RUSSIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM

1993 CONSTITUTION Boris Yeltsin: Western-style

democracy Mixed

Presidential/Parliamentary System Loosely based on French system

Government: 3 Branches Executive

Head of State: President Legislature:

Head of Government: Prime Minister (Premier)

Upper House: Federation Council Lower House: Duma

Judicial: Constitutional Court

President Boris Yeltsin: 1992-1999

PRESIDENT

President Putin (1999, 2000-2008; 2012-?)

Directly elected by people

Length of term: (1993): 4 years (2008): Now 6 years

Term Limits: 2 Terms

HQ: Kremlin

PRESIDENT Popularly Elected Two-Ballot Runoff

system Must win a majority

of vote. If no one wins

majority, a runoff occurs 2 weeks later.

Top 2 vote-getters No Vice-President President Dmitry

Medvedev (2008-2012)

Table 9-11, p. 243

PRESIDENT’S CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS Names prime minister

Does not need to be a member of parliament

Must be approved by Duma If Duma rejects 3 times, president can

dissolve Parliament Appoints Cabinet Issues decrees with

force of law Allows president to ignore

Parliament

PRESIDENT’S CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS Right to temporarily suspend actions of other

institutions (if they contradict constitution or federal laws)

Veto legislation Impose martial law Grant pardons Call referenda

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin whalehunting on Olga Bay.

PRIME MINISTER’S CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS

Can issue resolutions and directives (but president may override)

Proposes budget and legislation Ensures the implementation of

state policy

“THE TANDEM” (DUAL EXECUTIVES)

PUTIN ONCE MORE MOVES TO ASSUME TOP JOB IN RUSSIA

Questions to answer on a separate sheet.1. According to the article, when was it

decided that Putin would run as president in 2012?

2. How do average Russians feel about the decision?

3. What issues/problems will confront Putin as president?

4. How would you describe the relationship between Putin and Medvedev?