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The State Duma (Russian: Государственная дума (Gosudarstvennaya Duma), common abbreviation: Госдума (Gosduma)) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (legislature), the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. It's headquartered in downtown Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to as deputies. The State Duma replaced the Supreme Soviet as a result of new constitution introduced by Boris Yeltsin, in the aftermath of the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993, and approved by the Russian public in a referendum.
The State Duma has its powers enumerated by the Constitution of Russia. They are:
- To pass laws by a majority, which must then be approved by the Federation Council and signed by the President
- To similarly amend the constitution with a two thirds majority.
- To override a rejection of a law by the Federation Council of Russia by two thirds
- To override the veto of the President by a two thirds majority (The Federation Council must also vote to override with a three quarters majority)
- To approve or reject the President's nominee for Prime Minister of Russia
- To appoint the deputy chairman of the Audit Chamber and half of its auditors
- To file an impeachment against the President (Requires a two thirds majority)
The current speaker of the State Duma is Boris Gryzlov.
Current composition
Main article: Russian legislative election, 2003
| Affiliation | Delegates | Seats | Popular vote |
| United Russia | 305 | 67.78% | 37.57% |
| Communist Party | 46 | 10.22% | 12.61% |
| Liberal-Democratic Party | 35 | 7.78% | 11.45% |
| Rodina | 31 | 6.89% | 9.02% |
| People's Will - Socialist United Party | 12 | 2.67% | n/a |
| Independent | 17 | 3.78% | n/a |
| Total | 446 | 100% | 100% |
External links
Duma Estatal | Staatsdoema | Duma Państwowa | Государственная Дума России
"State Duma"