Russian Parliamentarism Research Articles

Formation and development of the idea of representation and Russian parliamentarism in the constitutional doctrine

Formation and development of the idea of representation and Russian parliamentarism in the constitutional doctrine

"В Сибири до последних пределов назрела нужда в неотложном введении земских учреждений": Сибирская парламентская группа и земская реформа в Сибири

In the second half of the XIX century, among the few representatives of the Siberian intellectuals called “intelligentsia”, discussions about the prospects for independent political regional development were actively spread, justified by the climatic, ethno-confessional and economic features of the historical development of Siberia. The evolution of the idea of Siberian separatism can be traced in the intellectual heritage of N.M. Yadrintsev, G.N. Potanin and A.P. Shchapov. In the future, the topic would be reflected in the works of the XX–XXI century historians, in particular M.V. Shilovsky, A.V. Remnev, S.V. Seliverstov and others. It is not surprising, that the events of the revolutionary of 1905 and the authoritative decisions of Nicholas II, which were made public to appease the revolution, "breathed new life" into the idea of Siberian autonomy.Within the framework of this article, an attempt has been made to analyze the structure and conceptual features of the "Siberian Parliamentary Group", as well as the assessment of participants’ contribution of the latter to the project development for the introduction of “zemstvos” in Siberia. The basis of the research source foundation consists of periodical press materials, in particular, the issues of the journal "Siberian Problems" for the specified period, as well as the articles from the newspapers "Siberia", etc. In addition, verbatim reports of State Duma meetings, memoirs of contemporaries and other sources were studied, which allow to characterize the composition and activities of the "Siberian Parliamentary Group" participants. The authors of the article characterized the composition and conceptual features of the Siberian Parliamentary Group activities. The key factors of the formation of the need for «zemstvo» in the region were identified. Based on the analysis of the draft zemstvo reform in Siberia, prepared by the Siberian Parliamentary Group members, an objective assessment of the political environment in which the investigated project was submitted to the State Duma is given. As a result of the conducted research, the key findings about the influence of the activities of Siberian deputies on the prospects of creating “zemstvo” in Siberia are formulated. The members of the Siberian parliamentary group as a whole acted energetically and in a timely manner, updating the most important issues requiring urgent solution to society and parliamentarians, on which the viability of the monarchy in Russia directly depended. Despite the fact that, unfortunately, none of the draft laws developed by the Siberian Parliamentary Group could be implemented for the region, the experience of Siberian deputies in the effective organization of joint activities of representatives of various political parties was valuable and even unique at the dawn of Russian parliamentarism.

THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARISM AFTER THE 2020 CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The article examines the changes in the system of organization of legislative power in the Russian Federation after the adoption of amendments to the 1993 Constitution in 2020. The author analyzes the main aspects of the constitutional transformation of parliamentarism in Russia, studies changes in the powers of the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, discussions on the formation of new interpretations of public power and governance. The process of state-building and strengthening of the vertical of power is proceeding progressively, systematically, within the framework of the general vector of stable development of the state, as well as branches of government. Based on the results of the study, the author provides an exhaustive assessment of the main results of the constitutional reform in terms of modernizing the model of Russian parliamentarism carried out by the Russian legislator.

KOSTROMICHI-OCTOBRISTS IN THE STATE DUMA OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE

The article is devoted to the little-studied problem of the activity of Kostroma deputies-Octobrists in the III State Duma of the Russian Empire. The sources are the documents of the Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA), as well as the materials of the periodical press of the Russian National Library (RNB). An attempt is being made to establish to what extent the Kostroma deputies expressed the interests of their constituents. Based on extensive factual material, the attitude of Kostroma people's deputies to the most important issues of socio-political and economic life of Russia at the beginning of the XX century is considered. The authors conclude that representatives of the Union of October 17 party during the work of the III Duma enjoyed the support of the tsarist government and the provincial administration, and deputies G.N. Botnikov and V.S. Sokolov actively worked in the field of Russian parliamentarism and did a lot for the development of the Kostroma province represented by them.

