Russia is a great multinational power with a rich history. Many nationalities live in the country, each with its own language and traditions. The number of subjects in the Russian Federation is as great as in no other country in the world.
There are several types: cities with federal significance, territories, autonomous regions and districts, republics, regions. How many of them are part of Russia? Let's take a closer look.
The number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation (2014)
The federation includes 85 entities, which are divided by type:
- republics - 22;
- edges - 9;
- area - 46;
- autonomous regions - 1;
- autonomous okrugs - 4;
- cities of federal significance - 3.
Over time, a change in the number of subjects of the Russian Federation is possible. In 2014, the Republic of Crimea was included in the composition. Then another city of federal significance appeared - Sevastopol. Since 2003, 83 entities have been legislated. Now there are 85 of them. The number may vary due to the economic opportunities of the region, the population.
Each subject has its own characteristics. So, the republic has the status of a country, it has its own constitution, its own executive, legislative bodies. In the regions, cities of federal significance, regions have their own regional legislative bodies. However, all adopted laws should not go against the constitution and laws of our country.
How are subjects different from each other?
All subjects of the Russian Federation (total number - 85) belong to one of the types that differ in the following indicators:
- density and population;
- National composition;
- size of territory.
These indicators are not absolute and may change over time. The dynamics of the economic situation and migration are taken into account in the regular census. The Constitution of the Russian Federation clearly delimits competence between subjects and the Russian Federation:
- exclusive jurisdiction of the Russian Federation;
- joint conduct of the Russian Federation and subjects;
- independent management of subjects.
General Provisions
All units included in the total number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation have equal rights on the basis of the Constitution. Subjects are called territorial units of the upper level. There are currently 85 of them in the Russian Federation. This includes territories, autonomous regions, republics, autonomous okrugs, regions, cities of federal significance.
In each subject, in addition to the federal branches of government, there are executive (head, governor), legislative (regional parliament) and judicial (charter, constitutional courts). The subject has its own charter or constitution, its own legislation, which is adopted by the regional parliament.
The Federation Council (upper house of parliament) has two representatives from one entity. All subjects of the Russian Federation have equal rights in relations with state federal authorities. Subjects do not have the right to exit the Russian Federation. They are authorized to resolve issues that the Constitution relates to the jurisdiction of the subject.
Subject Statuses
As mentioned above, the number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation has now settled at around 85. Depending on their legal status, they are divided into three large groups:
- republics (with the status of a state);
- autonomous entities (autonomous regions, autonomous okrugs);
- regions, cities with federal significance, territories.
Of the Republic
The total number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation includes 22 republics, each of which has a state legal status. In the Russian Federation, these are unitary democratic legal states; in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, they are positioned in this way. Unlike other entities, the republic has its own constitution, it has the right to establish its own state language along with Russian, which will be used in government institutions. The republic has the right to introduce its citizenship.
Without the consent of the republic, its territory cannot be changed. There is its own symbolism: anthem, flag, coat of arms, as well as the capital. Relations with the Federation are built on the basis of a federal treaty, the Constitution of the Russian Federation, a bilateral treaty on the delimitation of powers. The first precedent for signing was in 1994 between the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation. The federal treaty refers to the sovereignty of the republic. In their constitutions, this wording is duplicated. However, the Constitution of the Russian Federation does not indicate sovereign republics and does not recognize their right to secede from the Federation.
Cities of federal significance, region, region
These entities are considered state-territorial units. Their status is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the charter - the constituent act of the subject. Most of the number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation are precisely these territorial entities (oblasts - 46, regions - 9, cities of federal significance - 3). The charter of the subject is adopted by the relevant representative bodies, it has the highest legal force in relation to legal acts and laws of a territorial entity. These units, unlike the republics, cannot have their citizenship. In the territories, the state language is considered to be federal - Russian. The territories, cities, regions have the right to establish their own symbols - the anthem, coat of arms and flag.
Autonomous Oblast and Autonomous Okrug
Of the total number of species of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, 4 autonomous districts and only one autonomous region are distinguished. In fact, these are the prevailing national-territorial forms of self-determined peoples within the country. These entities are equal with other subjects of the Russian Federation. The main feature of this group is that each entity is territorially included in some other subject of the Russian Federation (region or territory). The exceptions are the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Jewish Autonomous Region. They are directly included in the Russian Federation.
The status of the subject as autonomous is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as the charter of the autonomy itself. The federal law on the autonomous region, autonomous region may be adopted on the proposal of local authorities. The relationship of autonomy with the region or territory in which it is included is governed by federal law and then by a bilateral agreement between the region, territory and the autonomous region. The Constitution of the Russian Federation does not contain similar rules regarding the autonomous region. Like other entities, autonomous units have their own government bodies, official symbols, legislation, and elements of legal personality.
Authorities
Each unit of the total number of subjects within the Russian Federation, regardless of the existing state status, has the right to create its own government bodies. Their structure can be created independently, but it is imperative to take into account the all-Russian principles of the organization of power. Such a system includes representative as well as executive bodies, and the judicial authorities (courts) are included here.
Representative bodies are actually the local parliament and the names may be different: in the Republic of Khakassia - the Supreme Council, in Tatarstan - the State Council, in the Tver Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory - the Legislative Assembly, in the Moscow Region - the Duma and others. The formation of representative bodies takes place on the basis of direct elections, which are held by secret ballot. Most often they are elected for a term of four years. In some places there are bicameral authorities (for example, the Sverdlovsk region).
What is included in their authority?
- Adoption of the charter, the Constitution.
- Approval of programs of social, economic, cultural development at the regional level.
- Adoption of the budget, reports on its implementation.
- Taxes and fees of the subject.
- The decision to change the status of the region.
- Control over the work of executive bodies, officials.
In the Russian Federation, the number of subjects of the federation is quite large, and each has its own representative and executive power. The latter is characterized by a variety of organs. In the republics it is: government, ministry, committees and others. The de facto leader of the republic is the president.
In other types of entities, the diversity of bodies is even greater: administration (sometimes referred to as the government), main departments, directorates, departments, committees. In this area, there is an executive vertical; all departments are subordinate to higher federal ministries. The highest official here is the governor or head of administration, in Moscow - the mayor.
Judicial authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation
We found out how many entities in the Russian Federation, what types they are divided into, what authorities work. As for the judicial authorities, it is worth saying here that different courts operate throughout the Russian Federation:
- Supreme court of the republic.
- The court of the autonomous region.
- Regional, regional.
- Court of the Autonomous Okrug.
- District.
- Arbitration.
Three types of courts belong to the judiciary:
- Constitutional Court of the Republic. This active link operates in most republics. In court, cases are resolved on the conformity of acts of local government and state power.
- The authorized court of the region, territory, autonomous region, autonomous region, city of federal significance. Sometimes it is created in order to consider the interpretation of the charter, as well as on the conformity of local legislation and the charter of the subject.
- Justices of the peace are registered in the general jurisdiction. This link in the judiciary is currently in its infancy.