Russian Political Russian Political InstitutionsInstitutions
FederalismFederalism
Although the Soviet Union was highly Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it had a centralized, it had a federal government federal government structurestructure
Russian Federation also Russian Federation also federalfederal, with the , with the current regime consisting of 89 regionscurrent regime consisting of 89 regions
Putin ended direct election of the 89 Putin ended direct election of the 89 regional governors, they are now nominated regional governors, they are now nominated by the president and confirmed by the by the president and confirmed by the regional legislaturesregional legislatures
ElectionsElections 3 types3 types
– ReferendumReferendum-- president can call for national -- president can call for national referenda by popular vote on important issuesreferenda by popular vote on important issues
– Duma Elections Duma Elections (changed in 2007)(changed in 2007) Now elections are entirely Now elections are entirely proportionalproportional Single-member districtsSingle-member districts were eliminated in 2007 were eliminated in 2007
upon the initiative of President Putinupon the initiative of President Putin The threshold for eligibility to win seats was The threshold for eligibility to win seats was
raised from 5% to 7%raised from 5% to 7% In 2003, 100 of the 225 single-member district In 2003, 100 of the 225 single-member district
seats were won by independents or minor party seats were won by independents or minor party candidatescandidates
– Presidential ElectionsPresidential Elections Direct elections, if no candidate receives 50% of Direct elections, if no candidate receives 50% of
the vote in 1the vote in 1stst round, run-off between top 2 round, run-off between top 2
1993: Year of Elections – Year 1993: Year of Elections – Year of Transitionof Transition
March 1993 parliament attempted to impeach March 1993 parliament attempted to impeach YeltsinYeltsin
Legislative-led coup tried to take control of the Legislative-led coup tried to take control of the governmentgovernment
Yeltsin dissolved legislature, called for new Yeltsin dissolved legislature, called for new electionselections
Although opposition leaders were arrested, Although opposition leaders were arrested, Yeltsin’s opponents won the majority in the new Yeltsin’s opponents won the majority in the new legislaturelegislature– Radical Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s Liberal Party did Radical Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s Liberal Party did
surprisingly wellsurprisingly well Despite losing control of the legislature Yeltsin Despite losing control of the legislature Yeltsin
was able to get approval for the new constitution: was able to get approval for the new constitution: Constitution of 1993Constitution of 1993
Constitution of 1993Constitution of 1993
Created a three-branch governmentCreated a three-branch government– President & Prime Minister (dual executive)President & Prime Minister (dual executive)– Lower legislative house (Duma)Lower legislative house (Duma)– Constitutional CourtConstitutional Court
Powers of the PresidentPowers of the President
Appoints the prime minister and cabinetAppoints the prime minister and cabinet– Duma must approve prime minister’s Duma must approve prime minister’s
appointment, but if they reject the appointment, but if they reject the president’s nominee three times, the president’s nominee three times, the president may dissolve the Dumapresident may dissolve the Duma
Issue decrees that have the force of lawIssue decrees that have the force of law Cabinet has great deal of powerCabinet has great deal of power Dissolve the Duma and call for new Dissolve the Duma and call for new
elections elections – Done by Yeltsin during legislative coup Done by Yeltsin during legislative coup
attempt of 1993attempt of 1993
Prime MinisterPrime Minister Relationship between PM and Relationship between PM and
President not exactly clearPresident not exactly clear Accountable to the DumaAccountable to the Duma Has expanded powers since Has expanded powers since
Putin became PM in 2008Putin became PM in 2008
Bicameral LegislatureBicameral Legislature
DumaDuma– Lower HouseLower House– 450 deputies450 deputies– AllAll chosen by chosen by
proportional proportional representation representation
– Passes BillsPasses Bills– Approves BudgetsApproves Budgets– Confirms president’s Confirms president’s
political appointmentspolitical appointments– Votes of confidenceVotes of confidence
Federation CouncilFederation Council– Upper HouseUpper House– Two members elected Two members elected
from each of the 89 from each of the 89 regions of the regions of the federationfederation
– Power to delay Power to delay legislationlegislation
– Ratify treatiesRatify treaties– Approve troop Approve troop
deploymentsdeployments
JudiciaryJudiciary
Members appointed by president, Members appointed by president, confirmed by Federation Councilconfirmed by Federation Council
Courts have power of judicial reviewCourts have power of judicial review
JudiciaryJudiciary
Supreme CourtSupreme Court– Created by 1993 ConstitutionCreated by 1993 Constitution– Serves as final court of appeals in Serves as final court of appeals in
criminal & civil casescriminal & civil cases Constitutional CourtConstitutional Court
– Created by 1993 ConstitutionCreated by 1993 Constitution– 19 members19 members– Its interpretations of the constitution are Its interpretations of the constitution are
authoritative and binding on the other authoritative and binding on the other political branchespolitical branches
MilitaryMilitary
Generally did not get involved in politics, Generally did not get involved in politics, this continues under the Russian this continues under the Russian FederationFederation
Suffered significant humiliation from the Suffered significant humiliation from the late 1980’s to early 21late 1980’s to early 21stst century century– Withdrawal from AfghanistanWithdrawal from Afghanistan– Defeated by Chechen guerrillas in 1994-1996 Defeated by Chechen guerrillas in 1994-1996
