TEXT Legislation in Russia Under the doctrine of the separation of powers legislation is regarded as one of the three main functions of government. Those who have the formal power to create legislation are known as legislators. Legislation can have many purposes: to regulate, to authorize, to proscribe, to provide funds, to sanction, to grant, to declare or to restrict. The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is the lawmaking body of the Russian Federation, according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, 1993. 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. The State Duma has special powers enumerated by the Constitution of Russia. They are: • consent to the appointment of the Prime Minister of Russia; • hearing annual reports from the Government of the Russian Federation on the results of its work, including issues raised by the State Duma; • deciding the issue of confidence in the Government of the Russian Federation; • appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia; • appointment and dismissal of the Chairman and half of the auditors of the Accounting Chamber; • appointment and dismissal of the Commissioner for Human Rights, who shall act according to federal constitutional law; • announcement of amnesty; • bringing charges against the President of the Russian Federation for his impeachment (requires a two thirds majority); The State Duma adopts decrees on issues referred to its authority by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Decrees of the State Duma are adopted by a majority of the total number of deputies of the State Duma. The Federation Council together with the State Duma are charged with drafting and voting on laws. Special powers of the Federation Council are: • Approval of changes in borders between subjects of the Russian Federation; • • Approval of a decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the introduction of martial law; Approval of a decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the introduction of a state of emergency; • Deciding on the possibility of using the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the territory of the Russian Federation; • Declaring elections of the President of the Russian Federation; • Impeachment of the President of the Russian Federation; • Approving the President's nomination of judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation; • Approving the President's nomination of the Attorney General of the Russian Federation; • Appointment of Deputy Chairman and half of the auditors of the Accounting Chamber. To pass the law more than half of senators of the Federation Council must vote for it. When considering federal constitutional laws, three-fourths of the Council's votes are required for passage. All bills 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 amendments to 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 the two chambers cannot reach a compromise, or the Duma insists on passing the 43 bill as it is, the veto of the Federation Council can be overridden if two thirds of the Duma's constitutional composition vote in favour of the bill. The State Duma and the Federation Council usually meet separately, Joint sessions are organized when the President of the Russian Federation delivers his annual address to the Federal Assembly and on some other very rare occasions. 4. Найдите в тексте приведенном выше английские эквиваленты русским словам и словосочетаниям. 1) законодательная деятельность 2) законодательный орган 3) нижняя палата 4) верхняя палата 5) перечислять полномочия 6) заслушивать ежегодные отчеты 7) уполномоченный по правам человека 8) принимать закон 9) чрезвычайное положение 10) одобрение указа Президента 11) прийти к компромиссу 12) отвергнуть поправки к законопроекту 13) назначение на должность 14) проголосовать за законопроект 15) принцип разделения властей