The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is the highest representative institution of the country. It provides expression of the interests of the population and conducts rule-making activities. The formation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is carried out in accordance with applicable legal acts. The structure includes two bodies, the competence, the features of creation and the activities of which are regulated by the Federal Law No. 113 and 175.
Upper House of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
It is a permanent structure. It includes 2 representatives from the regions of the country. The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is created in accordance with Federal Law No. 113. The competence of the Federation Council includes the following issues:
- The appointment of the election of the head of state and his removal from office.
- Approval of decrees issued by the president on the introduction of martial law and emergency in the country as a whole or in its individual areas.
- Appointment and removal of the Prosecutor General, Deputy Chairman of the Accounts Chamber and 50% of its auditors.
- Approval of borders between regions.
- Appointment of officials of the High Courts.
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation also agrees to the deployment of the country's armed forces outside its borders. It also includes the approval or rejection of draft normative acts.
State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
It is formed of 450 deputies. This body is the lower house of the Federal Assembly. The election of deputies is carried out for 4 years. The first meeting is scheduled to be held on the 30th day after the election or earlier than this date by decree of the president. Voting for deputies is carried out in the manner provided for in the Federal Law No. 175 and other regulatory acts governing suffrage. The jurisdiction of the State Duma includes the following issues:
- On trust in the government.
- The appointment and removal of chairmen of the Central Bank, the Accounts Chamber and 50% of the auditors, as well as the Russian Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Charges with the president to oust him from power.
- Approval of the candidacy for the post of Prime Minister proposed by the head of the country.
In addition, the State Duma discusses and adopts draft regulatory acts.
Rulemaking
The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is considered a key subject of the legislative process. The State Duma adopts draft normative acts and sends them to the Federation Council for approval. To resolve the differences between them, a conciliation commission is created. A document approved by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council is considered to be an adopted normative act. The procedure for adoption and approval is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The Federal Assembly sends the adopted and approved act to the president for signature.
Dissolution of the State Duma
It is carried out by the president. The grounds for the dissolution of the State Duma may be:
- Three-fold rejection of a candidate for the post of prime minister proposed by the head of state.
- Refusal of trust to the Supreme Executive Body. Moreover, the initiative should come from the chairman of the government.
The dissolution of the lower house is not allowed:
- Throughout the year since its inception.
- From the date the president is charged with and until the Federation Council decides on it.
- During a state of emergency or martial law in the country.
- Six months before the expiration of the presidency.
After the dissolution of the State Duma, the head of the country sets a date for the vote. At the same time, it should be determined in such a way that the newly created body meets no later than four months. from the moment of disbandment.
The specifics of creating SF
As part of improving the public administration system, an administrative reform was carried out. During it, certain changes were made to the procedure for the formation of parliament. New rules were introduced into the Law "On the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation." In particular, the procedure for creating the Federation Council was determined. It included the heads of the executive and legislative bodies of the subject. However, by the end of the 1990s. this system was found to be ineffective. In accordance with the Law adopted on 5.08.2000, the Federation Council did not include chapters, but representatives of the executive and legislative bodies of the subject. The leaders of these structures within three months from the date of entry into the office appoint the appropriate officials. This decision is drawn up in the form of a resolution (decree). If a third of the total number of deputies votes against the appointment at an extraordinary or scheduled meeting of the representative body , the order does not enter into force.
Nuance
It should be noted that the procedure for the nomination of representatives in the Federation Council is different from the single and bicameral representative bodies of the subject. In the first case, from the date of the first meeting, a representative is selected within three months at the proposal of the chairman. In the second case, both houses alternately propose candidates. An alternative proposal may be made by a group of deputies. A representative of each chamber is nominated for half the term of her office. The decision on the appointment is made by secret ballot. The state authority shall not later than the next day after the entry into force of the decision notify the Federation Council and within five days send the corresponding act to the Council of the Federation.
Other changes
Reforms affected the rules for the election of deputies to the State Duma. The fourth convocation was formed in accordance with the Federal Law adopted on December 20, 2002. The election was held at 50% in single-member districts and at 50% on the lists submitted by political parties. Candidates could also run as self-nominees, from the electoral bloc or as part of an association. Only those parties that have overcome the 7% barrier can exercise the right to nominate persons. The decision to submit a list of candidates shall be approved by secret ballot. The total number of persons nominated by the party cannot be more than 270 people.
