Steven S. Smith

The early legislative process in the Russian federal assembly

The paper describes the establishment of legislative rules and procedures in the Russian Federal Assembly, the new bicameral parliament created under the 1993 Russian Constitution. The paper reviews the constitutional and electoral setting in which the new parliament formed, its organisational structure, and the elements of the legislative process. We discuss the consequences of the different bases of representation of members of the upper and lower chambers, particularly with respect to the development of parliamentary parties in the lower chamber and their role in its governance. We assess parliaments effectiveness in enacting laws and conclude with observations about the factors likely to affect the future development of the Federal Assembly.