Russia is a democratic federative state based on rule of law with a division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It is a constitutional government, based on a post-Soviet constitution, which was approved in a referendum held 12 December 1993. The constitution establishes a bicameral legislature known as the Federal Assembly. The lower house (State Duma) consists of 450 elected deputies while the 178-member upper house (Council of the Federation) is composed of representatives of the provinces and autonomous republics that make up Russia.

The executive branch of the presidential administration consisted of three bodies: Administration of the President, generally responsible for domestic political issues, Government, usually in charge of economic development, and the Security Council of the Russian Federation, chiefly responsible for the foreign policy, security and defense of the country. The responsibilities of the three centers in the executive branch often overlap.

The president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; elections were held 14 March 2004 (next were scheduled to be held March 2008). As of 2005 the president of the Russian Federation was Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (acting president since 31 December 1999 and reelected president since 7 May 2000).

The president heads the Executive Branch--currently the president is the Head of State and the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. According to the constitution of 1993, the president drafts and issues legal regulations, settles disputes, and ensures that the constitution is observed. The president is also responsible for ensuring the state's mechanisms for protecting and respecting citizen's rights and liberties.

The president appoints the cabinet and other top government posts, but the appointments must be confirmed by the legislature. Presidential appointments of prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and chairman of the central bank are subject to confirmation by the State Duma while appointments of high court judges and the prosecutor general are subject to confirmation by the Council of the Federation. The president can refuse to accept the State Duma's rejection of an appointment to the prime ministership. If the State Duma refuses three times to confirm a new prime minister, the president may dissolve the lower house and order new elections. If the State Duma votes a no-confidence motion against the prime minister and cabinet twice within three months, the president may respond either by dismissing the cabinet or dissolving the State Duma. The president, however, cannot dissolve the State Duma due to its passing a no-confidence motion during the first year of the State Duma's term of office.

The president protects the nation's independence, sovereignty, and integrity, and prevents aggression against Russia or its allies. The president may declare war or a state of emergency on his own authority. Finally, the president must ensure the peaceful and democratic development of the country.

Impeachment of the president is provided for in the constitution, but is very difficult. Two-thirds of the State Duma must vote to initiate the impeachment process. Both the Constitutional Court, established to arbitrate any disputes between the executive and legislative branches, and the Supreme Court must review the charges. The findings of all three organizations are then submitted to the Council of the Federation, which can impeach the president by a two-thirds majority vote. This process must be completed within three months from beginning to end.

The President's Administration or Presidential Executive Office is an important governmental body that prepares the president's bills for submission to the State Duma. It prepares drafts of decrees, orders, instructions, presidential speeches, and other documents. The Presidential Executive Office coordinates all of the president's interactions with various political parties and leaders, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofit organizations, unions, and foreign governments. Although the president oversees the work of the Executive Office, it is the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office who manages it. As of 2006, this position was held by Dmitry Medvedev (since October 2003).

The government is responsible for financial, credit, and monetary policies. It also develops uniform state policies regarding culture, science, education, health, social welfare, ecology, and all other areas of social life. The government is headed by the prime minister (Mikhail Fradkov since 5 March 2004). The president presides over government meetings and gives instructions to the government and other federal bodies.

The Security Council is responsible for national security, including but not limited to state security, public security, safety, socioeconomic security, and security in the spheres of defense, information, the military, and international affairs. The Security Council also advises the president on security issues. It interacts with the Scholarly Council made up of representatives of the Russian Academy of Science and the specialized academies of science and educational institutions and individual experts. The president is also chairman of the Security Council.

The State Council is an advisory body that deals with the issues, especially those related to economic and social reforms. The president also acts as chairman of the State Council, and the acting secretary is the Secretary of State (Alexander S. Abramov as of 2005). The State Council is composed of the leaders of the local governments.

During his presidency, Putin shifted the balance of power within the Executive Branch; during the Yeltsin era, power was distributed equally, but Putin shifted the center of power to the President's Administration.

The legislative branch, the Federal Assembly, consists of two chambers. The State Duma (Gosuderstvennaya Duma), the lower house, is made up of 450 seats; 225 seats elected by proportional representation from party lists winning at least 5% of the vote and 225 seats from single-member constituencies. Members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms. The upper house or Federation Council (Sovet Federalistov) is made up of 178 seats. Members Federation Council were appointed by the president and legislative officials in each of the 89 federal administrative units (Chechnya included).

The two chambers of the Federal Assembly have different powers and responsibilities. The State Duma is more powerful. The Federation Council has jurisdiction over issues affecting the provinces and autonomous republics, including border changes and the use of force within Russia. Its other responsibility is to confirm justices of the Constitutional court, Supreme Court, and Superior Court of Arbitration. It also handles the bills dealing with finance and treaty ratifications. The State Duma handles all other bills. Even those bills that are proposed by the Federation Council must first be considered by the Duma.