Council Of FederationEdit
The Council of the Federation, known in Russian as the Сове́т Федера́ции and commonly referred to as the Federation Council, is the upper chamber of Russia’s federal legislature. It sits alongside the lower chamber, the State Duma, in the Federal Assembly of Russia. The Council is designed to represent the federation's 85 federal subjects and to provide a formal channel for regional interests within national policy. Each federal subject sends two representatives to the Council: one selected from the subject’s legislative body and one from its executive authority. This structure makes the Federation Council a key institution for ensuring that regional authorities have a voice at the national level, while it also serves as a mechanism for validating executive and judicial appointments and for overseeing matters of national significance.
The Federation Council is not an elected body in the same sense as the State Duma. Its members are selected by the governments and legislatures of the federal subjects, and turnover is tied to changes in those regional authorities. This arrangement creates a direct link between regional governance and national decision-making, with a focus on stability and continuity across Russia’s vast and diverse territory. The Council’s role is to review and approve, modify, or reject measures that affect the federation as a whole, while ensuring that federal policy accommodates regional needs and legal frameworks. The interplay between the Federation Council, the President, and the State Duma is a central feature of Russia’s constitutional system, rooted in the idea that national unity requires both strong central governance and reliable regional representation.
Composition and selection
The Federation Council has 170 members, two from each federal subject. One representative comes from the subject’s legislative body and one from the subject’s executive authority. This dual-representative model is intended to ensure that both branches of regional government have a say in federal affairs. See also federal subjects of Russia.
Representatives are appointed rather than elected by direct popular vote. The specific appointment process varies by subject but is designed to reflect the political and administrative realities of each region. This structure reinforces the idea that the federation’s voice in Moscow should reflect regional governance practices and expertise. For context on the broader constitutional framework, see Constitution of the Russian Federation and Federal Assembly (Russia).
The leadership and internal organization of the Council are built around committees that handle different policy areas, such as foreign affairs, defense, budget, and constitutional law. Committee work helps translate regional perspectives into national policy instruments.
Powers and procedures
Legislative consent and review: The Council participates in the federal legislative process by reviewing laws and presidential decrees that affect the federation. It has the authority to approve or reject certain types of legislation and can propose amendments to the Duma-backed measures. The process is meant to temper rapid national change with regional considerations. See also Two-chamber system.
Appointments and judiciary: The Federation Council approves or confirms presidential nominations to a range of senior positions. Notably, it acts on appointments such as the Prosecutor General, heads and judges of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, and the leadership of major financial institutions like the Central Bank of Russia. This function is intended to ensure that the highest offices reflect both national leadership and regional legitimacy. See also Prosecutor General of Russia and Central Bank of Russia.
Defense and international agreements: The Council has a role in matters touching national security and foreign policy, including the approval of the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside its borders in certain circumstances and the ratification of international treaties that require the Senate’s consent. These powers are framed to balance executive prerogatives with parliamentary oversight and regional interests. For related topics, see Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Treaty (international law).
Borders and territorial integrity: The Federation Council is empowered to approve changes in the borders between federal subjects, reflecting its constitutional function as the body representing the territorial unity of the federation. See also Borders of the Russian Federation.
Impeachment and accountability: In Russia’s constitutional system, the Federation Council participates in the process of removing a president from office. If the State Duma brings charges of high treason or other impeachable offenses, the Council votes on the matter. A conviction requires a substantial majority, providing a formal mechanism for accountability at the highest level of national power. See also Impeachment in Russia.
Representation, autonomy, and debates
Regional voice vs. central power: Advocates argue that the Federation Council helps prevent national policy from being imposed without regard for regional realities. By giving each federal subject a formal say in complex matters such as budgetary distribution, treaty ratification, and the appointment of key officials, the Council can help harmonize local autonomy with national goals. See also Federal subject of Russia.
Criticisms and reform debates: Critics—or those focused on efficiency and political reform—often describe the Federation Council as a vehicle for maintaining centralized control through regional elites, sometimes giving the impression of a rubber-stamp assembly rather than a vigorous check on the executive. Proponents counter that the Council’s structure provides a necessary counterweight to quick, centralized decisions and helps embed regional expertise into national policy. Debates around its role are part of broader discussions about federation, governance, and the balance between stability and reform. See also Impeachment in Russia and Federal Assembly (Russia).
Stability and governance: From a policy perspective that prioritizes orderly governance and national coherence, the Council is viewed as a stabilizing institution. Its ability to filter presidential appointments, ratify international commitments, and authorize critical policy steps is seen as contributing to predictability in both domestic and foreign affairs. See also Constitution of the Russian Federation.