What Type of Government Does Russia Have?
Since the end of the Cold War and the break-up of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation has become an independent nation that has had to work hard to find its place in the world. With the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has a new political system, but what type of government does Russia have? In this article, we will look at the different components of Russia’s government system and explore how it has evolved over the past two decades.
A Brief History Of Russia’s Government System
The modern government system of Russia is rooted in the country’s long and complicated history. During the reign of the tsars, there was a strong autocratic government in place, but with the October Revolution of 1917, a new era began. Following the fall of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, the Russian Federation was formed and a new semi-presidential-parliamentary republic was established. This new system is the one that is still in place today.
Understanding Russia’s Political Structure
The government of Russia is divided into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The executive branch includes the President of the Russian Federation who is the head of state, the Prime Minister who runs the government, and the Cabinet, who is responsible for overseeing the various ministries of the Russian government. The legislative branch consists of the Federal Assembly, which comprises two houses: the lower house which is the State Duma and the upper house which is the Federation Council. The judicial branch is comprised of the Supreme Court and a number of other specialized courts. Each of these branches is elected by and accountable to the people.
Elements Of The Russian Political System
The Russian system is a mixed government system, combining elements of a presidential and parliamentary system.
Presidential System: The presidential system is defined by the powerful role of the president, who has full executive authority and the ability to appoint ministers and judges.
Parliamentary System: The prime minister is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the legislature and is responsible for implementing legislation proposed by the government.
Federalism: Russia is a federation, which means that the federal government delegates other powers to regional and local governments.
Separation of Powers: The separation of powers means that each branch of the government has its own independent powers and can check and balance the authority of the other branches in a system of checks and balances.
Political Parties
Political parties play an important role in the Russian political system. There are currently eight main political parties in Russia, which are represented in the Federal Assembly. The two main groups are United Russia and the Communist Party. United Russia is the ruling party, while the Communist Party is the main opposition. The other political parties are the Liberal Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, Yabloko, A Just Russia, Patriots of Russia and the Right Cause.
Elections
Elections are an important part of democracy, and Russia holds presidential and legislative elections every four years. The President is elected for a six-year term and must either be re-elected or replaced by a candidate from the same party in order to remain in power. The legislative elections are held at the same time as the presidential elections and the parties must win at least 5% of the overall vote in order to be represented in the State Duma.
Russia has come a long way since the fall of the Soviet Union and the country has established a semi-presidential-parliamentary republic with a mixed government system. The three branches of the government are elected by the people and a number of political parties compete in national and regional elections. This system ensures that the government remains accountable to the people and is responsive to their needs.