Russian Parliamentarism as a Social and Legal Phenomenon

The paper discusses theoretical approaches to understanding Russian parliamentarism. The author analyzes generic and specific features, examines variants of the doctrinal interpretation of parliamentarism. There are two main approaches that reveal the concept of «parliamentarism». First, there is an approach that considers parliamentarism within the framework of the category «a form of the State» and its structural elements. The second approach understands parliamentarism as a complex social phenomenon functioning within the framework of constitutional laws. In the Russian constitutional law doctrine, the institutional approach to defining the concept of parliamentarism is usually «incomplete», limited only to the consideration of individual elements (public relations or legal regulation). The article proves that the institutional approach makes it possible to present parliamentarism as a socio-legal institution that includes the following mandatory elements: values (goals), statutory regulation, institutional subject composition and relevant social relations.

РАЗВИТИЕ ИНСТИТУТА ПАРЛАМЕНТАРИЗМА В СОВРЕМЕННОЙ РОССИИ

The article is devoted to the development of the institution of parliamentarism in postSoviet Russia. A historical and comparative method of analyzing the evolution of Russian parliamentarism is applied, taking into account the discourse of opinions of experts in the field of constitutional construction. The strengthening of presidential power in Russia in the 90s of the last century led to a decrease in the role of parliament in the political process.

The origins of parliamentarism in Russia

The article is devoted to the analysis of the origins of domestic constitutionalism – the most important attribute of such starting indicators, for example, as a legal, constitutional state, separation of powers, constitutionalism. Its concise definition and characteristics are presented. There are three main periods of the emergence and development of Russian parliamentarism. The first - until October 1917. The most important result here is the bourgeois-democratic revolution in Russia of 1905 - 1907. It was the creation of the parliament for the first time in our country. This is the beginning of domestic practical parliamentarism. The second period - 1917 - 1991, characterized by the rejection of parliamentarism and its criticism in capitalist states. The third is the modern period, from 1992 to the present day.

On the 115th anniversary of the elections to the State Duma of the 1st convocation in Kostroma Province (based on the materials of Kostroma newspapers)

The article is devoted to the little-studied problem of elections to the First State Duma of the Russian Empire in Kostroma Province, as well as the attitude of different strata, classes and estates to the elections and activities of deputies. As sources, the documents of the funds of the State Archive of Kostroma Region (GAKO), in particular, the materials of the local newspapers “Kostroma Speechˮ and “Herald of Povolzhyeˮ are used. An attempt is made to reveal to what extent the institution of Russian parliamentarism was rooted in the Province, to what extent the elected deputies expressed the interests of voters of different classes. The extensive factual material covers the organisation of elections, the course of elections in different counties, as well as conflicts and violations during the conduct of elections. Rich material is also provided by memoirs, business correspondence of officials and other documents. The authors come to the conclusion that Kostroma newspapers of that time covered the above issues in great detail and meaningfully, that in the conditions of the emerging multiparty system, the political and legal culture of the Province grew, as well as the interest of representatives of different classes in solving the most important problems of the then Russian reality.

Rhetorical Practices of the State Duma of the Russian Empire: Features of the Transfer of European Parliamentary Traditions into the Russian Political Context (1906—1916)

The article analyzes the influence of the European parliamentary experience on the process of formation of Russian parliamentarism and development of parliamentary rhetorical practices in late imperial Russia. Particular attention is paid to parliamentary rhetoric. In addition to the political context and the acuteness of certain public problems, it was greatly influenced by the nature of the meeting room in the Tauride Palace, the order of the sessions, and the professional skills of the speaker and the members of the presidium. Russian liberals, who were considered students of their “Western teachers”, acted as translators of European political experience in the first place. The channels for the spread of Western influence can be seen in the experience of Russians in Europe during their student years, during short private visits, or on official business. Books and the mass publication of translated literature on oratory were also of great importance in the transfer of rhetorical experience. In addition to considering the main channels for the transfer of Western parliamentary traditions, it is also important to analyze how the influence of European parliamentary practices was evaluated and interpreted by different political forces both inside and outside the Tauride Palace, especially during political debates.

