When was the Constitution of Russia adopted and enacted?
The Constitution of Russia was approved by national referendum on the 12th of December 1993 and took legal effect on the 25th of December 1993, the moment of its official publication.
Questions about Constitution of Russia
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote the Constitution of Russia?
The Constitution of Russia was drafted by the 1993 Constitutional Conference, attended by more than 800 participants. Sergei Alexeyev, Sergey Shakhray, and at times Anatoly Sobchak are named as its primary co-authors, with input from Mikhail Speransky's earlier constitutional project, the French constitution, and USAID-funded lawyers.
How long can a president serve under the Constitution of Russia?
The original Constitution of Russia set a four-year presidential term with a maximum of two terms in succession, and the current text sets a six-year term. The 2020 amendments removed the 'in a row' clause, discounting terms served before the change took effect.
What changed in the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia?
The 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia reset the count of presidential terms, named Russia the Soviet Union's legal successor, banned ceding Russian territory, and added references to God and heterosexual marriage. A nationwide vote ran from the 25th of June to the 1st of July 2020, with 78% in favor on 65% turnout, and the changes took effect on the 4th of July 2020.
What courts does the Constitution of Russia establish?
The Constitution of Russia originally established three top courts: the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Arbitration Court. The Supreme Arbitration Court was eliminated in 2014 and its jurisdiction folded into the Supreme Court, which grew from 115 judges in 2002 to 170 after 2014.
How does the Constitution of Russia structure the legislature?
The Constitution of Russia creates the Federal Assembly, made up of the State Duma and the Federation Council. A bill must pass the State Duma by majority vote before the Federation Council votes on it within 14 days. The President can veto the bill, but both chambers can override that veto with a two-thirds vote each.