

- Asymmetric federalism (republics - 24, provinces - 48, territories - 9, districts - 4, cities - 3)
-- Meaning different subnational entities have different rights, prerogatives, and levels of freedom
- Federal subjects were sometimes the strongest opponents to Putin's ideas
- Since 2000 8 federal districts headed by an appointee of the president

The Duma

Lower House; more powerful than Federation Council; 450 seats; 5 year terms

Democratic Backsliding

The slow decline in the quality of a Democracy

The FEDERATION COUNCIL

Upper house and is composed of 166 deputies from 83 Federal Subjects (2 delegates from each subject: 1 from an executive body and one from a representative body). One is appointed by the Republic's Governor and the other by the Republic's legislature. (Weaker of the two houses of the Federal Assembly)

Political Socialization

Political socialization is a lifelong process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire political values.

Totalitarianism

a government that takes total control over every aspect of public and private life.

Glasnost (open-ess)

greater freedom of expression

Perestroika (restructuring)

decentralization of the Soviet economy with gradual market reforms

Nomenklatura - (Russian for list of names)

Party elites who were appointed to all government jobs. Served as a class system.

The Chechens

Separatists who have often resorted to Terrorism in order to fight for independence from Russia.

Federal Assembly

Russia's bicameral parliament; comprised of State Duma/Federation Council

Constitutional Court

Typically composed of 19 members who are appointed by the Federation Council upon nomination by the President of Russia. Highest body of Russia's legal system; responsible for resolving cases concerning the constitutionality of normative legal acts of all levels.

Kremlin

Historically fortified complex located in Moscow, Russia, which serves as the official residency of the President of Russia. As well as acting as the administrative and political center of the Russian government.

Shock Therapy

An abrupt shift to free market economics (Yeltsin lowered trade barriers, removed price controls, and enabled subsidies to state-owned industries)

Supreme Court of Arbitration

Responsible for ensuring uniform application of the law along with proper administration of justice in resolving economic disputes. In 2014, it was merged with the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation with the functions of the Supreme Court of Arbitration falling into the Supreme court.

Supreme Court (Supreme Court of the Russian Federation)

Serves as the highest judicial authority in the country. Handles a wide range of legal matters, including civil criminal, administrative, and commercial cases.

Brezhnev Doctrine

A foreign policy put forth by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnv in 1968, calling on the Soviet Union to intervene - including militarily - in countries where socialist rule was under threat.

Semi-Presidential System

In which the president served as head of state while the Prime Minister served as head of government (the president holds an exceeding amount of power).

Chechnya

Russian republic that has been a source of military conflict since 1991

Asymmetric Federalism

When power is divided unevenly between regional bodies; some regions may be given greater power over taxation than others-a more likely outcome in a country with significant ethnic divisions

Insider Privatization

Government-controlled companies or companies run by men seen as loyal to Putin and who receive benefits from the state; if a company is considered too independent or too rich, the government will cite legal infractions and force the company to sell.

Legal-executive system

Semi-presidential

Legislature

Federal Assembly

Lower House

State Duma

Upper House

Federation Council

Unitary or federal division of power

proportional representation

Electoral system for upper house

Appointed by local executive and legislature

Chief Judicial Body

Constitutional Court

Stalin

A formidable Soviet leader whose policies of authoritarianism, industrialization, and purges shaped the course of history in the 20th century.

Five Year Plan

A series of centralized economic initiatives implemented by the Soviet Union under Stalin's leadership aimed at rapidly industrializing the country through state control and planning, resulting in significant social and economic transformation.

Purges

The purges under Stalin's regime were ruthless campaigns of political repression, persecution, and execution targeting perceived enemies of the state, resulting in widespread fear, suffering, and loss of life throughout the Soviet Union.

Political Culture

Encompasses the shared beliefs, values, norms, and attitudes that shape individuals' perceptions of the political system and influence their behavior within it.

Political Socialization

Refers to the lifelong process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors from various sources such as family, education, media, and social interactions.

Command Economy

An economic system in which the government or central authority determines production, distribution, and prices of goods and services, typically characterized by state ownership of resources and extensive planning.

Bottlenecks

Points of congestion or restriction within a system, process, or flow of goods or information, often leading to inefficiencies and delays in operations.

Shortages

A situation in which the quantity demanded for a good or service exceeds the quantity supplied, resulting in an insufficient supply to meet consumer demand.

Cold War

A geopolitical rivalry and ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by tension, proxy wars, and nuclear arms race, lasting from the end of World War II to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

BREZHNEV DOCTRINE

A Soviet foreign policy asserting the right to intervene militarily in any socialist country deemed threatened by counterrevolution, aimed at maintaining Soviet control over Eastern European satellite states and suppressing dissent within the Warsaw Pact nations.

