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This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Federalnoye Sobraniye / Federal Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Gossoudarstvennaya Duma / State Duma Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Soviet Federatsii / Council of the Federation Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1897 - 1914 1955 - LEADERSHIP President Vyacheslav Volodin (M)  Notes Elected on 5 Oct. 2016. Secretary General Tatiana Voronova (F)  Notes Appointed on 22 Oct. 2016. COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 450 / 450 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 71 (15.78%) Mode of designation directly elected 450 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 18 September 2016 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address State Duma Okhotny Ryad, 1 MOSCOW 103265 (Export mailing lists) Phone (7495) 692 30 57 Fax (7495) 692 53 58 E-mail stateduma@duma.gov.ru dparlament@duma.gov.ru Website http://www.duma.gov.ru http://www.duma.ru/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Federalnoye Sobraniye / Federal Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Gossoudarstvennaya Duma / State Duma Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Soviet Federatsii / Council of the Federation LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 October 1993 Last amendment: 21.10.2011 Mode of designation directly elected 450 Constituencies - One nationwide constituency for 450 seats Voting system Proportional: - 450 Deputies selected on the basis of party-list proportional representation with the country as a whole considered as one nationwide constituency, using the Hare method (the simple quotient and greatest remainders) for the distribution of remaining seats. Only the parties that pass the 7-per-cent electoral threshold are entitled to parliamentary representation. Exceptionally, parties that receive between 5 and 6 per cent of the votes are entitled to one seat and those that receive between 6 and 7 per cent are entitled to two seats. However, the candidates elected under these exceptional measures are not allowed to join any parliamentary faction. Amendments adopted in 2011 and due to come into effect on 1 January 2013 lower the threshold to 5 per cent. - Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by "next-in-line" candidates on the same party list. - Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - Russian citizenship - Age: 18 years - Disqualifications: legal incompetency; imprisonment following criminal conviction CANDIDATES Eligibility - Qualified voters - Russian citizenship - Age: 21 years Ineligibilities: holding office or engaging in an activity deemed incompatible with parliamentary status Incompatibilities (not applicable) Candidacy requirements - Candidatures must be submitted no later than 45 days before polling day by registered political parties (up to 50% of each list can be made up of candidates who are not members of the party concerned); - Parties represented in the outgoing legislature, as well as those represented in the regional parliaments in at least one-third of the constituent parts of the Russian Federation, can field candidates without collecting signatures; - Parties not represented in the outgoing legislature must collect 150,000 signatures.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Federalnoye Sobraniye / Federal Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Gossoudarstvennaya Duma / State Duma Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Soviet Federatsii / Council of the Federation BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 18 September 2016 Timing and scope of renewal United Russia, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, won a clear victory. It increased its share of seats from 53% to 76% in the 450-member State Duma. Three other parties, which were generally supportive to the presidency in the outgoing legislature, maintained their parliamentary representation with a significantly reduced number of seats. The Communist Party (KPRF), led by Mr. Gennady Zyuganov, remained the second largest party. The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) of Mr. Vladimir Zhirinovsky became the third largest party, ahead of A Just Russia, led by the former Chairman of the Council of the Republic, Mr. Sergey Mironov. The main opposition parties - Yabloko and People's Freedom Party (PARNAS) – failed to win parliamentary representation. The elections also took place in Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in 2014, and these were contested by Ukraine and other countries. The annexation triggered economic sanctions against Russia from the US, the European Union and other countries. Russia's economy officially entered into recession in 2015. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Medvedev called on voters' support, stating that the country was "under pressure from outside forces" and needed to come together. President Vladimir Putin promised to provide "stability in society and the political system". Date of previous elections: 4 December 2011 Timing of election: Early elections Expected date of next elections: September 2021 Number of seats at stake: 450 (full renewal) Number of candidates: About 6,500 Percentage of women candidates: Not available. Number of parties contesting the election: 14 Number of parties winning seats: 6 Alternation of power: No Date of the first session of the new parliament: 5 October 2016 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin (United Russia) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 18 September 2016 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 110'061'200 52'700'992 (47.88%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes United Russia Communist Party (KPRF) Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) A Just Russia Rodina (Motherland) Civic Platform (Grazhdanskaya Platforma) Independents Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats United Russia 343 Communist Party (KPRF) 42 Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) 39 A Just Russia 23 Rodina (Motherland) 1 Civic Platform (Grazhdanskaya Platforma) 1 Independents 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 393 57 12.67% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note on the distribution of seats: One independent candidate elect joined the United Russia before the first session of the newly elected State Duma. Sources: State Duma (05.10.2016, 01.01.2017) http://www.vybory.izbirkom.ru http://tass.com/russian-state-duma-election-2016 https://www.oscepa.org/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Federalnoye Sobraniye / Federal Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Gossoudarstvennaya Duma / State Duma Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Soviet Federatsii / Council of the Federation APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Chairman of the State Duma Term - duration: 4 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, President's responsibility called into question, death, dissolution of the State Duma Appointment - elected by all Deputies of the State Duma - following validation of mandates Eligibility - any Deputy may be a candidate Voting system - formal vote by secret or public ballot - a simple majority is required - there may be several rounds of voting - in case of a succession of votes, new candidates are admitted Procedures / results - the oldest Deputy presides over the Duma during the voting - the Committee of tellers supervises the voting - the Committee of tellers announces the results without delay - the results cannot be challenged STATUS Status - ranks 4th in the hierarchy of the State - represents the Duma with the authorities - represents the Duma in international bodies - in the absence of the President, the First Vice-President or one of the other Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions Board - the Council of the Duma is regulated by the Standing Orders - consists of the presidents of the political fractions and the presidents of the groups of Deputies - currently has 8 members elected for 4 years - usually meets twice weekly - constitutes a true collegiate presidency Material facilities - allowance 40 % higher than that for Deputies - official car - secretariat - bodyguards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business (no role) Chairing of public sittings - ensures respect for the provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Duma - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Duma Special powers - presides over the Council of the Duma which adopts that body's budget - draws up the Duma's budget - proposes the Secretary General to the Council of the Duma - plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence matters - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Duma Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - takes part in voting - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure - ensures the constitutionality of laws

This page was last updated on 30 January 2017
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