Russian Federation

State Symbols
The National Anthem The State Anthem of the Russian Federation (Russian: Государственный гимн Российской Федерации, Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is the national anthem of Russia. The music of the national anthem, created by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, had been used in several hymns and compositions before its use in the Russian anthem. The first time the music was used was in the Hymn of the Bolshevik Party, created in 1938. When the Comintern was dissolved in 1943 it was felt that the Internationale, which was historically intimately associated with the Comintern, should be replaced as the National Anthem of the Soviet Union. Alexandrov's music was chosen for that purpose in 1944 by the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Before Alexandrov created the Bolshevik hymn, he first used pieces of the music in the song Zhit' stalo luchshe (It has become better to live). While it is the choice of the performer to execute the anthem using only music, only words or a combination of both, it must be performed using the official lyrics and music provided by law. After the performance is recorded, it can be used for any purpose, such as a radio or television broadcast. The anthem can be played during solemn or celebratory occasions, but it is required to be played at the swearing-in of the President of Russia, opening and closing sessions of the Duma and the Federation Council, and official state ceremonies. The anthem is also played on television and radio before the start and closing of programming or if the programming is continuous, the anthem is played at 2400 and 0600 hours. The anthem is also played at sporting events both in Russia and abroad, but according to the protocol of the organization that is hosting the games. When the anthem is played, all men's and women's headgear must be removed and people must face the Russian flag, if it is present. Those who are in uniform must give a military salute when the anthem plays. Watch the anthem being played on the Red Square here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-yfZUrLi8

The National Flag and Presidential Standard The flag of Russia (Russian: Флаг России, Flag Rossii) is a tricolor of three equal horizontal fields, white on the top, blue in the middle and red on the bottom. The flag of Russia provided the Pan-Slavic colours of red, blue and white that appear in the flags of Slavic countries (including Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia). The presidential standard is a square version of the Russian flag, charged in the center with the Russian coat of arms. Golden fringe is added to the standard. Copies of the standard are used inside his office, at the Kremlin, other state agencies, and while the president is traveling in a vehicle inside Russia. A 2:3 ratio version of the flag is used when the President is at sea. This is the mostly used symbol to denote the presence of the Russian President.

Government and Politics
President of the Russian Federation The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Russia. According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, a person willing to run for presidency has to be a citizen of the Russian Federation not younger than 35, who has permanently resided in the Russian Federation for not less than 10 years. The Constitution of the Russian Federation also restricts the period during which a person can hold the office of the President to two consecutive terms. There is no limit to total terms that a President may be served, and no limit on successive terms. Each term lasts 30 days. Next presidential elections are to be held on the 6th of June. The current President of the Russian Federation: Nikolay Grushin Right and duties:
 * The President is the guarantor of the Constitution of Russia and of human and civil rights and freedoms. In accordance with the Constitution, he (she) adopts measures to protect the sovereignty of Russia, its independence and state integrity, and ensures the coordinated functioning and interaction of State government bodies.


 * The President determines the basic objectives of the internal and foreign policy of the State.


 * as the Head of State, represents Russia within the country and in international relations.


 * appoints the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation;


 * has the right to chair meetings of the Government of Russia;


 * adopts decisions on the resignation of the Government of the Russian Federation;


 * appoints holders to the post of Chairman of the Central Bank;


 * appoints and dismisses chairmen of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal ministers;


 * forms and heads the Security Council of the Russian Federation;


 * approves the military doctrine of the Russian Federation;


 * forms the Administration of the President;


 * appoints and dismisses representatives of the President;


 * appoints and dismisses supreme commanders of the Armed Forces;


 * announces elections to the State Duma in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal law;


 * dissolves the State Duma in the cases and in accordance with the procedure provided for by the Constitution of the Russian Federation;


 * announces referendums in accordance with the procedure established by federal constitutional law;


 * submits draft laws to the State Duma;


 * signs and promulgates federal laws;


 * addresses the Federal Assembly with annual messages on the situation in the country and on the basic objectives of the internal and foreign policy of the State;


 * may use conciliatory procedures to resolve disputes between State government bodies of the Russian Federation and State government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and disputes between State government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation. In the event that no agreed decision is reached, he (she) shall have the right to refer the dispute to the appropriate court;


 * has the right to suspend acts of executive government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the event that these acts conflict with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal laws or with international commitments of the Russian Federation, or violate human and civil rights and freedoms until the issue is resolved by an appropriate court;


 * decides the foreign policy of the Russian Federation;


 * holds negotiations and sign international treaties;


 * signs instruments of ratification;


 * in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation or of an imminent threat of aggression, the President enacts martial law on the territory of the Russian Federation or on certain parts thereof and shall immediately inform the Council of Federation and the State Duma of this;


 * decides on issues of citizenship of the Russian Federation and of granting political asylum;


 * issue edicts and regulations, which are legally binding on the entire territory of the Russian Federation (if edicts and regulations of the President conflict with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and/or federal laws the ones of the President are the binding)