Berlin Wall

A heavily fortified barrier erected by East Germany in 1961 to prevent the mass exodus of East Berliners to the West, symbolizing the division between communist and capitalist ideologies during the Cold War.

Space Race

A competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve significant milestones in space exploration, such as launching satellites, sending humans into space, and landing on the moon, driven by political, technological, and ideological factors during the Cold War era.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts between two opposing sides, often superpowers or their allies, where the fighting is carried out indirectly through supporting or instigating surrogate forces in a third-party country, typically to advance strategic, political, or ideological interests.

Gorbachev

A transformative Soviet leader known for implementing policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which aimed to reform the Soviet Union's political and economic systems, ultimately leading to its dissolution and the end of the Cold War.

Glasnost

A policy of openness and transparency implemented by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, allowing for increased freedom of speech, press, and political expression, marking a significant shift towards democratization within the Soviet Union.

Perestroika

A series of economic and political reforms introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, aimed at restructuring the Soviet economy and government to increase efficiency, decentralize decision-making, and encourage elements of market capitalism, ultimately contributing to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1993 Constitution

The 1993 Constitution of Russia established a semi-presidential system, delineating the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, while granting extensive powers to the president and affirming the principles of democracy, federalism, and human rights.

Dual Executive System (Semi-Presidential System)

Is a form of government where a directly elected president coexists with a prime minister and cabinet accountable to the legislature, resulting in a division of executive powers between the president and the prime minister.

Prime Minister of Russia

The head of government responsible for overseeing the implementation of policies, managing the executive branch, and representing the country domestically and internationally, appointed by the President with the approval of the State Duma.

Duma

The Duma is the lower house of the Russian parliament, responsible for passing legislation, overseeing the government, and representing the interests of the Russian people through proportional representation elections.

Federation Council

The Federation Council is the upper house of the Russian parliament, representing the federal subjects of Russia and serving as a deliberative body that reviews legislation passed by the State Duma and provides regional representation in the legislative process.

Federal Assembly

The national legislature composed of two chambers, the State Duma and the Federation Council, responsible for enacting laws, overseeing the executive branch, and representing the interests of the Russian people and regions.

Proportional Representation

Is an electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive, providing greater representation for diverse political viewpoints and fostering multiparty democracy.

Thresholds

Thresholds in electoral systems represent the minimum percentage of votes a political party must attain to gain representation in a legislative body, aiming to prevent fragmentation while balancing inclusivity and stability.

CHECHNYA

A region in the North Caucasus known for its complex history of conflict, including two devastating wars for independence from Russia in the 1990s and early 2000s, followed by a period of relative stability under Kremlin-appointed leadership.

Terrorism

The use of violence, intimidation, or coercion for political, ideological, or religious purposes, often targeting civilians and designed to instill fear and achieve specific objectives.

Separatism

A political or social movement advocating for the separation or independence of a specific group or region from a larger political entity, often driven by ethnic, cultural, or historical grievances.

Irredentism

A political ideology or movement seeking to reclaim and reassert control over territory historically or ethnically associated with a particular nation, often leading to territorial disputes and conflicts with neighboring states.

Navalny

A prominent Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist known for his campaigns against government corruption and authoritarianism, as well as his efforts to promote political accountability and transparency in Russia.

Gazprom

A Russian state-owned energy company that is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of natural gas, playing a significant role in global energy markets and geopolitical dynamics.

Unites Russia

the dominant political party in Russia, known for its close ties to the Kremlin and its role in supporting the policies of President Vladimir Putin, shaping the country's political landscape since its founding in 2001.

Liberal Democrats

A nationalist political party advocating for conservative and socially conservative policies, often associated with populist rhetoric and led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky since its establishment in 1991.

A Just Russia

Social-democratic political party in Russia, known for its focus on social justice, welfare programs, and advocacy for the rights of workers and marginalized groups, formed through a merger of several smaller parties in 2006.

GINI Coefficient

A measure of income or wealth inequality within a population, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality), commonly used in economics and sociology to assess levels of social disparity.

Non-governmental organization

(NGO) is a private, non-profit organization independent of government control, dedicated to addressing social, environmental, or humanitarian issues through advocacy, activism, and service delivery.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations through diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and development initiatives.

General Secretary

Highest-ranking official of the United Nations, responsible for overseeing the organization's operations, implementing policies, and serving as a diplomatic leader on global issues.

ECOSOC

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for promoting international cooperation on economic, social, and environmental issues, and for coordinating the work of specialized agencies, programs, and commissions within the UN system.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, tasked with settling legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions on international legal issues.

Security Council

A principal organ of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security, composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power, and authorized to make decisions on matters of conflict resolution and peacekeeping.

Globalization

The process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, economies, cultures, and societies worldwide, facilitated by advances in technology, communication, and trade, leading to greater integration and exchange of ideas, goods, and services across borders.