Russian Political Institutions

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