The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation ( Russian: Председатель Правительства Российской Федерации, colloquially referred to as Russian: Премьер-министр) is the second most powerful official of the Russian Federation, who, under Article 24 of the Federal Constitutional Law On the Government of the Russian Federation, "heads the Government of the Russian Federation". Nowhere in the Russian Law is he literally referred to as "head of government"; such designation nonetheless being commonly used. The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws because the supreme executive powers are constitutionally vested in the President of Russia, who is also Russia's head of state. In case of the President's death, resignation or impeachment, the Prime Minister becomes a temporary president until new presidential elections which must take place within three months. The Prime Minister acting as president may not dissolve the State Duma, announce a referendum or propose amendments to the Constitution. The Prime Minister may be dismissed by the President at any time at President's own discretion. The Chairman may also tender his resignation to the President on his own initiative. The President may reject such resignation and oblige him to work further. The Prime Minister and the whole government are constitutionally obliged to resign after the inauguration of a newly-elected President. The resignation of the Prime Minister automatically means the resignation of the whole governement as a body. The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Russian: Федеральное Собрание, transliteration: Federalnoye Sobraniye) is the legislature of the Russian Federation. It consists of the State Duma, which is the lower house, and the Federation Council, which is the upper house. Both houses are located in Moscow. All bills, even those proposed by the Federation Council, must first be considered by the State Duma. Upon adoption by a majority of the full State Duma membership, a draft law is considered by the Federation Council, which has fourteen days to place the bill on its calendar. The Federation Council cannot make changes in bills passed by the Duma and can either approve or reject them. If the Federation Council rejects a bill passed by the State Duma, the two chambers may form a conciliation commission to work out a compromise version of the legislation. If two chambers cannot reach a compromise, or the Duma insists on passing the bill as is, the veto of the Federation Council can be overridden, if two thirds of the Duma's constitutional composition vote in favor of the bill and the President does not veto the bill. The State Duma and the Federation Council usually meet separately. Joint sessions are organized when the President of Russia delivers his annual address to the Federal Assembly and in some other very rare occasions. Legislative elections are held every 25th day. Next elections are to be held on the 30th of May.

Armed Forces
The Russian military is divided into the following branches: Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force. The Armed Forces as a whole seem to be traditionally referred to as the Army (armiya), except in some cases, the Navy The Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation serves as the administrative body of the military and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces is the President of the Russian Federation. Minister of Defence and General of the Army, Dmitry Gagarin, stated on the 15.5.2009 that the Russian government is to spend possibly as much as 1,000,000 roubles on the armed forces during the next 30 days.

Foreign relations
On the 2rd of May the Minister of Foreign Affairs submitted the application to join the Free Peoples Coalition and officially transferred the matter to the Prime Minister. On the 3rd of May after having been accepted into the alliance the State Duma voted 306-54 for the decision and later that afternoon the President signed, in a formal ceremony in the Grand Kremlin Palace, the document that officially joined the Russian Federation to the FPC (Presidential Decree 83 (Указ президента no.83)). Sergey Ivanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs attended from the 14th of May negotiations on starting a black-team trade circle. The negotiations are still ongoing although the Ministers spokesperson said early on the 15th that negotiations are going well and that the Russian Federation is likely to join if the proposal is approved in the Duma. Later the same day Minister Ivanov announced that the ongoing negotiations had failed but that new ones will be starting, maybe as early as the next week-end.

Demographics
One of the largest problems the Russian governement is facing is the nations demographics. The growing Russian economy has needs greater than the Russian population can offer. Although the governement has done an excellent job handling the matter there is still a lot to be done.

Language and Religion
Russian is the only official state language, but the Constitution gives the individual republics the right to make their native language co-official next to Russian. Despite its wide dispersal, the Russian language is homogeneous throughout Russia. Russian Orthodoxy is the dominant religion in Russia, less than 1% considered themselves either Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant or Jewish. Another 12% said they believe in God, but did not practice any religion, and 16% said they are non-believers.

Election results, Presidential Decrees and other events
15.05.2009 Presidential Decree 86/the Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation-branch of the Armed Forces has been created. 15.05.2009 Duma vote 201/Presidential Decree 85/the Russian Federation changed it's position on nuclear weapons and authorizes the Ministry of Defence to investigate the possibility for Russia to start researching nuclear technology and acquire nuclear weapons. 10.05.2009 Presidential Decree 84/there is no longer a limit on successive terms for the president. 09.05.2009 President Grushin hosts the Victory day celebrations in Moscow 09.05.2009 the Russian Federation celebrates Victory Day! 05.05.2009 Presidential Elections b01/ Nikolay Grushin(UR) 68%, Dmitry Gennayev (CPRF) 32% 05.05.2009 Legislative elections a01/ United Russia 62%, Communist Party 22%, Democratic Russia 8%, Others 8% 03.05.2009 Presidential Decree 83/the Russian Federation joins the Free Peoples Coalition