♤ The Russian republic was established immediately after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and became a union republic of USSSR in 1922.

♤ In 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia joined with several other former Soviet republics to form a loose coalition, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

♤ The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) formed when the former Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. At its conception it consisted of ten former Soviet Republics: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan

♤ Under the new constitution (1993), the Federal Assembly became the country’s legislature. It consists of the Federation Council (an upper house comprising appointed representatives from each of Russia’s administrative divisions) and the State Duma (a 450- member popularly elected lower house).

♤ The president, who is elected in a national vote and cannot serve more than two terms consecutively, is vested with significant powers. As Russia’s head of state, the president is empowered to appoint the head of the government (prime minister), key judges, and cabinet members. In 2008 an amendment to the constitution, to take effect with the 2012 election, extended the presidential term from four to six years.