Russia

Question 1

State Duma General

Answer 1

• 450 Deputies
• 5 yr term (no specified, clear limits)

Question 2

State Duma Apportioned

Answer 2

pt 1. 225 come from SM Districts; Direct popular vote; FPP Plurality

pt 2: Remaining 275 are allocated on the basis of each party’s popular vote (proportional rep.)

Question 3

Federation Council General

Answer 3

• 176 Senators (2 from each federal subject)
• Unspecified term on the national level and length is determined by each federal subject

Question 4

Federal Council (S)ELECTION

Answer 4

• Selected by politicians in the federal subjects
  ~ 1 by the provincial legislature
  ~ 1 nominated by the provincial governor and confirmed by the legislatures

Question 5

General Election Day

Answer 5

Scheduled, the executive and legislature are not on the same cycle

Question 6

Voter TURNOUTT

Answer 6

~67%

Question 7

President DATA

Answer 7

2024 will be the 8th Presidential Election since the USSR’s fall
~ 1991-1996: 5 yr term
~1996-2012: 4 yr term
~2012-Present: Unspecified

Question 8

What’s unique about the Presidential Election System?

Answer 8

The Presidential Elections are (maybe - supposed to be) in 2 rounds

Question 9

Two Round Presidential Election System

Answer 9

1st Round: Presidential candidates in Russian (and Iran) must win an abdolute majority of the popular vote in the first (or second) round of national voting.

2nd Round: If no one got majority during round 1, the 2nd Round is conducted between the top two candidates from the 1st Round withing 3 weeks

Question 10

Demonstration of 2 Round Voting System

Answer 10

the federation characteristic of this nation-state and the vast diversity

Question 11

Comparative Corner 1

Answer 11

majoritarian rules in Iran, Nigeria, and Russia provide the winners with a national mandate

Question 12

Comparative Corner 2

Answer 12

Both Mexican and Russian presidents have a 6 yr term with no VP (However, Mexico does NOT allow re-election)

Question 13

BOTTOM LINEE

Answer 13

All of the term length changes and irregular elections have fostered Russia’s illiberal democracy tendencies and paved the way for Putin authoriatism

Question 14

Russia is THEORETICALLY a ______, but in reality it is a _______.

Answer 14

Russia is THEORETICALLY a MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM, but in reality it is a DOMINANT PARTY SYSTEM.

Question 15

Central Election Commission

Answer 15

WHAT: The body responsible for conducting federal elections and overseeing local elections (“attempt” at a democracy???)

WHO: 15 members, 4 yr term

HOW: The President, State Duma, and Federation Council appoint 5 members (so no, no “attempt”)

Question 16

Lack of a Competitive Election System

Answer 16

1. Soviet dominance from 1921-1991 encouraged a state-run, single party system (PRE-PUTIN)
2. After the fall of USSR, lots of fragmentation in parties (PRE-PUTIN)
3. Putin’s ascendency to the Presidency and consolidation of power
4. Weak legislature; does party ID really matter to voters who are not ideologically driven (response to strength)

Question 17

United Russia

Answer 17

• Founded 2001 (merger of 2 parties)
• Conservative
• Pro-Putin; essentially the state party (has over 70% supermajority in legislature)
• Anti-LGBTQ

Question 18

Ensuring One-Party Dominance

Answer 18

• increasing party registration requirements
• selective court decisions to disqualify candidates
• limiting the ability of political opposition to present their viewpoints to the media
• eliminating gubernational (state governor) elections

Question 19

DOMINATION

Answer 19

One party has been dominating recent elections; diminished rep. of smaller parties occurs because of changing threshold rules; elimination then reinstatement of SM districts has decreased rep. of independent candidates