ABSTRACT
According to its Constitution, the Russian Federation is a democratic, federative, multi-ethnic state. The President is elected for a term of six years by universal direct suffrage, for no more than two consecutive terms. The President appoints the Chairman of the Government (Prime Minister), but the cabinet must be approved by the legislature. Supreme legislative power is vested in a bicameral Federal Assembly, comprising a directly elected State Duma and an appointed Federation Council. In March 2014 Russia annexed two territories internationally recognized as constituting parts of Ukraine——the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol City——bringing the de facto membership of the Federation to 85 territories. The State Council is a consultative body, established in September 2000, and intended to improve co-ordination between federal and regional government, and to strengthen federal control in the regions.
