The division of parliament into two chambers is practiced in states with a highly developed political system. In the Russian Federation, there are also two chambers of parliament, each of which has its own specific name and purpose.
The bicameral parliament is the highest legislative body of the state, responsible for the initiation, development and adoption of bills, as well as for introducing amendments and additions to existing regulations, if necessary.
The upper house of parliament in the Russian Federation
In the Russian Federation, as in many developed countries, there are two chambers of parliament operating simultaneously, which are usually called the lower and upper chambers. In accordance with these conventional names, the division of the functions of these authorities is made. So, the lower house is mainly engaged in the initiation and development of bills, and the upper one - their coordination and approval. Sessions of the upper house of the Russian parliaments are usually held at least twice a month, but if necessary, they can meet even more often.
The upper house in the Russian Federation is called the Federation Council. At the same time, the difference between the Federation Council and the lower house of parliament is not limited to the difference in their functions. In addition, they also differ in the way they are formed. As its name suggests, the Federation Council is designed to provide the constituent entities of the Federation with the opportunity to represent their interests. This opportunity is achieved through the inclusion in the Federation Council of two representatives from each region of Russia.
Thus, the total number of members of this structure is 170 people, since the number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation has reached 85. Due to the nature of its composition, the Federation Council is sometimes unofficially referred to as the Chamber of Regions, however, in all regulations in force on the territory of our country, the official name of this body applies.
The lower house of parliament in the Russian Federation
The lower house of the parliament of the Russian Federation, the main function of which is to develop draft laws and submit them to the court of the Federation Council, is called the State Duma, which is quite often reduced to the version of the "State Duma". In addition to its functions, it differs from the Federation Council in the way it is formed.
Since the State Duma is called upon to represent the interests of all citizens of the country, its formation is carried out through national elections, which are held once every 5 years. In total, 450 deputies become members of the lower house of parliament as a result of the elections. At the same time, according to the provisions of the current legislation, one and the same person cannot simultaneously be a member of the State Duma and the Federation Council.
