State Duma
The State Duma traces its lineage back to the boyar dumas of Kievan Rus and Muscovite Russia. Tsar Nicholas II established the first elected parliament in 1905 following violent upheaval during the Russian Revolution of that year. Two early attempts by the Tsar to activate the body failed completely. Each of these initial assemblies dissolved after only a few months of operation. The third Duma remained active until the end of its five-year term, making it unique among the early bodies. After electoral reforms in 1907, this assembly consisted largely of upper-class members. Radical influences had been almost entirely removed from the chamber. This body later contributed significantly to the February Revolution of 1917. That revolution led to the abolition of Tsarist autocracy and the overthrow of the Tsardom.
Boris Yeltsin introduced a new Constitution following the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis. A nationwide referendum approved this Charter which transformed the Russian Federation into a federal semi-presidential republic. The new system created a bicameral parliament composed of the State Duma and the Federation Council. The December 1993 elections saw pro-Yeltsin parties win 175 seats versus 125 for the left bloc. Sixty-four deputies from the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party held the balance of power. Only parties winning more than five percent of the vote received party-list seats. Eight parties passed this threshold in 1993. A pool of thirty-five deputies formed registered groups to reflect regional or sectoral interests. Business was governed by a steering committee called the Duma Council.
The legislature's term length started at two years during the 1993, 1995 election period. It shifted to four years for the 1999, 2007 elections period. Since the 2011 elections, the term length has been set at five years. In the 2007 and 2011 legislative elections, a full party-list proportional representation with a 7% electoral threshold system operated. This specific system was subsequently repealed. Except for parliamentary elections of 2007 and 2011, a mixed system of parallel voting elected Duma members. The system returned in February 2014 from a party-list proportional representation system enacted in 2003. An increased threshold of 7% lowered to 5% marked that change. According to law adopted in 2014, Russian territory divides into constituencies for single candidate elections. A single united constituency distributes party-list seats.
After the 2003 elections, a dominant-party system emerged with United Russia dominating the State Duma. All subsequent elections saw United Russia receive an absolute majority of seats exceeding 226. During Vladimir Putin's presidency, the body became increasingly referred to as a rubber stamp. This shift indicated a move toward electoral authoritarianism. After the 2007 elections, a four-party system formed including United Russia, Communist Party, Liberal Democratic Party, and A Just Russia. Other parties could not gather enough votes to enter the chamber. Only in the 2016 elections did two other parties, Rodina and Civic Platform, secure one seat each. Following the 2021 elections, New People joined the four main parties. For the first time since 1999, a five-party State Duma existed.
The Constitution enumerates special powers granted to deputies regarding government appointments and impeachment. The body provides consent to the appointment of the Prime Minister of Russia. It hears annual reports from the Government on results of its work. Deputies decide issues of confidence in the Government of the Russian Federation. They appoint and dismiss the Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia. The chamber also handles appointment and dismissal of the Chairman and half of auditors of the Accounts Chamber. Deputies announce amnesty or bring charges against the President for impeachment requiring a two-thirds majority. Bills adopt by a majority of total number of deputies unless another procedure is envisaged. All bills receive initial approval then debate and final decision by the Federation Council. Relatively few roll call votes identify individual deputy positions publicly.
Any citizen aged 21 or older with election rights may be elected as a deputy. That same person cannot serve simultaneously in the Federation Council. A deputy cannot hold office in any other representative body of state power. The position functions as a full-time professional role. Deputies may not engage in civil service employment or activities for remuneration outside teaching, research, or creative work. A 2016 exposé by Dissernet revealed one in nine members held academic degrees with substantially plagiarized theses. These documents appeared likely ghostwritten rather than original scholarship. In May 2019 repairs began on the State Duma building itself. The reconstruction ended in September 2020 during which time the body met at the House of Unions temporarily.
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Common questions
When did Tsar Nicholas II establish the first elected State Duma?
Tsar Nicholas II established the first elected parliament in 1905 following violent upheaval during the Russian Revolution of that year. Two early attempts by the Tsar to activate the body failed completely and each initial assembly dissolved after only a few months of operation.
What constitutional changes occurred after the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis regarding the State Duma?
Boris Yeltsin introduced a new Constitution following the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis which transformed the Russian Federation into a federal semi-presidential republic. The nationwide referendum approved this Charter creating a bicameral parliament composed of the State Duma and the Federation Council.
How has the term length for State Duma elections changed since 1993?
The legislature's term length started at two years during the 1993, 1995 election period before shifting to four years for the 1999, 2007 elections period. Since the 2011 elections, the term length has been set at five years.
Which political party dominates the State Duma after the 2003 elections?
After the 2003 elections a dominant-party system emerged with United Russia dominating the State Duma. All subsequent elections saw United Russia receive an absolute majority of seats exceeding 226.
Who is eligible to be elected as a deputy in the State Duma?
Any citizen aged 21 or older with election rights may be elected as a deputy in the State Duma. That same person cannot serve simultaneously in the Federation Council or hold office in any other representative body of state power.