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Putin Disolves Government of the Russian Federation


Luke_Wilbur

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Mr Fradkov asked to be allowed to resign from his post at a meeting with the President at the Kremlin.

 

Mr Putin accepted Mr Fradkov's resignation and proposed that he continue his functions as prime minister until the State Duma approves a new candidate for the post.

 

PRIME MINISTER MIKHAIL FRADKOV: Vladimir Vladimirovich, the country is on the eve of important political events. First the State Duma election and then the presidential election lie ahead. The Government is playing a well coordinated part in this process and working hard in my view. I understand the political processes taking place at the moment and I would like to see you have as free a hand as possible in making decisions, including human resource decisions. I think that the right course of action would be for me to take the initiative and ask to step down from the office of prime minister in order to give you full freedom in your decisions on the shape and organisation of the power structure in connection with the upcoming political events.

 

I would like to thank you for the confidence and full support you have given me in my work as prime minister over more than three-and-a-half years, and I ask you to please accept my resignation.

 

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mikhail Yefimovich, I fully agree with your assessment. Under your leadership the Government of the Russian Federation has indeed accomplished a tremendous amount of work over these last years and has achieved significant and positive results. The country’s GDP has shown a good growth rate over these years, the economy has grown steadily from year to year, inflation has come down, our citizens’ real incomes have increased considerably and the implementation of major social projects has begun. These are all the results of the Government’s work under your leadership. I thank you for the work that has been accomplished.

 

Of course, with such a large amount of work, some mistakes and glitches have been unavoidable. I have seen how close to heart you take these moments and I think that you and all of our colleagues have tried to rectify these mistakes as quickly and effectively as possible. The country is indeed in the run up to parliamentary elections now, which will be followed soon after by the presidential election. Perhaps you are right and we should all reflect now on how to organise the power and management structure in such a way as to best adapt it to the election campaign period and ensure it can prepare the country for the period after the parliamentary election and the presidential election in March 2008.

 

I accept your resignation but I ask you to continue your functions until the State Duma approves a new candidate to take the office of Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Government.

 

MIKHAIL FRADKOV: Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for your high assessment of the Government's work and for the support and trust you have shown me personally. I think that this is the right decision. It is an objective decision and it will help to ensure continuation of the current policies and maintain stability in our country.

 

The Government of the Russian Federation (Russian: Правительство Российской Федерации) was the executive governmental body that brought together the principal officers of the Executive Branch of the Russian government. The juridical ground of the Government consists of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and Federal Law "On the Government of the Russian Federation.

 

The Council of Federation is the upper chamber of the Federal Assembly - the parliament of the Russian Federation.

 

According to the Article 95, part 2 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, two deputies from each subject of the Russian Federation enter the Council of Federation: one from representative and the other from executive body of state authority.

 

The procedure of formation of the Council of Federation was defined by the Federal Law N192-FZ from December 5, 1995 "On the Procedure of Formation of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation" (the Code of Laws of the Russian Federation, 1995, N50, Art. 4869) until August 8, 2000. The chamber consisted of 178 representatives of the subjects of Federation which were heads of legislative (representative) and executive state authority bodies. All members of the Council of Federation continued to exercise their powers as officials of local authorities while being members of the federal parliament.

 

On August 8, 2000 new Federal Law N113-FZ "On the Procedure of Formation of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation", adopted on August 5, 2000, came into force (the Code of Laws of the Russian Federation, 2000, N 32, Art.3336). Now the chamber consists of representatives elected by legislative (representative) state authority bodies of the subjects of Federation or appointed by higher officials of the subjects of Federation (heads of higher executive state authority bodies of the subjects of Federation). Term of representatives' commissions is defined by term of commissions of the bodies having elected or appointed them, but the mandates could be withdrawn ahead of time by the above mentioned bodies in accordance with the same procedure, as applyed for election (appointment) of members of the Council of Federation. A citizen of the Russian Federation over 30 years old enjoying the constitutional right to elect or be elected to state authority bodies could be elected (appointed) member of the Council of Federation.

 

Candidates to the Council of Federation from legislative (representative) state authority's body of the subject of Federation are proposed by the Chairman of that body or by Chairmen of both chambers in turn, if the legislative (representative) body consists of two chambers. Groups of constituents of not less than 1/3 of the chamber deputies' total number could propose alternative candidates as well. The decision on election of a representative from legislative (representative) body is taken by secret ballot and confirmed by Resolution of the above mentioned body or by joint Resolution passed by both chambers of the two-chamber legislative (representative) body.

 

Decision of a higher official of the subject of Federation (head of the higher executive state authority's body of the subject of Federation) concerning appointment of a representative to the Council of Federation from executive state authority's body of the subject of Federation is legalized by a decree (or resolution) of the higher official of the subject of Federation (head of the higher executive state authority body of the subject of Federation). The decree (resolution) should be presented to the legislative (representative) body of state authority of the subject of Federation within three days. The decree (resolution) will come into force, if two thirds of the total number of deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state authority of the subject of Federation vote for the appointment of that particular representative to the Council of Federation at the following or extraordinary session .

 

In accordance with the new Federal Law the election (appointment) of members of the Council of Federation had been almost completed before January 1, 2002. The newly elected (appointed) members work on permanent basis only.

 

The Council of Federation is a permanent acting body. Its sessions are convoced if necessary, but not less than two times a month. Sessions of the Council of Federation are the main form of the chamber's activities. The sessions are held separately from those held by the State Duma, excluding hearings of Presidential addresses, Addresses of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation or speeches delivered by leaders of foreign states.

 

Sessions of the Council of Federation are held in Moscow from January 25 to July 15 and from September 16 to December 31 and are open to the public. The location of sessions could be changed if the Council of Federation desires so. A closed session could be convoced as well.

