Translate the text 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.