State Duma
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Emblem commemorating 100 years of State Duma in Russia |
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Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the Russian State Duma since December of 2003 |
The
State Duma (
Russian: "осударственная дума (Gosudarstvennaya Duma), common abbreviation: "осдума (Gosduma)) in the
Russian Federation is the
lower house of the
Federal Assembly of Russia (
legislature), the
upper house being the
Federation Council of Russia. It's headquartered in downtown
Moscow, a few steps from
Manege Square. Its members are referred to as
deputies. The State Duma replaced the
Supreme Soviet as a result of new constitution introduced by
Boris Yeltsin, in the aftermath of the
Russian constitutional crisis of 1993, and approved by the Russian public in a referendum.
The State Duma has its powers
enumerated by the
Constitution of Russia. They are:
* To pass laws by a majority, which must then be approved by the Federation Council and signed by the President
** To similarly amend the constitution with a two thirds majority.
* To override a rejection of a law by the
Federation Council of Russia by two thirds
* To override the veto of the President by a two thirds majority (The Federation Council must also vote to override with a three quarters majority)
* To approve or reject the President's nominee for
Prime Minister of Russia* To appoint the deputy chairman of the Audit Chamber and half of its auditors
* To file an
impeachment against the President (Requires a two thirds majority)
Additionally, there are constitutionally 450 deputies of the State Duma (Article 95), each elected to a term of four years (Article 96). Russian citizens at least 21 years old are eligible to run for the Duma (Article 97).
The current speaker of the State Duma is
Boris Gryzlov.
Main article: Russian legislative election, 2003
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Duma Web Site (Russian)
