Law of Russia

Russia has a big book of rules. This book is called the Constitution. It is the most important law. It tells how the leaders should act. It also helps protect people's rights.

There are other books of rules too. One book is about money and trade. Another book is about what people cannot do. These books help the courts make choices.

The President is a very strong leader. The President can sign new rules. These rules must follow the big book. This keeps the country running in an orderly way.

Russia has a main book of rules. This is called the Constitution. People voted for it in 1993. It is the most important law in the land. All other laws must follow it. The Constitution protects human rights. It also sets up how the government works. It says Russia is a republic. This means the people have a say through elections.

The President is the head of the state. The President has a lot of power. The President can pick a Prime Minister. The parliament also helps make laws. There are two houses in the parliament. These houses are part of the Federal Assembly. The President can also sign new rules called decrees. These rules must not break the Constitution.

There are other important rule books too. The Civil Code helps with money and trade. The Criminal Code says what people cannot do. A new Criminal Code started in 1997. It changed rules about property and money. Judges use these codes to make fair choices. They also look at international laws. These are rules that many countries follow together.

Russia has a system of rules that keeps the country running. The most important rule book is called the Constitution of the Russian Federation. This document is the supreme law of the land. This means every other law must follow what the Constitution says. It also works throughout the entire territory of the country. If a local law disagrees with the Constitution, the Constitution wins. It sets up the basics of how the government works. It also promises to protect the fundamental rights of the Russian people.

The Constitution creates a special way for the government to lead. This is called a semi-presidential system. In this system, the President is the head of the state. The President has strong executive power. The President also picks a Prime Minister to lead the government. The parliament helps make laws through two different houses. These houses are part of the Federal Assembly. Some people call this a "super presidential" system. They say this because the President holds a very central position. The President can also issue decrees to help follow the law.

Russia's modern legal system began after the Soviet Union ended. The Russian Federation became an independent state in 1991. People voted on the Constitution during a national referendum in 1993. On 12 December 1993, 54.5% of the voters said yes. The Constitution officially took effect on 25 December 1993. Since then, only a few changes have been made. One big change happened in 2008. That change increased the President's term from four years to six years.

Besides the Constitution, there are many other important sets of rules called statutes. These are often organized into large books called codes. The Civil Code is like a constitution for the market economy. It helps manage money and trade between people. The Criminal Code is another major book. It lists actions that are not allowed in Russia. The most recent Criminal Code began on 1 January 1997. President Yeltsin signed a related code on 8 January 1997. This new code changed rules about property and economic crimes.

Judges play a big role in making sure these rules are fair. They use the codes to decide on legal cases. If a code has a gap, judges can use general principles. They might use reasoning by analogy to find an answer. This means they look at similar rules to help them decide. Judges also look at international law and treaties. These are rules that Russia follows along with other countries. The Constitution says that international law is part of the Russian legal system. This helps connect Russia's rules to the rest of the world.

The legal system of the Russian Federation is a complex structure of rules. It is based on a hierarchy of different types of laws. At the very top sits the Constitution of the Russian Federation. This document is the supreme law of the land. Article 15 of the Constitution states it has supreme legal force. It has a direct effect throughout the entire territory of Russia. This means all other laws must follow the Constitution. If a local or federal law conflicts with it, the Constitution wins. The Constitution establishes the fundamentals of government. It also proclaims the rule of law and political pluralism. It guarantees fundamental human rights to the Russian people.

Russia uses a semi-presidential system of government. This system includes strong executive power. The President serves as the head of the state. The President also oversees a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. This government is headed by a Prime Minister. The President appoints the Prime Minister. However, the parliament must approve this appointment. Legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly. This assembly consists of two separate houses. Some academics describe this as a "super presidential" system. They say this because the President holds such a central position.

The modern legal structure began after the Soviet Union dissolved. The Russian Federation became an independent state in 1991. On 12 December 1993, a national referendum was held. Citizens voted on the new Constitution. It was adopted with 54.5% of the vote. The Constitution officially took effect on 25 December 1993. Since then, very few amendments have been made. The most significant change occurred in 2008. This amendment changed the presidential term of office. The term was increased from four years to six years.

Statutes are the most common source of Russian law. These are enacted through a formal legislative process. Many statutes are organized into large books called codes. Codes serve as the basis for law on specific subjects. The Civil Code is a very important code. It is often called the "constitution" of the market economy. It can even override contradictory text in other codes. The Criminal Code is another vital set of rules. It is the penal statute that lists impermissible conduct. The current Criminal Code came into force on 1 January 1997. This replaced the older Soviet version from 1960. It brought new rules regarding economic and property crimes.

There are also different levels of laws below the Constitution. Federal constitutional laws are one type. These deal with issues specifically mentioned in the Constitution. They have more legal force than regular federal laws. However, they have less force than amendments to the Constitution. The President and the government can also issue sub-laws. The President issues decrees and directives. These must not go against the Constitution or federal laws. Government agencies also create regulations. These regulations are limited by the Constitution and relevant codes.

Russia is classified as a civil law country. In this system, court decisions are not strictly binding on other courts. However, lower courts usually follow the principles of supreme courts. The Supreme Court can set aside lower court decisions. This happens if a decision breaks the uniformity of law. The Supreme Court also reviews regulations from government agencies. The Constitutional Court plays a unique role here. It acts as a "negative legislator." It can declare certain laws void if they are unconstitutional. Its interpretations of the Constitution are authoritative and binding.

Several other factors influence how laws are applied. International law and treaties are part of the Russian legal system. According to Article 15, domestic law gives way to international law. Judges also use "general principles" to interpret the law. These include concepts like good faith, reasonableness, and justice. If a code has a gap, judges may use reasoning by analogy. This means they apply similar rules to new situations. Even custom is mentioned as a source of law in the Civil Code. Finally, legal scholars provide influential academic commentary. While not a separate source of law, their work helps guide arguments in court.