onstitution: adopted 12 December 1993

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June
1991); election last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; note - no vice president; if
the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of
ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the
premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election
is held, which must be within three months
head of government: Premier and Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992); First Deputy
Chairmen of the Council of Ministers Oleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April
1993) and Anatoliy CHUBAYS (since 5 November 1994)
Security Council: originally established as a presidential advisory
body in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992 with responsibility
for managing individual and state security
Presidential Administration: drafts presidential edicts and provides
staff and policy support to the entire executive branch
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Group of Assistants: schedules president's appointments, processes
presidential edicts and other official documents, and houses the
president's press service and primary speechwriters
Council of Heads of Republics: includes the leaders of the 21
ethnic-based Republics
Council of Heads of Administrations: includes the leaders of the 66
autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St.
Petersburg
Presidential Council: prepares policy papers for the president

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly
Federation Council: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be
held NA); results - two members elected from each of Russia's 89
territorial units for a total of 176 deputies; 2 seats unfilled as of
15 May 1994 (Chechnya did not participate in the election); Speaker
Vladimir SHUMEYKO (Russia's Democratic Choice)
State Duma: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA
December 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450
total) Russia's Democratic Choice 78, New Regional Policy 66, Liberal
Democrats 63, Agrarian Party 55, Communist Party of the Russian
Federation 45, Unity and Accord 30, Yavlinskiy-Bo