Federal Assembly of Russia : Ask Biography

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The Federal Assembly of Russia (Russian: Федеральное Собрание, transliteration: Federalnoye Sobraniye or Federalnoje Sobranije) is the legislature of the Russian Federation, according to the Constitution of Russian Federation, 1993. It was preceded by the Congress of People's Deputies of Russian Federation and its Supreme Soviet.

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 first post-Soviet Duma in 1993 is the Fifth Duma, following the first four of 1906 � 17.

All bills, even those proposed by the Federation Council, 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 changes in 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 two chambers cannot reach a compromise, or the Duma insists on passing the bill as is, the veto of the Federation Council can be overridden, if two thirds of the Duma's constitutional composition vote in favor of the bill.

The State Duma and the Federation Council usually meet separately. Joint sessions are organized when the President of Russia delivers his annual address to the Federal Assembly and in some other very rare occasions.