Russia Overview

Executive System

  • Semi-Presidential System

    • Head of State: President

      • Focus of power

      • Siloviki member

        • Siloviki: high-ranking individuals in the Russian government

      • Appoints PM, cabinet, governors

      • Chairs State Council

      • Issues decrees w/ force of law

        • Decree: Directives without legislative review but may not contravene other laws or constitution

      • Can impose martial law, call referendums, suspend state organ actions, dissolve Duma

      • Can be impeached by Supreme court and Constitutional Court

    • Legislature: Federal Assembly

      • Lower House: State Duma

        • Elected with FPTP or Proportion rep

        • Technically more power

        • Dissolved if disagree with PM nomination 3 times

      • Upper House: Federation Council

        • Appointed by local executive/legislature

    • Chief Judicial Body: Constitutional Court

  • Federal division of power

    • Asymmetric

      • Some more powerful subnational units

      • Deals with ethnic/regional cleavages - attempt to prevent independence seeking

      • Republics have rights to establish language + have own constitution

        • Territories and provinces aren’t explicitly given the right

        • Geographic subunits: Republics > Provinces > Territories > Autonomous districts > Federal cities

    • Weak central gov (Under Yelstin) → Many rule themselves almost independently

  • Political Structure

    • Democratic constitution but with history of authoritarianism

      • Considered hybrid regime - semi/soft authoritarian

    • Putin’s crack-down on regional autonomy

      • Appointment of governors - no more direct election of regional governors

        • Nominated by President, confirmed by regional legislatures

      • Changes to Federation Council

  • State Council

    • Advisory body to head of state

    • Established via decree from Putin

    • Focuses on dev of gov institutions, economic/social reform (things affecting public)

  • Security council

    • Body of President that consults President’s decisions on national security affairs

    • composed of state officials, heads of defense, security agencies

    • Chaired by Presidet

Leg

Judiciary

  • No true indepdendence from executive

  • President appoints and approves who sits on federal judiciary

  • In theory, has ability to check power of President

    • Never been used to check President’s power/Legislature

Military

  • On paper, have judicial review but never used in practice

  • Constitutional Court

    • Appointed by president, approved by Federation Council (uupper house)

    • Has judicial review

  • Supreme Court

    • Final court of appeals in criminal/civil cases

    • DOES NOT have judicial review

  • Previously (USSR) had no independent judiciary - judges/courts were pawns of communist party

  • Rule of Law

    • Putin has “initiated” law reform BUT

      • Blocked by corruption

      • Security police operate autonomously

      • Trials of oligarchs indicate counrts still under control of Putin

    • Corruption

      • At least ½ of pop participates in corruption

  • Military was source of Soviet strength during cold War

  • Universal male conscription

    • 1 year service

    • Defence Minister indicated draft will be necessary along with professional army

      • Said draftees won’t be used in combat - since changed with invasion of Ukraine

  • Intelligence

    • Federal Security Service (FSB/KGB)

    • Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)

    • Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)

    • Have increased legitimacy of Putin