FS regulations
The powers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation are clearly regulated by legal documents. Each body included in the structure of the FS makes decisions by the majority. On some issues, a different procedure for approving decisions may be provided. Such cases are prescribed in the Constitution. It contains rules that clearly establish the range of issues related to the conduct of the FS. In particular, the powers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation are established in Art. 102 and 103. The Federation Council, for example, approves decisions both on issues referred to its competence by applicable standards and directly related to its internal activities. The latter are determined by the regulations, provisions and the corresponding Federal Law. The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation often considers topical issues relating to the life of the country. Decisions often note deficiencies of existing state bodies, there are appeals to representative structures about the need to adopt certain regulatory acts to improve the situation. At the same time, every year the president reads a message to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. It summarizes the work performed, as well as sets new tasks. In accordance with them, the agenda of meetings of the Federal Assembly is formed.
General directions of work
The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation consists of two relatively independent parts. The main work on the adoption of regulations is carried out in the State Duma. The Federation Council also has a legislative initiative. Draft normative acts, which are introduced for consideration, undergo legal and linguistic examinations, are endorsed by responsible persons. Through the Federation Council, the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation may make statements, appeals, including to the government and the president. They are adopted in the manner prescribed for the approval of decisions. As a rule, wishes are advisory in nature. As for the State Duma, it can also accept appeals and statements. They are drawn up by decrees. Appeals and statements are quite diverse in content. They are adopted much more often than in the Federation Council. The most pressing issues in them are problems of a socio-economic and domestic political nature. At the same time, such appeals and statements, having a certain impact on the executive structures of power, cannot contain binding norms for the government or the president. In this regard, they, like the recommendations of the Federation Council, can have exclusively moral and political significance. State Duma statements and appeals regarding the solution of international issues have a special influence on the activities of the executive branch. They, as a rule, give an assessment of the foreign policy processes of foreign countries. Accordingly, such appeals and statements can cause a sufficiently large international resonance.
Parliamentary Center
In the middle of 2000 A discussion began on the idea of combining the Federation Council and the State Duma in one building. In 2012, this proposal was supported by D. Medvedev, the then president of the country. The authors of the project for the construction of a new construction justified its necessity by the tightness in the offices of parliamentarians, the great remoteness of the services necessary for the effective implementation of their duties, as well as the desire of the leadership to move power structures from the central part of the city to reduce traffic congestion. Various areas were considered as placements. The parliamentary center was proposed to be located on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, in Moscow City, on the Frunzenskaya Embankment, in the Tushino Airport, on Krasnaya Presnya, on Sofiyskaya or Moskvoretskaya Embankment. In September 2014, however, a district was selected in the Mnevnichenskoye floodplain.
Implementation difficulties
Members of the Federation Council and the State Duma were invited, together with the Office for Presidential Affairs, the FSO to choose a project for the future construction based on an architectural competition. However, the work caused aesthetic disagreement among parliamentarians. It was not possible to solve them even during the second competition. Of particular difficulty was the issue of financing. Initially, it was assumed that the costs of building the parliamentary center would be borne by a private investor, who would subsequently receive ownership of these facilities. In the future, it was allowed to build a hotel complex in its place, entertainment facilities, etc. It is assumed that the work of the parliamentary center can begin already in 2020. However, according to other sources, the construction was postponed due to the difficult socio-economic situation for an indefinite period. .
Conclusion
The Federal Assembly acts as the highest representative and legislative body in the country. Its main task is norm-setting. The FS discusses, supplements, changes, approves the most important laws on pressing issues that arise in various areas of the state’s life. Current regulations establish the adoption of the Federal Law. It involves holding several readings of the project in the State Duma, discussion, making proposals and amendments. A prerequisite is the approval of the document with the Federation Council. If the Federation Council identifies any shortcomings, appropriate recommendations are made. They, together with the draft act, are sent back to the State Duma. The State Duma, having approved the amendments, votes in favor of the adoption of the law. After that, he again goes to the Federation Council, and from there - to the president for signature. Moreover, the head of the country can veto the Federal Law. The competence of the Federal Assembly includes other issues relating to the domestic political and socio-economic life of Russia.