Ussr / Russia – Comparative Government Essay, Research Paper
Notes- Comparative Government- Class 12/6/00
Brezhnev ? corruption was rampant; elite members of the party lived quite well and there was a very active black market
died in 1982
Andropov- former head of KGB
tries to deal with the alcohol problem
suggests various reforms to get rid of some of the corruption
only there two years so very few reforms
Chenenko- really was unimportant
Gorbachev ?
glasnost- openness (independent newspapers could rise; criticism of the government was allowed)
perestroika ? economic restructuring (to introduce capitalism)
Reasons why Gorbachev failed
gross underestimation of the problems plaguing Sov. Union
did not have any clear priorities (goal was illusive)
lacked an appreciation for the failure of the nationalities policy
indecisive (because he was trying to please everyone)
he was a Marxist so it was hard for him to make any major changes
instead of going through proper channels he pronounced his changes
heavy reliance on KGB
Coup in 1991 failed because of Boris Yeltsin; dissolution of SU and then in Dec. resignation of Gorbachev
formed Commonwealth of Independent States— no real power
CIS is similar to British Commonwealth of Nations
Russian Federation created by Constitution in 1993
Boris Yeltsin who headed the Russian-Soviet Federated Republic was elected in 1991
runs for election in 1995 (2 4-year term limits)
Constitution does give the President a lot of power (most of power is vested in Pres)
has to appoint Prime Minster which has to be approved by legislative branch
if State Duma disapproves then the Constitution gives the President the right to re-submit the persons name; if they disapprove again then he can resubmit once again and if they disapprove he can dissolve the Duma (then there is new ele
President does set policy
can veto legislation coming out of the legislature
can dissolve Parliament
can rule by decree
Legislature
bicameral
called State Duma
450 members elected for 4 year term
pass bills; approve budget; have power of confirmation of Prime Minister and Cabinet Members
impeachment of President
no-confidence vote in Cabinet
if President vetoes a law passed by Duma then they can override veto by 2/3 vote
Russians use split ballot (like Germany) (must get 5% of the vote nationwide to be represented via: Prop Rep)
Upper House: called Federation Consul
equiv. US Senate (89 units ?states and each unit has 2 representatives)
only one that can change inside boundaries
only they can approve use of armed forces abroad
approve appointment of judges and they are only ones who can remove judges
Highest Court: Constitutional Court
19 Judges
appointed by President but have to be confirmed by Federation Consul
determine the constitutionality of law
handle citizen complaints (have to go through court system to go there)
serve for life (cannot be fired)
When Boris Yeltsin became the first President, there is another attempted coup in 1993 in response to his statement that he was going to dissolve the Duma but it will not be successful
Yego Gaidar: first Prime Minister under Yeltsin in favor of pro-Western capitalism; doesn?t last because when they try to fast-track capitalism it fails
Victor Chernomydrin: fired twice by Yeltsin
Vladmir Zhirinovsky: head of Liberal Democratic Party— which is extremely right wing; felt that Russia should go back to being the Soviet Union and they should bring back all the land they had at one time (incl. Poland)
Gennadi Zyuganov- after fall of Soviet Union, he heads Communist Party; has attempted to run for President; very active in Russia