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Russian Political Institutions

Russian Political Institutions. Federalism. Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it had a federal government structure Russian Federation also federal , with the current regime consisting of 89 regions

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Russian Political Institutions

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  1. Russian Political Institutions

  2. Federalism • Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it had a federal government structure • Russian Federation also federal, with the current regime consisting of 89 regions • Putin ended direct election of the 89 regional governors, they are now nominated by the president and confirmed by the regional legislatures

  3. Elections • 3 types • Referendum-- president can call for national referenda by popular vote on important issues • Duma Elections (changed in 2007) • Now elections are entirely proportional • Single-member districts were eliminated in 2007 upon the initiative of President Putin • The threshold for eligibility to win seats was raised from 5% to 7% • In 2003, 100 of the 225 single-member district seats were won by independents or minor party candidates • Presidential Elections • Direct elections, if no candidate receives 50% of the vote in 1st round, run-off between top 2

  4. 1993: Year of Elections – Year of Transition • March 1993 parliament attempted to impeach Yeltsin • Legislative-led coup tried to take control of the government • Yeltsin dissolved legislature, called for new elections • Although opposition leaders were arrested, Yeltsin’s opponents won the majority in the new legislature • Radical Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s Liberal Party did surprisingly well • Despite losing control of the legislature Yeltsin was able to get approval for the new constitution: Constitution of 1993

  5. Constitution of 1993 • Created a three-branch government • President & Prime Minister (dual executive) • Lower legislative house (Duma) • Constitutional Court

  6. Powers of the President • Appoints the prime minister and cabinet • Duma must approve prime minister’s appointment, but if they reject the president’s nominee three times, the president may dissolve the Duma • Issue decrees that have the force of law • Cabinet has great deal of power • Dissolve the Duma and call for new elections • Done by Yeltsin during legislative coup attempt of 1993

  7. Prime Minister • Relationship between PM and President not exactly clear • Accountable to the Duma • Has expanded powers since Putin became PM in 2008

  8. Duma Lower House 450 deputies All chosen by proportional representation Passes Bills Approves Budgets Confirms president’s political appointments Votes of confidence Federation Council Upper House Two members elected from each of the 89 regions of the federation Power to delay legislation Ratify treaties Approve troop deployments Bicameral Legislature

  9. Judiciary • Members appointed by president, confirmed by Federation Council • Courts have power of judicial review

  10. Judiciary • Supreme Court • Created by 1993 Constitution • Serves as final court of appeals in criminal & civil cases • Constitutional Court • Created by 1993 Constitution • 19 members • Its interpretations of the constitution are authoritative and binding on the other political branches

  11. Military • Generally did not get involved in politics, this continues under the Russian Federation • Suffered significant humiliation from the late 1980’s to early 21st century • Withdrawal from Afghanistan • Defeated by Chechen guerrillas in 1994-1996 conflict • Often ill-equipped, Russian soldiers had to feed themselves and went unpaid for months in late 1990’s and early 21st century

  12. Political Parties • Began forming after 1991 • Small, factional • Formed around particular leaders • “Bloc of General Andrey Nikolaev and Academician Svyaloslav Fyodorov” • “Yuri Boldyrev Movement” (“Yabloko”) • Formed around particular issues • “Party of Pensioners” • “Agrarian Party of Russia” • “Women of Russia” • Political Parties Today (United Russia, Communist Party, Reform Parties)

  13. United Russia • Founded in April 2001 • Merger between “Fatherland All-Russia” Party and the “United Party of Russia” • United Party put together by oligarch Boris Berezovsky and other entrepreneurs to support Putin in the election of 2000 • Merger put even more political support behind Putin • United Russia won 315 of 450 Duma seats in 2007 • Putin now leads this party as Prime Minister • United Russia is hard to define other than that it is pro-Putin

  14. Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) • After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 Duma seats • After parliamentary election of 2007 only retained 57 of the 450 Duma seats • Party is less reformist than other parties • Party emphasizes central planning and nationalism

  15. Liberal Democratic Party • Controversial party • Headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky • Extreme nationalist • Anti-semitic • Sexist • Attacks reformist leaders and disliked Yeltsin • Said he would use nuclear weapons on Japan if he were elected • Party reformulated as “Zhirinovsky’s Bloc” for 2000 presidential election, he received 2.7% of vote • Party did receive about 8% of vote in 2007 Duma elections (won 40 seats)

  16. Yabloko Taken strongest stand pro-democracy Survived since 1993 Won 1.6% of vote in the 2007 elections, not breaking the 7% barrier, and thus no seats in the Duma Union of Right Forces Emphasizes development of free market Supports privatization of industry Won 0.96% of vote in the 2007 elections, not breaking the 7% barrier, and thus no seats in the Duma Reformist Parties

  17. Oligarchs By mid-1990s monopolized Russian industry and built huge fortunes Dominant in oil, media, and television industries Created and financed the Unity Party in 2000 and got Vladimir Putin elected Russian Mafia Larger and perhaps even more influential than the oligarchy During Revolution of 1991 gained control of businesses, natural resources, and banks Involved in money laundering, drugs, prostitution, and business payoffs (“protection money”) Includes former members of the KGB Interest Groups

  18. Linkage Institutions Today • Huge fortunes made by oligarchs and the mafia offend the equality of opportunity principle of the Russian people • In 2003, Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in Russia and CEO of the Yukos Oil Company was arrested as a signal that the Russian government was consolidating power • Yukos was slapped with massive penalties and additional taxes, forcing it into bankruptcy • Russian Media– a linkage institution with close ties to both the state and the oligarchy, has been manipulated by dominant political and interest groups to pursue their own causes

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