Government Institutions in Russia Pick up the handout on the way in

Warm up Who is the father of communist Russia? Define democratic centralism. What were the 11 people that controlled the Soviet Union called? What role did collective farms play in industrialization under Russia? Identify and explain the three reforms enacted by Mikhail Gorbachev at the end of the Soviet Union.

Boris Yeltsin 1991—Soviet Union collapses, ___________ is out of a job Russia elects Boris Yeltsin as its President Yeltsin—Enacted “shock therapy”: Immediate market reforms(privatization and trade liberalization)

Shock therapy did not work to well A few individuals (oligarchs?) gained control of most of the wealth in the country Led to inflation and a recession Yeltsin was also drunk and sick most of the time Resigned in 1999, PM Putin took over and won 2000 election as President

Constitution of 1993 Creates a federalist system (supposedly) Basis of Russian government 3 Branches of Government Executive: President AND Prime Minister Legislative: Bicameral Legislature Judicial: Constitutional Court

Executive Branch—President President—Head of state (but not just ceremonial, actually REALLY POWERFUL) Appoints PM (with Duma’s approval) Can issue decrees that the Duma has no control over Can dissolve the Duma

Putin Picture of the Day!

Executive Branch—Prime Minister Prime Minister—Head of government Run the day to day operations of government Reports to the President Became more powerful when Putin became PM

Legislative Branch Bicameral legislature Lower house—Duma Passes bills Approves the Presidential budget (Remember, can be dissolved by the President, and President can issue decrees) Most legislation originates with PM or President, like in Britain

Legislative Branch—Federation Council (upper house) 2 members from all 89 federal administrative units (____________) Represent regional interests Only has the power to delay legislation, and can be overrided by the Duma Sound familiar? Has some powers it has never used before (use of armed forces, judge appointment/removal)

Judiciary Constitutional Court— 19 judges 1993 Constitution tried to make it independent of the presidency Careful not to challenge Putin Putin still moved the Court to St. Petersburg…why? Supreme Court—Only for criminal/civil cases, not constitutional issues

Elections in Russia Referendums Duma Elections Presidential Elections Referendums—Presidents call for a nation-wide vote on an issue Had one for the Constitution of 1993

Presidential Elections 1 or 2 rounds If someone wins a majority in the 1st round, election is over If not, runoff between the top 2 candidate Last election—Putin won 63%, no runoff needed

Duma Elections Used to be ½ first-the-post, ½ proportional representation 2007—Became 100% proportional representation Proportional Representation—Citizens vote for a party, not a candidate. How ever many votes a party gets determines how many representatives they get (7% minimum) Leads to multi-member districts One party in the UK wants proportional representation—Who? Party Percentage of national vote Seats in Duma United Russia 49.5 238 Communist Party 19.2 92 A Just Russia 13.2 64 Liberal Democrat 11.7 56 Yabloko 3.43 Patriots of Russia 0.97 Right Cause 0.6

The Animal Kingdom! Proportional Representation explained by the animal kingdom

So… Single-member, first-past-the-post, plurality elections tend to lead to a two-party system in a country Multi-member, proportional representation system tends to lead to multi-party systems What leads to a one-party system?

Review Questions! What type of government is set up by the Russian Constitution of 1993? What does that mean? What is the difference between the head of state and the head of government in Russia? How can the President challenge the authority of the Duma? Why does proportional representation benefit 3rd party candidates? Which do you prefer, single member, first-past-the-post elections, or multi-member, proportional elections?

Warm up-2008 FRQ #6