conflictconflict– Often ill-equipped, Russian soldiers had to feed Often ill-equipped, Russian soldiers had to feed
themselves and went unpaid for months in late themselves and went unpaid for months in late 1990’s and early 211990’s and early 21stst century century
Political PartiesPolitical Parties Began forming after 1991Began forming after 1991 Small, factionalSmall, factional Formed around particular leadersFormed around particular leaders
– ““Bloc of General Andrey Nikolaev and Academician Bloc of General Andrey Nikolaev and Academician Svyaloslav Fyodorov”Svyaloslav Fyodorov”
– ““Yuri Boldyrev Movement” (“Yabloko”)Yuri Boldyrev Movement” (“Yabloko”) Formed around particular issuesFormed around particular issues
– ““Party of Pensioners”Party of Pensioners”– ““Agrarian Party of Russia”Agrarian Party of Russia”– ““Women of Russia”Women of Russia”
Political Parties Today (United Russia, Communist Political Parties Today (United Russia, Communist Party, Reform Parties)Party, Reform Parties)
United RussiaUnited Russia Founded in April 2001Founded in April 2001 Merger between “Fatherland All-Russia” Party Merger between “Fatherland All-Russia” Party
and the “United Party of Russia”and the “United Party of Russia”– United Party put together by oligarch Boris Berezovsky United Party put together by oligarch Boris Berezovsky
and other entrepreneurs to support Putin in the election and other entrepreneurs to support Putin in the election of 2000of 2000
Merger put even more political support behind Merger put even more political support behind PutinPutin
United Russia won 315 of 450 Duma seats in United Russia won 315 of 450 Duma seats in 20072007
Putin now leads this party as Prime MinisterPutin now leads this party as Prime Minister United Russia is hard to define other than that it United Russia is hard to define other than that it
is pro-Putinis pro-Putin
Communist Party of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)Russian Federation (CPRF)
After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 Duma seatsDuma seats
After parliamentary election of 2007 only After parliamentary election of 2007 only retained 57 of the 450 Duma seatsretained 57 of the 450 Duma seats
Party is less reformist than other partiesParty is less reformist than other parties Party emphasizes central planning and Party emphasizes central planning and
nationalismnationalism
Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party Controversial partyControversial party Headed by Vladimir ZhirinovskyHeaded by Vladimir Zhirinovsky
– Extreme nationalistExtreme nationalist– Anti-semiticAnti-semitic– SexistSexist– Attacks reformist leaders and disliked YeltsinAttacks reformist leaders and disliked Yeltsin– Said he would use nuclear weapons on Japan if he were Said he would use nuclear weapons on Japan if he were
electedelected Party reformulated as “Zhirinovsky’s Bloc” for Party reformulated as “Zhirinovsky’s Bloc” for
2000 presidential election, he received 2.7% of 2000 presidential election, he received 2.7% of votevote
Party did receive about 8% of vote in 2007 Duma Party did receive about 8% of vote in 2007 Duma elections (won 40 seats)elections (won 40 seats)
Reformist PartiesReformist Parties
YablokoYabloko– Taken strongest stand Taken strongest stand
pro-democracypro-democracy– Survived since 1993Survived since 1993– Won 1.6% of vote in the Won 1.6% of vote in the
2007 elections, not 2007 elections, not breaking the 7% breaking the 7% barrier, and thus no barrier, and thus no seats in the Dumaseats in the Duma
Union of Right Union of Right ForcesForces– Emphasizes Emphasizes
development of free development of free marketmarket
– Supports privatization Supports privatization of industryof industry
– Won 0.96% of vote in Won 0.96% of vote in the 2007 elections, not the 2007 elections, not breaking the 7% breaking the 7% barrier, and thus no barrier, and thus no seats in the Dumaseats in the Duma
Interest GroupsInterest Groups OligarchsOligarchs
– By mid-1990s By mid-1990s monopolized Russian monopolized Russian industry and built huge industry and built huge fortunesfortunes
– Dominant in oil, media, Dominant in oil, media, and television industriesand television industries
– Created and financed the Created and financed the Unity Party in 2000 and Unity Party in 2000 and got Vladimir Putin got Vladimir Putin electedelected
Russian MafiaRussian Mafia– Larger and perhaps even Larger and perhaps even
more influential than the more influential than the oligarchyoligarchy
– During Revolution of During Revolution of 1991 gained control of 1991 gained control of businesses, natural businesses, natural resources, and banksresources, and banks
– Involved in money Involved in money laundering, drugs, laundering, drugs, prostitution, and prostitution, and business payoffs business payoffs (“protection money”)(“protection money”)
– Includes former members Includes former members of the KGBof the KGB
Linkage Institutions TodayLinkage Institutions Today Huge fortunes made by oligarchs and the mafia Huge fortunes made by oligarchs and the mafia
offend the equality of opportunity principle of the offend the equality of opportunity principle of the Russian peopleRussian people
In 2003, Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in In 2003, Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in Russia and CEO of the Yukos Oil Company was Russia and CEO of the Yukos Oil Company was arrested as a signal that the Russian government arrested as a signal that the Russian government was consolidating powerwas consolidating power– Yukos was slapped with massive penalties and Yukos was slapped with massive penalties and
additional taxes, forcing it into bankruptcyadditional taxes, forcing it into bankruptcy Russian MediaRussian Media – a linkage institution with close – a linkage institution with close
ties to both the state and the oligarchy, has been ties to both the state and the oligarchy, has been manipulated by dominant political and interest manipulated by dominant political and interest groups to pursue their own causesgroups to pursue their own causes
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