Study Notes on the Russian Legislature and Electoral System

Introduction to the Legislature

  • The legislative structure of Russia is bicameral, consisting of a lower house and an upper house.

Lower House: The Duma

  • The term "Duma" derives from the Russian word meaning "to think."

  • Composition:

    • Total seats: 450

  • Powers and Functions:

    • Initiates legislation and has the ability to reject it.

    • Can override a presidential veto if two-thirds of the members support it.

    • Responsible for approving the Prime Minister.

    • Has the ability to call a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

    • Notably, if this vote of no confidence is exercised three times, the President can dismiss the Duma and call for new elections.

    • However, this action has not yet occurred.

  • Historical Context:

    • Under President Yeltsin, most legislation originated in the Duma.

    • Under Presidents Putin and Medvedev, legislative initiatives shifted to be primarily top-down.

Upper House: The Federation Council

  • Composition:

    • Total seats: 170

  • Powers and Functions:

    • Has the authority to reject international treaties.

    • Approves presidential appointments to the Constitutional Court.

    • Can declare war and martial law.

    • Responsible for approving budgetary bills but can be overridden by the Duma with a two-thirds vote.

    • Generally holds weaker power compared to the Duma.

Electoral System Evolution

  • Historical Overview:

    • Transitioning towards democracy, Russia's electoral evolution denotes various systems in use from 1990 to present.

    • Initially, an SMD (Single Member District) system was used for the Duma.

    • Following the 1993 Constitution, a mixed electoral system was implemented:

    • 50% plurality SMD

    • 50% proportional representation (PR)

    • This included a 5% threshold for the Duma.

    • Resulted in two large parties and some smaller parties often necessary for coalition formation.

  • Electoral Changes Starting 2007:

    • In an effort to strengthen United Russia, the number of SMD seats was dropped.

    • Transitioned solely to a PR system with a 7% threshold, effectively keeping opposition parties at bay.

    • Parties that failed to meet this threshold had their votes distributed proportionally among those that did.

    • Created a scenario where parties could gain a higher number of seats than their actual vote percentage.

  • Significant Change in 2013:

    • Putin reverted to the mixed system of half SMD, half PR, reducing the threshold back to 5%.

    • A closed-list PR system was established, making party registration easier.

    • Registered political parties increased from 7 in 2012 to 76 in 2013.

    • This development provided the illusion of increased democracy, though it primarily served to strengthen United Russia by fracturing the opposition vote.

Impacts of Electoral Changes on Political Landscape

  • Election Results Overview:

    • In the elections prior to these changes, United Russia secured a majority with 238 seats, a notable decline from 2007 amid social protests.

    • Following the reforms in 2016, United Russia acquired an additional 100 seats, totaling 343 out of 500 seats.

    • Other party results in 2016 included:

    • Communist Party: 42 seats (a decrease of 50 from 2011)

    • Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR): 39 seats (down by 17)

    • Just Russia: 23 seats (down by 41)

  • This strategic electoral maneuvering significantly benefited Putin and United Russia.

Changes in Upper House Elections

  • Historical Structure:

    • Originally, the upper house was made up of a governor and a Duma representative from each of the regions, numbering around 90 regions, now consolidated to approximately 86.

  • System Under Putin:

    • Following his rise to power, there was a significant reduction in local power at the national level. The Federation Council continues to represent local interests with:

    • Two representatives from each region — one chosen by the regional legislature and one by the governor.

  • Political Dynamics:

    • From 2004 to 2012, governors were directly appointed by Putin as part of power consolidation.

    • By 2013, with strengthened control over the United Russia party, governors were allowed to be elected by the populace.

    • Despite this, the political environment remains characterized as competitive authoritarianism, indicating limited genuine democratic competition and substantial control by Putin.

Conclusion

  • The Russian legislative landscape, shaped by a mix of institutional powers, election reforms, and political strategies, reflects a consolidation of authority under President Putin while providing a façade of democratic processes.

  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for analyzing Russia's current political structure and the challenges facing its democratic development.