The Federation Council approved amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, extending the presidents term to 6 years and the State Dumas to 5 years. The government must now report annually to the State Duma on its work. After approval by both houses of parliament, the changes must be reviewed by regional legislatures and then signed by the president.
The Federation Council on Wednesday approved amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation that increase the terms of office of the President of the Russian Federation and the State Duma from 4 to 6 and 5 years, respectively."The President of the Russian Federation is elected for a term of 6 years by citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot," and "the State Duma - for a term of 5 years," the country's Basic Law now says.
The extension of the term of office will allow the head of state and the State Duma "not only to determine the directions of the country's further development and begin implementing the intended goals, but also, to a large extent, to carry out what has been planned within a single term of office," said Alexei Alexandrov, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation, according to ITAR-TASS. In this way, he noted, "the responsibility of the president and parliament to citizens and society for the results of their activities is increased."
Senators also approved amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation that introduce a new obligation for the government to submit an annual report on its work over the year to the State Duma. Of the required 126 votes, 142 senators voted in favor of the amendments, and one voted against.
Previously, these laws were approved by the State Duma. After approval by both houses of parliament, according to the Constitution, they must be submitted for consideration to the legislative assemblies of all constituent entities of the federation. For these laws to be approved, "at least two-thirds of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation" must express support for them, after which the law is submitted for the president's signature.
President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev submitted the amendments for consideration by the State Duma on November 11 of this year. The explanatory note to the draft amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation stated that "increasing the term of office will allow the President of the Russian Federation and the State Duma not only to determine the directions of the country's further development and begin implementing the intended goals, but also, to a large extent, to carry out what has been planned within a single term of office." This increases the responsibility of the head of state and parliament for the results of their activities before citizens and society as a whole. It is also emphasized that "the establishment of a longer term of office for the President of the Russian Federation compared with the term of office of the State Duma is also dictated by the need to ensure the stable, progressive development of the country and the continuity of state policy."