The Federal Assembly became Russia's parliament with the adoption of a new constitution and elections in December 1993. It was constituted in the shadow of the dissolution and shelling of its predecessor, the Russian Congress of People's Deputies, by president Yeltsin in October 1993. The Federal Assembly is a bicameral parliament, composed of State Duma (the lower house), and Federation Council. The first Duma served for a transitional term of two years. Since December 1995, Duma deputies have been elected to four-year terms.
The State Duma has 450 seats. Of its deputies, 225 are elected by proportional representation from national party lists, subject to a 5 per cent threshold. The remaining 225 deputies are elected through plurality elections in single member districts. Although this mixed electoral system is frequently compared to the German additional member system, its two halves are not linked through a system of compensatory seats. The Duma is Russia's principal legislative institution. Most draft legislation originates in the lower house, and although the legislative process requires its cooperation with up to three other actors—the Federation Council, the president, and in specified areas of economic legislation, the government too—no bill can become law without the Duma's endorsement. Moreover, the Duma has the power to approve or reject the president's choice of prime minister and can vote no confidence in the government.
The upper house, the Federation Council, is composed of two representatives from each of the 89 subjects of the Russian Federation, irrespective of federal status or population size. Since 1995, it has been composed of the heads of each federation subject's executive and legislative branch. As a consequence, the Federation Council has been a part-time chamber of regional officials, whose terms are defined by the terms of their regional offices.
— Petra Schleiter
