The government of Russia is a federal semi-presidential republic in which the President serves as head of state and the Prime Minister as head of government, while legislative power rests with the bicameral Federal Assembly made up of the State Duma and the Federation Council. This structure was established by the 1993 Constitution adopted after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and it formally divides authority among executive, legislative, and judicial branches across a country that spans eleven time zones.
What Type of Government Does Russia Have?
Russia is officially a federal semi-presidential republic. The "semi-presidential" label means power is shared between a directly elected president and a prime minister who answers to parliament, blending features of presidential and parliamentary systems. The "federal" element reflects how the country is organized into dozens of constituent units, each with limited self-government but bound to the central authority in Moscow.
In theory this design separates powers so that no single branch dominates. In practice, the presidency has accumulated far-reaching authority, and most analysts describe the real distribution of power as heavily centralized around the executive. The President sets the broad direction of domestic and foreign policy, while the government in the form of the Prime Minister and the cabinet handles day-to-day administration.
The Executive: President and Prime Minister
The President is Russia's most powerful office. Elected directly by voters for a six-year term, the President serves as head of state, supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and chief architect of foreign policy. The presidential term was extended from four to six years following changes that took effect in 2008. The President nominates the Prime Minister, who must be approved by the State Duma, and can dissolve the Duma under specified conditions.
The Prime Minister leads the government and is primarily responsible for economic management and domestic policy, overseeing the various federal ministries. Constitutional amendments passed in 2020 expanded presidential powers further and reset the count on presidential term limits, a change that could allow the sitting president to remain in office into the 2030s. The seat of presidential power is the Moscow Kremlin, a fortified complex at the heart of the capital.
The Legislature: Federal Assembly
Legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly, a bicameral parliament with two chambers:
- State Duma — the lower house, with 450 deputies. It debates and passes federal laws, approves the budget, and confirms the President's choice of Prime Minister. Duma elections are held every five years.
- Federation Council — the upper house, which represents the country's federal subjects with roughly two delegates from each region. It reviews legislation passed by the Duma, approves the use of armed forces abroad, and confirms certain high-level appointments.
Bills generally originate in or pass through the Duma before moving to the Federation Council and then to the President for signature. Although several parties compete in elections, the party United Russia has held a dominant position in the legislature since the early 2000s, giving the executive reliable legislative support.
The Judiciary and Federal Structure
Russia's judicial branch is led by two high courts. The Constitutional Court interprets the constitution and rules on whether laws and presidential acts conform to it, while the Supreme Court is the highest authority for civil, criminal, and administrative cases. The independence of the judiciary from executive influence has been a recurring concern raised by domestic and international observers.
The federation itself is composed of many federal subjects, including republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, and federal cities such as Moscow. These units enjoy differing degrees of autonomy, with some republics retaining their own constitutions and official languages, yet all remain subordinate to the federal government and constitution. For a fuller picture of the country and its regions, see our russia country guide.
From the Soviet Collapse to Today
The modern Russian state took shape after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. A political crisis between President Boris Yeltsin and the existing parliament was resolved with the adoption of a new constitution by national referendum on December 12, 1993, now marked as Constitution Day. The 1990s brought economic upheaval, the rise of powerful business oligarchs, and an unsettled experiment with democratic institutions.
Vladimir Putin took office as president in 2000 and has remained the central figure in Russian politics since, serving alternately as president and prime minister. Over this period the executive has steadily consolidated authority, a trend reinforced by the 2020 constitutional amendments. International monitors have repeatedly questioned the fairness of elections and the freedom of the press, and civil-society groups face significant legal restrictions, particularly those receiving funding from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the head of state in Russia?
The head of state is the President, who is directly elected for a six-year term and also serves as commander-in-chief and the leading figure in foreign policy. The Prime Minister, by contrast, is the head of government and runs the cabinet.
What are the two houses of the Russian parliament?
The Federal Assembly consists of the State Duma, the 450-seat lower house elected every five years, and the Federation Council, the upper house that represents Russia's federal subjects and reviews legislation passed by the Duma.
When was Russia's current constitution adopted?
The constitution of the Russian Federation was approved by national referendum on December 12, 1993, two years after the breakup of the Soviet Union. That date is commemorated annually as Constitution Day.
Is Russia a federation or a unitary state?
Russia is a federation, organized into numerous federal subjects such as republics, oblasts, and krais. Each has some self-governing powers, but all operate under the national constitution and a strongly centralized federal government in Moscow.