Russia's Lawmaking Process: Bills To Laws

The legislative process in Russia is complex and involves several stages and stakeholders. The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, plays a crucial role, as bills must pass through three readings before becoming laws. This process includes debates, amendments, and a final vote. The upper house, the Federation Council, also has the power to approve, dismiss, or withhold laws passed by the State Duma. Additionally, the Russian Constitution grants the right of legislative initiative to the President, the Federation Council, and other key institutions. This intricate process ensures that laws in Russia are carefully considered and reviewed before being enacted.

The bill must pass three readings in the State Duma

For a bill to become a law in Russia, it must pass three readings in the State Duma. This is the lower house of parliament and the main stage for the legislative process in the country.

During the first reading, the fundamental provisions of the draft are addressed. After introductory speeches and debate, the Duma either rejects the bill or tentatively approves it and sends it to committee for preparation. The reworked draft, incorporating amendments and additions proposed during the first reading, is then presented by the committee for a second reading at a plenary session of the Duma.

At this stage, each article of the draft is considered in detail and the draft is shaped into its final form. If changes are made to the bill during the second reading, the text of the bill and the conclusion of the Legal Department of the State Duma Administration are sent to the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council, the Government of the Russian Federation, and deputies of the State Duma.

The third reading consists solely of a vote on the draft bill in its entirety. To pass, a federal law requires a majority vote of the members of the State Duma: 226 votes, one more than half of the 450-member body, regardless of the number of legislators present.

The bill is then sent to the Federation Council

Once a federal law has been passed by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, it is transferred to the Federation Council, the upper house, within five days. The Constitution provides that the council has 14 days to examine a federal law passed by the State Duma and to approve, dismiss, or withhold it from consideration.

A law is approved by the Federation Council if it receives a majority vote in favour (90 out of the council's 178 delegates) or if no action is taken within the 14-day period. However, for some pieces of legislation, the council must actively consider the bill. These include federal laws involving the federal budget, federal taxes, currency and customs regulations, and international treaties, among other issues.

If the Federation Council rejects the State Duma bill in full or in part, it is sent to a committee consisting of an equal number of representatives from both houses for reconciliation. The reworked legislation is then sent back to the State Duma for a new second reading. Only amendments and additions formulated by the committee may be considered at this reading. A majority vote in favour by the State Duma sends the bill to the president for signature.

If the committee version fails, the State Duma may take up the original version of the bill and, with a super-majority of two-thirds, adopt it over the Federation Council's objection.

The bill requires a majority vote of the members of the State Duma

The State Duma is the lower house of parliament in the bicameral Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. For a bill to pass the State Duma, it must survive three readings. During the first reading, the fundamental provisions of the draft are addressed, and the Duma either rejects or tentatively approves the bill, sending it to a committee for preparation. The reworked draft is then presented for a second reading at a plenary session of the Duma, where each article of the draft is considered in detail and shaped into its final form. The third reading consists solely of a vote on the draft bill in its entirety.

For a federal law to pass the State Duma, it requires a majority vote of the members of the State Duma: 226 votes, one more than half of the 450-member body, regardless of the number of legislators present. Once a bill has passed the State Duma, it is transferred to the Federation Council, the upper house, within five days.

The bill is transferred to the president for signature

Once a bill has been passed by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, it is transferred to the Federation Council, the upper house, within five days. The Federation Council has 14 days to examine the bill and approve, dismiss, or withhold it from consideration. If the bill is approved by a majority vote, or if no action is taken within the 14-day period, it is considered approved by the Federation Council.

However, for certain types of legislation, such as federal laws involving the federal budget, federal taxes, currency and customs regulations, and international treaties, the upper body must actively consider the bill. If the Federation Council rejects the bill in whole or in part, it is sent to a committee consisting of representatives from both houses for reconciliation. The reworked legislation is then sent back to the State Duma for a new second reading, where only amendments and additions formulated by the committee may be considered.

If the reworked bill passes with a majority vote in the State Duma, it is then sent to the president for signature. The president has 14 days to sign and publicly announce the adopted federal law. The law comes into force with its official publication in the "Collected Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation" and in the "Rossiiskaya Gazeta".

The president may also choose to reject the law and send it back to the State Duma and the Federation Council for further consideration. When vetoing a federal law, the president must offer their own revision of the law or state their reasons for opposition. The law is then directed by the Council or Duma to the corresponding committee or a specially created commission, which may recommend that the Duma approve its original version, the president's version, a hybrid of the two, or to withdraw it from consideration. Following discussions, the version proposed by the president is put to a vote first and may be passed by a simple majority. If it fails, the original version of the bill is put to a second vote and requires a super-majority of two-thirds to pass.

If both versions fail to pass, separate sections, chapters, statutes, and their paragraphs and provisions from the revised version proposed by the president may be voted on, with any provision requiring a two-thirds vote to pass. If an amended version of the law is passed by the Duma, the process for submission to the Federation Council is the same as described above. If the original bill is passed by a super-majority, the council must pass it by the same margin. The bill is then sent back to the president for a mandatory signature.

The law is officially published in the Collected Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and in Rossiyskaya Gazeta

The law-making process in Russia is a complex and lengthy procedure, involving multiple stages and stakeholders. Once a bill has successfully navigated these stages and gained approval, it is then officially published to become law.

The official publication of laws in Russia is a crucial step in the legislative process, as laws that are not officially published are not applied. The official publication of a law in Russia involves the release of the full text in several designated outlets. These include the "Parliamentary Newspaper" (Парламентская газета), the official printing body of the Federal Assembly; the "Collected Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation" (Собрание законодательства Российской Федерации), and "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" (Российская газета), the official publication of the government. Additionally, since 2011, laws are also published on the Official Internet Portal of Legal Information (www.pravo.gov.ru).

The publication of laws in these official outlets ensures their accessibility and applicability. The laws are published within 7 days of being signed by the President and come into force after another 10 days, unless otherwise specified in the legislation itself. This publication process is a critical step in the enactment of laws in Russia, ensuring their visibility, transparency, and enforceability.

The publication of laws in Russia is a key aspect of the country's legislative process, contributing to the functioning of the legal system and the rule of law.

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