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Russia: Political Institutions

Russia: Political Institutions. Surabi Kondapaka Period 7. Current System. Legislature. Executive. Judiciary. Federation Council. President. Constitutional Court. Chairman of Gov’t (Premier). State Duma. Supreme Court. Supreme Court of Arbitration. Deputy Chairman.

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Russia: Political Institutions

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  1. Russia: Political Institutions Surabi Kondapaka Period 7

  2. Current System Legislature Executive Judiciary Federation Council President Constitutional Court Chairman of Gov’t (Premier) State Duma Supreme Court Supreme Court of Arbitration Deputy Chairman Prosecutor General The Ministries

  3. President • Head of State • Vladimir Vladmirovich Putin • 2 consecutive 6-year terms • Appoints Prime Minister and Cabinet • Must be approved by Duma • Leads “Power Ministries” • Military, police, KGB • Can introduce martial law • Can veto legislation • Can dissolve Dumaand call new elections • Yeltsin attempted to do so by force

  4. Prime Minister • Chairman of Government • Dmitry Medvedev • Appointed by President • Runs “day-to-day” activities • Can be removed by a vote of no confidence by the Duma • Submits Annual Budget • Putin expanded PM powers in 2008

  5. Judiciary • Judges appointed by President, approved by Federation Council • Have Judicial Review • Putin advocated law reform, but issues still exist: • Corruption • Questionable judicial independence

  6. Judiciary • Constitutional Court • High Court – addresses Constitutional Complaints • 19 members • Supreme Court • Highest appeals court • Final court in criminal and civil cases • 115 members • Supreme Court of Arbitration • Final court for commercial disputes • 53 members

  7. Districts • 8 super districts • 89 “federal subjects” • 21 “Republics” • Each signed the Federation Treaty • Except Chechnya • Relative autonomy under Yeltsin, but Putin cracked down

  8. Federalism • Constitutionally “federal system” – but highly centralized • “Asymmetric Federalism” • Presidential Nomination of Governors (Approved by Legislature) • Presidential Removal of Governors • Creation of Super-districts • “Super-governors” appointed by President • Governors appoint Federation Council Members • Elimination of Single Member Districts • Duma has proportional representation

  9. Legislature • Bicameral Legislature • Federation Council – “Upper House” • Duma – “Lower House” • Known collectively as the Federation Assembly

  10. Federation Council • “Upper House” • Equal Representation: 2 members from 89 regions • One elected from the provincial legislature • One appointed by provincial governor (confirmed by legislature) • Powers: • Approve/reject laws (mostly delay legislation) • Confirm judges • Ratify treaties • Approve troop deployment

  11. State Duma United Russia (238) CPRF (92) A Just Russia (64) LDPR (56) • “Lower House” – but more power • 450 reps - proportional representation from districts • Powers: • Pass bills • Approve Budget • Impeach President • Confirm PM appointments • Vote of Confidence to remove PM

  12. Political Parties • 1991 – small, factional groups formed • Most formed around specific leaders or issues • “Yuri-Boldyrev Movement” • Yabloko • Agrarian Party • Party of Pensioners • Weak, fluid party power/loyalty • Over 100 parties in 1993 • Currently 70 registered parties

  13. Political Parties United Russia A Just Russia CPRF LDPR

  14. Political Parties • United Russia • Largest party by far • Gains strength from smaller “Pro-Putin” parties • Merger of 2 parties: Fatherland All-Russia and Unity Party • Formed by Boris Berezovsky to support Putin in 2000 election • “Putinism” • Modernization, economic reform

  15. Political Parties • The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) • Doesn’t want to reestablish the old regime, but wants its stability • Led by Gennady Zyuganov • Stance: • Regain old Soviet territory • Central planning, nationalization, worker’s rights • Willing to preserve small enterprises • Appeals to rural population and older citizens • Recently declining popularity

  16. Political Parties • A Just Russia • Sergei Mironov • Socialist version of CPRF • Welfare state, minimize rich-poor gap • Liberal Democratic Party • Vladimir Zhirinovsky • Extremely controversial party • Nationalistic, sexist, anti-Semitic • Promotes nuclear warfare and strict justice • Vows to restore old Soviet borders • Mixed economy, private ownership

  17. Reformist Parties • Yabloko • Acronym of 3 founders (Yavlinsky, Boldyrev, Lukin) – also means “apple” • Pro-democracy • Used to be popular among intellectuals, Gorbachev-era reformists • Union of Right Forces • “Right” as in “not wrong” (not ideological right) • Free Market and privatization of industry • Republican Party of Russia • Against the “Putin regime”

  18. Voting • Referendum – called by President • Duma Elections – proportional representation • 2007 – Putin eliminated single-member districts • Presidential Elections • Direct election • Runoff if no candidates win a simple majority • Highly suspicious • 2000: Putin won by 52.94% • 2004: Putin won by 71% • 2008: Medvedev won by 71.2% • 2012: Putin won by 63.6%

  19. Oligarchy • Wealthy tycoons monopolized industries under Yeltsin • Boris Berezovsky and 6 others controlled >50% of Russia’s GNP through oil and media • Oligarchy survived Yeltsin’s demise - formed United Russia party around Putin • Once elected, Putin cracked down on oligarchs • Exiled Berezovsky, arrested CEO of Yukos Oil • Sent warning to other oligarchs • Oligarchs lost political power, Putin lost economic popularity

  20. Russian Mafia • Larger, perhaps more influential than oligarchy • Gained control during Revolution of 1991 • Controlled local business, banks • Offered “protection money” • Laundered their own money • Affiliated with the KGB

  21. State Corporatism • Insider privatization • State determines who has policy-making input • Large, state-owned holding companies • Government forces large/rich companies to sell • Gov’t controlled industries and Putin loyalists benefit

  22. Russian Media • Most media is government controlled • Channel 1: Public Russian TV • Some privately owned newspapers, TV stations • “Freedom of Speech” is questionable • Anna Politkovskaya criticized policies about Chechnya- was mysteriously poisoned • Ivan Safranov – outspoken critic - “fell from the window of his apartment”

  23. Military • Soviets prioritized military funding • Under Russian Fed, military humiliated • Unpaid soldiers • Withdrawal from Afghanistan (1988) • Loss to Chechan Guerrillas (1994-96) • Most political leaders have been civilian, military stays out of politics • Putin pushing to reassert military power • 2007 – announced Air Force would start regular, nuclear capable patrols

  24. Overview PRESIDENT Presidential Administration Constitutional Court Supreme Court Supreme Court of Arbitration Federation Council Prime Minister Super-Governors Government State Duma Regional Governors Regional Legislatures VOTERS

  25. Questions?

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