1. Russian Political Institutions

2. Federalism Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it still maintained a federal government structure Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it still maintained a federal government structure Russian Federation has retained this model, with the current regime consisting of 89 regions, 21 of which are ethnically non-Russian by majority Russian Federation has retained this model, with the current regime consisting of 89 regions, 21 of which are ethnically non-Russian by majority Each region is bound by treaty to the Federation, not all have officially signed on (Chechnya) Each region is bound by treaty to the Federation, not all have officially signed on (Chechnya) Putin ended direct election of the 89 regional governors, they are now nominated by the president and confirmed by the regional legislatures Putin ended direct election of the 89 regional governors, they are now nominated by the president and confirmed by the regional legislatures

3. Elections 3 types 3 types –Referendum –Duma Elections  Single-member districts were eliminated in 2005 upon the initiative of President Putin on the claim that it would strengthen the party system by reducing the number of parties in the Duma.  The threshold for eligibility to win seats has also been raised from 5% to 7%. In 2003, 100 of the 225 single-member district seats were won by independents or minor party candidates.  Now elections are entirely proportional. –Presidential Elections  Direct elections, must achieve 50 percent of the vote in one or two rounds of voting as necessary

4. 1993: Year of Elections – Year of Transition March 1993 parliament attempted to impeach Yeltsin March 1993 parliament attempted to impeach Yeltsin Legislative-led coup tried to usurp control of the government Legislative-led coup tried to usurp control of the government Yeltsin dissolved legislature, called for new elections Yeltsin dissolved legislature, called for new elections Although opposition leaders were arrested, Yeltsin’s opponents won the majority in the new legislature Although opposition leaders were arrested, Yeltsin’s opponents won the majority in the new legislature –Radical Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s Liberal Party did surprisingly well Despite losing control of the legislature Yeltsin was able to get approval for the new constitution: Constitution of 1993 Despite losing control of the legislature Yeltsin was able to get approval for the new constitution: Constitution of 1993

5. Constitution of 1993 Created a three-branch government Created a three-branch government –President & Prime Minister (dual executive) –Lower legislative house (Duma) –Constitutional Court Referendum - allowed for president to call for national referenda by popular vote on important issues Referendum - allowed for president to call for national referenda by popular vote on important issues –Yeltsin’s first referendum was on his job performance –Second was for approval of the constitution itself

6. President’s Duties Appoints the prime minister and cabinet Appoints the prime minister and cabinet –Duma must approve prime minister’s appointment, but if they reject the president’s nominee three times, the president may dissolve the Duma Issue decrees that have the force of law Issue decrees that have the force of law –Cabinet has great deal of power, Duma cannot censure cabinet according to Constitution of 1993 Dissolve the Duma and call for new elections Dissolve the Duma and call for new elections –Done by Yeltsin during legislative coup attempt of 1993

7. Prime Minister Relationship between PM and President not exactly clear, but with no vice- president if anything happens to president the PM assumes the office of president Relationship between PM and President not exactly clear, but with no vice- president if anything happens to president the PM assumes the office of president –Accountable to the Duma

8. Bicameral Legislature Duma Duma –Lower House –450 deputies –All chosen by proportional representation –Passes Bills –Approves Budgets –Confirms president’s political appointments –Votes of confidence Federation Council Federation Council –Upper House –Two members elected from each of the 89 regions of the federation –Power to delay legislation  On paper Federation Council can change boundaries of republics, ratify use of armed forces, and appoint and remove judges. These powers have yet to be use however.

9. Judiciary Supreme Court Supreme Court –Created by 1993 Constitution –Serves as final court of appeals in criminal & civil cases Constitutional Court Constitutional Court –Created by 1993 Constitution –19 members –Appointed by president and confirmed by Federation Council

10. Military Was a source of strength during the Soviet era, 1945-1991 Was a source of strength during the Soviet era, 1945-1991 Generally did not get involved in politics, this continues under the Russian Federation Generally did not get involved in politics, this continues under the Russian Federation Suffered significant humiliation from the late 1980’s to early 21 st century Suffered significant humiliation from the late 1980’s to early 21 st century –Withdrawal from Afghanistan –Defeated by Chechen guerrillas in 1994-1996 conflict –Often ill-equipped, Russian soldiers had to feed themselves and went unpaid for months in late 1990’s and early 21 st century