Проект реформы российского парламентаризма: взаимоотношения парламента с исполнительной властью и населением

Проект реформы российского парламентаризма: взаимоотношения парламента с исполнительной властью и населением

An old Soviet response and a revolutionary context: Dealing with the national question in the committees of the USSR Congress of People’s Deputies (1989–1991)

The article deals with the parliamentary representation of ethnic/national interests and demands in the crisis years between 1989 and 1991, culminating in the collapse of the Soviet Union. It focuses primarily on the proliferation of committees dealing with ethnonational questions after the creation of the USSR Congress of People’s Deputies, a parliamentary body that existed from 1989 until 1991. The article shows that the new parliamentary architecture was not only the inevitable consequence of social and national mobilization but also an expression of the Union center’s response to the ongoing national crisis. Building mostly upon unpublished archival material, the article focuses on debates in 1989–1991 within the Committee of Nationalities Affairs and Interethnic Issues of the USSR Supreme Soviet. In so doing, it identifies some of the dilemmas the committee faced and some of the changes in its functioning brought about glasnost and perestroika. The article makes two key contributions. First, it helps to shed much-needed light on Soviet nationalities policy during perestroika. Second, the analysis of debates internal to parliamentary committees in those critical years contributes to the existing literature on Soviet and Russian parliamentarism and institutional transformation during the transition from the USSR to the Russian Federation.

Correlation between parliamentarism and the constitutional principle of democracy

Problems associated with the development of parliamentarism and democracy are fundamental and mostly are of polemical character. In legal science, meticulous attention is given to revelation of the essence and categorical analysis of these institutions. The theoretical-legal substantiation of their organic interrelation is being developed to a far lesser degree. The article analyzes the views of researchers upon the representative nature of legislative power, determines its place within the system of popular representation, and describes the meaning of electoral legal relations as a source of correlation between parliamentarism and democracy. The author proves that consensual declaration of will expressed by the representative legislative authority in its bills, is intended to be the permanent, legal, objectified representation of will and interest of the people. Critical assessment is given to the current state of Russian parliamentarism, which represents a dynamically development state legal institution. A conclusion is substantiated that without efficient functionality of the national mechanism of parliamentarism, the full implementation of the constitutional principle of democracy in Russian is impossible.

Модели российского парламентаризма

Модели российского парламентаризма

Институт и практики земских соборов: опыт политико-романтического конструирования в политической истории России

The article is devoted to the overview and understanding of the phenomenon of Zemsky Sobor in the Russian state, – the representative body of power in the 16-17 centuries, -that became the first Russian parliament and determined the history of Russian parliamentarism for nearly 500 years. The authors assess the scope of their authority form the point of view of the political science, and show their functional significance and role in Russian history in the process of transformation of Russian national state during the reign of Ivan the Third into the multinational Empire of Peter the Great. The importance of this research is dictated by the tasks of modern Russian parliamentarism that needs to ensure adequate representation of political, social and socio-cultural groups of Russian society, on the one hand, and by the nearly coinciding in dates two anniversaries: the 25th anniversary of the state Duma of the Russian Federation and the 470th anniversary of the opening of the first Zemsky Sobor (February 27–28, 1549), on the other hand.

Партийная модель российского парламентаризма

The article is devoted to the study of the party model of Russian parliamentarism in post-soviet period. The focus is on the issues of party representation and its correlation with the distribution of the managerial positions and introduction of collective legislation at State Duma. These issues are examined from the point of view of reaching cross-party consensus and implementation of fair parliament party representation principle. According to the author Russian parliamentarism model aims at reaching full-fledged party consensus that corresponds better to the principles of popular representation than strict parliament polarization along the line of “authority-opposition”. Understanding of those issues by the majority of the players was noted from the very start of the State Duma activities, in spite of the acute conflicts in the 1990-ies.The author draws the conclusion that the equation of party representation continues to grow at the level of managerial positions in the parliament that allows to improve cooperation of the parties and to reduce authority and opposition conflicts. Thereby the Russian parliamentarism model makes an important contribution to the stabilization of socio-political situation of the country.

