The Parliament and the Government of the Russian Federation

The Federal Assembly – the Parliament of the Russian Federation is the representative and legislative body of the Russian Federation. The Federal Assembly consists of two houses: Federation Council and State Duma.

The Federation Council is composed of tow representatives from each member of the Russian Federation – one from its representative and one from its executive body of state authority. The State Duma consists of 450 deputies.

The Federal Assembly is a permanently working body. The Federation Council and the State Duma have their sessions separately. Their sessions are public, but in the cases stipulated by their code of procedure, they may hold their sessions in camera. Each of the houses forms committees and commissions and holds hearings on the appropriative issues.

To supervise the execution of the federal budget the Federation Council and the State Duma form an Accounting chamber. Its composition and procedure of work is determined by federal legislation.

The Federal council has power:

- to approve changes of borders between members of the Russian Federation;

- to approve the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the introduction of martial law;

- to approve the decree of the President on the introduction of the state of emergency;

- to decide the possibility of using the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation beyond its territory;

- to call the elections of the President of the Russian federation;

- to remove the President of Russia from office by impeachment;

- to appoint the judges of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Arbitration of the Russian Federation;

- to appoint and remove from office the Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation;

- to appoint the Deputy Chairman of the Accounting Chamber and half of its auditors and to remove them from office.