 

The Council of Federation elects its Chairman, First Deputy-Chairman and Deputy-Chairmen who conduct the sessions and are in charge of the chamber regulations. E.S.Stroev, former Chairman of the Council of Federation, was elected Honour Chairman of the Council of Federation, which is a life title. E.S.Stroev as well as V.F.Shumeiko, Chairman of the Council of Federation of the first convocation, are granted personal seats in the session hall and cabinets inside the chamber's building. They received special identification cards and breastplates. They both enter the Council of Federation with deliberative functions and enjoy some other priveleges.

 

The Council of Federation forms committees, permanent and temporary commissions all consisting of its members. The Council of Federation has the right to form, dismiss and or re-organize every committee or commission.

 

Committees and permanent commissions of the Council of Federation are permanent bodies of the chamber. All members of the Council except for its Chairman, First Deputy-Chairman and Deputy-Chairmen enter the committees. Members of the Council of Federation could enter only one committee at a time, provided that it consists of no less than 7 members of the Council of Federation. Committees' and commissions' composition is to be approved by the Chamber. The Council of Federation has the following currently working committees and commitions:

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on constitutional legislation;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on legal and law issues;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on federal and regional policy issues;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on local self-governance;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on defence and security issues;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on budget;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on financial markets and money circulation;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on cooperation with the Account Chamber of the Russian Federation;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on foreign affairs;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on Commonwealth of Independent States' issues;

 

* Commission of the Council of Federation on regulation and procedure of the parliamentary powers' implementation;

 

* Commission of the Council of Federation on methods of implementation of the constitutional powers of the Council of Federation;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on social policy;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on science, culture, education, healthcare and ecology;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on youth and sport issues;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on economic policy, business and property;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on industrial policy;

 

* Commission of the Council of Federation on natural monopolies;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on natural resources and environment protection;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on agrarian and food policy;

 

* Committee of the Council of Federation on issues, relating to the Northern territories and national minorities;

 

* Commission of the Council of Federation on information policy;

 

* Commission of the Council of Federation on control over ensuring of the Parliament's activities.

 

The committees and permanent commissions have equal rights and are equally responsible for implementing the constitutional powers of the chamber, which include: drawing of conclusions on Federal Laws, adopted by the State Duma and transferred to the Council of Federation for further consideration; drawing of conclusions on Federal Constitutional Laws; working out and preliminary considering draft laws and other normative law statements; conducting parliamentary hearings; etc.

 

Temporary committees seize their activities within particular period of time or after having acomplished certain tasks.

 

Powers of the Council of Federation are defined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Procedure of considering of federal constitutional laws and federal laws by the Council of Federation, accordingly approved of or adopted by the State Duma, is stipulated by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and Regulations of the Council of Federation.

 

Legislative work of the Council of Federation is carried out in two main dimensions:

 

* The Council of Federation in cooperation with the State Duma participates in completing draft laws, considering laws and taking decisions regarding these laws;

 

* Implementing the right of legislative initiative the Council of Federation independently drafts federal laws and federal constitutional laws.

 

Federal laws on issues concerning federal budget; federal taxes and duties; financial, currency, credit and customs regulation; money emission; ratification and denonsiation of international treaties of the Russian Federation; status and defence of the state border of the Russian Federation; war and peace issues should be considered by the Council of Federation after they had been adopted by the State Duma.

 

Federal law regards as adopted by the Council of Federation, if more than half of members of the chamber voted for the law. For adoption of a federal constitutional law a majority of not less than 3\4 of votes is needed. A federal law that is not a subject to indispensable consideration is regarded as being adopted, if the Council of Federation has not considered it within 14 days. When a federal law has been voted down by the Council of Federation, the two chambers form the Conciliation Committee in order to overcome the uprising disarguement. The federal law is due to be reconsidered by the State Duma and the Council of Federation afterwards.

 

The following issues are within the competence of the Council of Federation:

 

* approval of changes of borders between the subjects of Federation;

 

* approval of Presidential Decrees on introduction of martial law or the state of emergency;

 

* taking decision on weather the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation should be used outside the territory of the Russian Federation;

 

* declaring of Presidential elections;

 

* impeachment of the President of the Russian Federation;

 

* appointment of judges to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;

 

* appointment and dismissal of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation;

 

* appointment and dismissal of the Deputy-Chairman and half of members of the Account Chamber of the Russian Federation.

 

A number of federal laws entrust the Council of Federation with the powers not mentioned in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

 

The Council of Federation as well as every single member of the Council enjoys the right of legislative initiative.

 

The Council of Federation passes resolutions on issues within the chamber's competence by majority of votes from total number of members of the Council of Federation, if another procedure is not stipulated by the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

 

The Council of Federation adopts its Regulations, precisely defining the structure and procedure of work of the Council of Federation, the chamber's participation in legislation, the procedure of consideration of issues within the competence of the Council of Federation (current edition of the Regulations of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is adopted by the Resolutions of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation N 33-CF from January 30, 2002 and N 173-CF from March 29, 2002).

 

Status of member of the Council of Federation is defined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, saying that members of the Council of Federation have the right to inviolability for the term of their commissions. They could neither be detained, arrested and serched, except for catching in the act cases, nor could they undergo personal examination, except for cases provided by federal law in order to ensure other people's security.

 

Status of member of the Council of Federation is defined by the Federal Law "On Status of Members of the Council of Federation and Status of Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation", with subsequent changes, in the wording of the Fedral Law N 133-FZ from July 5, 1999 (The Code of Laws of the Russian Federation, 1999, N 28, Art. 3466).

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