Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is a federal semi-presidential republic spanning Eastern Europe and northern Asia. Governed by its 1993 constitution, the country is led by a President who serves as both head of state and commander-in-chief, holding significant executive power and appointing the Prime Minister to oversee daily government operations. The legislative branch, known as the Federal Assembly, consists of two chambers: the State Duma with 450 members elected for five-year terms, and the Federation Council with 170 members, representing Russia’s federal regions. While elections are held regularly, critics argue that political competition is limited and that power is heavily centralized under the presidency.

The Russian judiciary is officially independent and includes the Constitutional Court, which oversees constitutional matters. In practice, however, the judiciary’s autonomy has been questioned, especially concerning politically sensitive cases. The dominant political party is United Russia, which has consistently held a majority in the State Duma, although other registered parties do participate in the political process. While Russia’s system features a theoretical separation of powers, ongoing concerns persist about the concentration of authority within the executive branch and the overall level of democratic accountability.