State Duma

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For other uses, see State Duma (disambiguation).

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Image:State Duma symbol.JPG The State Duma (Russian: Государственная дума (Gosudarstvennaya Duma), common abbreviation: Госдума (Gosduma)) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (legislature), the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. It's headquartered in downtown Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to as deputies. The State Duma replaced the Supreme Soviet as a result of new constitution introduced by Boris Yeltsin, in the aftermath of the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993, and approved by the Russian public in a referendum.

The State Duma has its powers enumerated by the Constitution of Russia. They are:

To pass laws by a majority, which must then be approved by the Federation Council and signed by the President
- To similarly amend the constitution with a two thirds majority.
To override a rejection of a law by the Federation Council of Russia by two thirds
To override the veto of the President by a two thirds majority (The Federation Council must also vote to override with a three quarters majority)
To approve or reject the President's nominee for Prime Minister of Russia
To appoint the deputy chairman of the Audit Chamber and half of its auditors
To file an impeachment against the President (Requires a two thirds majority)

Additionally, there are constitutionally 450 deputies of the State Duma (Article 95), each elected to a term of four years (Article 96). Russian citizens at least 21 years old are eligible to run for the Duma (Article 97).

The current speaker of the State Duma is Boris Gryzlov.

[edit] Current composition

Main article: Russian legislative election, 2003

Affiliation	Delegates	Seats	Popular vote
United Russia	305	67.78%	37.57%
Communist Party	46	10.22%	12.61%
Liberal Democratic Party	35	7.78%	11.45%
Russia of Justice	31	6.89%	9.02%
Narodnaya Volya—United Socialist Party	12	2.67%	n/a
Independent	17	3.78%	n/a
Total	446	100%	100%

Image:Flag of Russia.svg	Federal Assembly of Russia	Image:Flag of Russia.svg
Image:Flag of Russia.svg	Capital: Moscow State Duma \| Federation Council of Russia