Российский парламентаризм как воля и представительство

What are the specific traits of Russian parliamentarism? They can be seen in the fact that the format of public interests representation in the framework of Russian authority paradigm has been and still is more or less effective format of control of the authorities as such (not only executive or judicial authority), control of the unified political and bureaucratic organism, of the vertical line of authority, whether autocratic, nomenclature or independent and democratic. This is the reason for the indeterminate state of Russian parliamentarism resembling some kind of Schroedinger parliamentarism: it simultaneously exists, developing and growing for the benefit of the country, and on-exists, remaining a kind of fiction and PR mold that undermines Russian state system. And, if speaking in terms of quantum mechanics, it can pass any time to a certain state and remain in history either quality.

Зарождение российского парламентаризма: к вопросу о выборах в I–IV Государственные думы Российской империи

At the beginning of the 20th century in the Russian Empire, there were complex and dramatic events that left an indelible mark on the history of the country. One of these significant events was the attempt by the authorities to transform the form of government from an unrestricted monarchy into a parliamentary one by establishing the State Duma, which was convened and dissolved by the Emperor. In a relatively short period (1906–1912) four times convened this representative and legislative body, the importance of which was the fact that the opportunity to participate in the lawmaking received almost all representatives of the complex social structure of the empire (classes and grades). The article draws a parallel between the elections to the State Duma at the beginning of the 20th century and the formation of modern Russian parliamentarism in order to identify constant and variable factors in the history of Russia.

РОССИЙСКИЙ ПАРЛАМЕНТАРИЗМ: ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЗАРОЖДЕНИЯ И СОВРЕМЕННОСТЬ

РОССИЙСКИЙ ПАРЛАМЕНТАРИЗМ: ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЗАРОЖДЕНИЯ И СОВРЕМЕННОСТЬ

Политические проекты казанского дворянства в 1905 г. как новая ступень самосознания

<p class="c1e0e7eee2fbe9">В статье рассматривается тема участия членов Казанского губернского дворянского собрания в составлении проектов государственного устройства Российской империи в сложный политический период 1905 г. Данная проблема представляет актуальность в свете повышенного внимания к вопросам парламентаризма и самоуправления.</p><p class="c1e0e7eee2fbe9">На материалах журналов Казанского губернского дворянского собрания и трудов комиссии по вопросу о народном представительстве показано, что разработка проектов устройства представительного органа в Казанском губернском дворянском собрании началась с целью успокоения волнений в обществе, особенно среди крестьян. Разработка велась по двум направлениям: на основе профессионально-классовой избирательной системы и на основе всеобщего равного избирательного права. Сторонники всеобщих равных выборов отличались большей демократичностью, однако они не учитывали величину избирательных округов и отсутствие культуры демократических выборов среди населения России. Члены комиссии поддержали первый проект и проголосовали за наделение представительного органа правом законодательной инициативы. В дальнейшем, после всероссийского дворянского съезда, А. Н. Боратынским и В. В. Марковниковым была предложена альтернатива в виде территориально-земского избирательного начала, согласно которому депутатов должны были избирать земства.</p><p class="c1e0e7eee2fbe9">Документы показывают, что дворянская корпорация не была единой и делилась на умеренно монархическое, правое и либеральное крылья. Разработка проектов велась лишь крупнопоместным дворянством, которое желало внести успокоение в общество и осознанно относилось к решению не только местных вопросов, но и общероссийских проблем. Хотя труды казанской комиссии в дальнейшем и не были представлены в «булыгинскую комиссию», но подобная работа способствовала вовлечению местных дворян в общероссийскую политическую жизнь.</p><p class="c1e0e7eee2fbe9">Исследование показывает, что пути становления парламентаризма в России были весьма извилисты и даже в рамках одной социальной группы существовали значительные противоречия по поводу политического устройства страны. Победу одержали сторонники сословной системы выборов, поскольку это позволяло дворянам быть более представленными в будущей Думе, чем при других системах. В дальнейшем идеи этих проектов во многом послужили основой для консолидации дворянства и развития дворянского самоуправления.</p>

Российский парламентаризм в исторической ретроспективе и сравнительной перспективе (II)

Российский парламентаризм в исторической ретроспективе и сравнительной перспективе (II)