11. Political Parties Began forming after 1991 Began forming after 1991 Small, factional Small, factional Formed around particular leaders Formed around particular leaders –“Bloc of General Andrey Nikolaev and Academician Svyaloslav Fyodorov” –“Yuri Boldyrev Movement” (“Yabloko”) Formed around particular issues Formed around particular issues –“Party of Pensioners” –“Agrarian Party of Russia” –“Women of Russia” Political Parties Today (United Russia, Communist Party, Reform Parties) Political Parties Today (United Russia, Communist Party, Reform Parties)

12. United Russia Founded in April 2001 Founded in April 2001 Merger between “Fatherland All-Russia” Party and the “United Party of Russia” Merger between “Fatherland All-Russia” Party and the “United Party of Russia” –United Party put together by oligarch Boris Berezovsky and other entrepreneurs to support Putin in the election of 2000 Merger put even more political support behind Putin Merger put even more political support behind Putin United Russia won 315 of 450 Duma seats in 2007 United Russia won 315 of 450 Duma seats in 2007 Putin now leads this party as Prime Minister Putin now leads this party as Prime Minister United Russia is hard to define other than that it is pro- Putin United Russia is hard to define other than that it is pro- Putin

13. Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Communist Party of the old Soviet Union (CPSU) Communist Party of the old Soviet Union (CPSU) After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 Duma seats After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 Duma seats After parliamentary election of 2007 only retained 57 of the 450 Duma seats After parliamentary election of 2007 only retained 57 of the 450 Duma seats Party is less reformist than other parties Party is less reformist than other parties Party emphasizes central planning and nationalism Party emphasizes central planning and nationalism Would like to see Russia regain territories it lost after Soviet Union dissolution Would like to see Russia regain territories it lost after Soviet Union dissolution

14. Reformist Parties Yabloko Yabloko –Taken strongest stand for pro-democracy –Survived since 1993 –Grigori Yavlinski, leader, finished 3 rd in 2000 presidential election –Name is acronym for its three founders, also means “apple” –Gained 4.4% of vote in 2003 parliamentary elections (4 seats) making it ineligible for proportional representation Union of Right Forces Union of Right Forces –“Rightest” only in the sense of seeking truth –Emphasizes development of free market –Supports privatization of industry –Had 29 seats in Duma prior to 2003 –After 2003 elections only won 3 seats (less than 5% of the vote)

15. Liberal Democratic Party Controversial party Controversial party Headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky Headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky –Extreme nationalist –Anti-semitic –Sexist –Attacks reformist leaders and disliked Yeltsin –Said he would use nuclear weapons on Japan if he were elected Party reformulated as “Zhirinovsky’s Bloc” for 2000 presidential election, he received 2.7% of vote Party reformulated as “Zhirinovsky’s Bloc” for 2000 presidential election, he received 2.7% of vote Party did receive about 8% of vote in 2007 Duma elections (won 40 seats) Party did receive about 8% of vote in 2007 Duma elections (won 40 seats)

16. Interest Groups Oligarchy Oligarchy –Tied closely with the Yeltsin family –By mid-1990s monopolized Russian industry and built huge fortunes –Boris Berezovsky – admitted that he and six other entrepreneurs controlled over half the GNP –Dominant in oil, media, and television industries –Helped Yeltsin win 1996 election –Created and financed the Unity Party in 2000 and got Vladimir Putin elected Russian Mafia Russian Mafia –Larger and perhaps even more influential than the oligarchy –Initially involved in underworld crime –During Revolution of 1991 gained control of businesses, natural resources, and banks –Involved in money laundering, drugs, prostitution, and business payoffs (“protection money”) –Includes former members of the KGB

17. Linkage Institutions Today Huge fortunes made by oligarchs and the mafia offend the equality of opportunity principle of the Russian people Huge fortunes made by oligarchs and the mafia offend the equality of opportunity principle of the Russian people Putin arrested television magnate Vladimir Gusinsky for corruption and his company was given to a state-owned monopoly Putin arrested television magnate Vladimir Gusinsky for corruption and his company was given to a state-owned monopoly In 2003, Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in Russia and CEO of the Yukos Oil Company was arrested as a signal that the Russian government was consolidating power In 2003, Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in Russia and CEO of the Yukos Oil Company was arrested as a signal that the Russian government was consolidating power –Yukos was slapped with massive penalties and additional taxes, forcing it into bankruptcy Russian Media – a linkage institution with close ties to both the state and the oligarchy, has been manipulated by dominant political and interest groups to pursue their own causes Russian Media – a linkage institution with close ties to both the state and the oligarchy, has been manipulated by dominant political and interest groups to pursue their own causes