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Political Structure
The Russian Federation or Russia is a democratic federal rule-of-law state with the republican form of government. It consists of 21 republics, 6 territories, 49 regions, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous region and 10 autonomous areas, which are equal subjects of the Russian Federation. Republics have their own constitution and legislation. Territories, regions, federal cities, autonomous region and autonomous areas have their own charter and legislation.
&As a result of the referendum held in Perm Region and Komi-Permyak Autonomous Area on December 7, 2003, the two regions will be united into Perm Territory (Krai) by the end of 2005. The trend to consolidate regions into larger units is becoming more pronounced.
The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state. He is the guarantor of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and of human and civil rights and freedoms. The President of the Russian Federation defines the basic domestic and foreign policy guidelines of the state in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal laws. He is elected for a term of four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of general, equal and direct vote by secret ballot and cannot hold the office of President of the Russian Federation for more than two terms in succession.
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Executive power in the Russian Federation is exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation, which consists of the Chairman of the Government, Deputy Chairmen of the Government and federal ministers. The Chairman is appointed by the President with consent of the State Duma. Among other things the Chairman of the Government temporary replaces the President, when the latter is unable to perform his duties.
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The Federal Assembly - Parliament of the Russian Federation is the supreme representative and legislative body of the Russian Federation. It consists of two chambers - the Federation Council and the State Duma. Two deputies from each subject of the Federation are the members of Federation Council: one from the representative and one from the executive bodies of state authority. The State Duma is elected for a term of four years and consists of 450 deputies.
Judicial power is exercised by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation (constitutional matters), the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (civil, criminal, administrative and other matters triable by general jurisdiction), the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation (economic matters). Judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation are appointed by the Federation Council following nomination by the President of the Russian Federation.
Local self-government is recognized and guaranteed in the Russian Federation. It operates independently within the bounds of its authority. The bodies of local self-government shall not be part of the state power bodies. The structure of bodies of local self-government is determined by the population independently.
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