STRUCTURE OF GOV’T PRESIDENT & PRIME MINISTER LEGISLATURE JUDICIARY AND RULE OF LAW THE MILITARY Russia: Institutions of Government

Political Institutions Russian regime history is highly authoritarian Reforms in early 1990s are experimental and yet to be determined successful or not Current political parties, elections and institutions are fluid, and likely to continually change over course of coming decade

Federal Gov’t Structure 89 Regions  21 are ethnically non-Russian by majority  Each region is bound to the Federation by a treaty  Chechnya has yet to sign a treaty with Federal gov’t  Most regions are called “Republics” and many ruled themselves almost independently during Yeltsin period Many saw the former Eastern Bloc Republics as a role model (Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia, etc...)  Chechnya’s bid for independence and war illustrates this sentiment Chechnya’s bid for independence and war illustrates this sentiment  Some regions are stronger, more independent of the Federation; power has devolved unequally (asymmetric Federalism)

Russian Political Regions

New Measures under Putin’s Gov’t Putin cracked down on regional autonomy, even increasing army activity in Chechnya Creation of Super Districts: (2000)  Seven new Federal Districts were created  Each District headed by Presidential appointee, supervised local authorities Removal of Governors:  President is given authority to remove a governor who refuses to subject local law to the National Constitution Appointments of Governors: (2004)  To centralize power, Putin ended popular election of local Governors  Regional Governors would be nominated by Russian President Changes in Federal Council: Elimination of Single-Member-Districts: (2005)  Putin eliminated single-member-districts from being elected to Duma  Proportional representation eliminated regionally popular candidates

Institutions of Government The current structure of gov’t was put in place by Constitution of 1993 It takes from both a Presidential and Parliamentary system  Ultimately, more power rests in hands of President than Legislative branch Executive Branch has extended its power during Putin’s administration

The President & Prime Minister President: Head of State (far more ceremonial) Prime Minister: Head of Gov’t Constitution set up to allow greater authority by President, but… since 2008 that relationship is changing (Putin as PM) Russians directly elect a president for a 4-year term, limit of two terms Political parties are fluid so anyone with 1 million signatures can run for office  By 2000 and 2004 (and 2008) Putin and (Medvedev) won without a second-round vote

President’s Powers Appoint the Prime Minister and Cabinet Duma must approve PM’s appointment If Duma rejects nominee 3-times, President can dissolve Duma Issue Decrees that have Force of Law President’s cabinet has concentrated, centralized power According to Constitution, Duma has no real power to censure Cabinet Putin created the state-owned United Aircraft Corporation by decree Dissolve the Duma 1993: Yeltsin ordered the old Russian Parliament dissolved Conservatives staged a coup, refused to leave Yeltsin ordered the army to fire on the Parliament building The image of chaos stayed with Yeltsin during his rule over Russia Tanks roll in- Coup Fall of Communism: Part I Gorbachev Resigns 1993 Coup ** Prime Ministers are not appointed because they are leaders of majority party, but selected because of loyalty to President

Bicameral Legislature Duma- Lower House  450 deputies, selected by proportional representation  Duma passes bills, approves a budget, confirms presidential appointments  Most legislation originates with President and/or Prime Minister  Duma debates the bills though, that must pass before they become law Federation Council- Upper House  2 members from 89 federal administrative units  Since 2002: one member selected by Governor of region, the other by regional legislature  The Council represents regions, not particular population  The Council can delay legislation, but Duma can override Council with 2/3 vote  On Paper: ratify use of armed forces outside of borders, appoint and remove judges

The Judiciary and Rule of Law No independent judiciary existed during old Soviet Regime (courts were pawns of Communist Party)  Constitution of 1993 created a Constitutional Court  19 members appointed by president, confirmed by Federation Council  Under Putin, the Court did well not to contradict Putin Constitution created a Supreme Court to serve as final appeal in criminal cases  Supreme Court has no power to challenge the constitutionality of laws and/or other actions by legislators and executive bodies Years of Communist trained lawyers and judges makes for a difficult transition: innocent until proven guilty is not quite reality State police still allowed to act independently from law (act autonomously) and corruption blocks progressive efforts KGB is defunct, but… its functions post-1991 are split among several agencies  Federal Security Service: main domestic security agency  Not one member or collaborator of Soviet-era security agencies has been prosecuted for human rights violations

The Military Army was critical source of Soviet strength and intimidation from Armed forces, in its hay-day stood at 4 million men Military didn’t take lead in politics, nor did it challenge the Politburo Army under Russian Federation is strong, but without the zeal of Soviet-era intimidation Too many officers are underpaid and soldiers go for months without proper payments Most politicians have been civilians so idea of military coup doesn’t seem plausible any time soon Putin declared in 2007: Russian Air Force would begin regular, long- range patrols by nuke-capable bombers  Some see this as a means for Russia to re-establish itself internationally again  Invasion of Georgia in 2008 was successful, and pundits argue those soldiers appeared better trained than the soldiers who failed in Chechnya back in 1994 Invasion of Georgia  Information about Russian invasion of GeorgiaRussian invasion

Discussion Questions Compare and evaluate the system of checks and balances between the executive and the legislative branches of government in the United States and Russia. Why is it so important to have a constitution and insure the “primacy of law” under conditions of change?