The Consolidation of Russian Parliamentarism: the State Duma, 1993–8

Abstract

The 1993 Constitution, approved by referendum on 12 December, instituted a Federal Assembly with powers and a structure unlike that of its two-tier predecessor: the Congress of People’s Deputies and Supreme Soviet.² Our concern in this chapter is with the lower house of the parliament, the State Duma. The Duma has an array of powers distinct from those of the upper house, the Federation Council. Its main constitutional prerogatives relate to the composition and survival of the government. The Duma approves the President’s choice of candidate for Prime Minister, and can institute a vote of confidence in the government. It also has the power to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President, declare an amnesty, and appoint and remove from office the head of the Audit Commission, the Commissioner for Human Rights and the head of the Central Bank. By comparison, the Federation Council approves the use of emergency powers by the President, schedules presidential elections and votes on the impeachment of the President. It also authorizes changes to the territorial components of the federal structure, has the power to appoint judges to Russia’s main federal courts and to appoint and dismiss the procurator-general. Together, the houses share the legislative function which includes, most significantly, the passage of budgetary and constitutional legislation.