Russia is huge. It covers eleven time zones, spans two continents, and honestly, trying to pin down the exact form of government in russia is like trying to nail jelly to a wall. If you open a textbook, it says "Federal Semi-Presidential Republic." If you watch the news, you hear words like "autocracy" or "authoritarianism." But the reality on the ground in Moscow or Vladivostok is a weird, shifting blend of rigid legal structures and informal power networks that actually run the show.
It's not just about what's written in the 1993 Constitution.
You have to look at the "Power Vertical." This isn't a legal term you'll find in the founding documents, but it's the concept that defines how Russia actually functions. It’s the idea that power flows strictly from the top—specifically the Kremlin—down through the regional governors, the security services (the siloviki), and finally to the local level. If you're looking for a simple democracy, you won't find it here. But it’s also not a monolith.
What the Constitution Actually Says
On paper, the form of government in russia is pretty clear-cut. The 1993 Constitution, which was born out of a literal tank battle between Boris Yeltsin and the parliament, established a system where the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.
The President has massive powers. Seriously.
The President can issue decrees that have the force of law without even talking to the State Duma (the lower house of parliament). He—and it has only ever been a "he"—commands the military, sets foreign policy, and can even dissolve the Duma under specific circumstances. The Prime Minister, currently Mikhail Mishustin, focuses mostly on the economy and day-to-day administration. This is the "Semi-Presidential" part. It looks a bit like France, but with the volume turned up to eleven.
Then there’s the Federal Assembly.
It’s divided into two parts: the State Duma and the Federation Council. The Duma has 450 seats. They pass bills and approve the budget. The Federation Council is more like an upper house, with representatives from each of Russia's 89 administrative subjects (including regions, republics, and territories). It’s supposed to provide a check on the Duma, but in practice, it’s mostly a body of loyalists who rubber-stamp Kremlin initiatives.
The 2020 Amendments Changed Everything
If you haven't looked at the Russian system since 2019, you're out of date.
The 2020 constitutional amendments were a massive shift. They basically reset the clock on presidential term limits. This allowed Vladimir Putin to run for office again, potentially staying in power until 2036. But the amendments did more than just address term limits. They gave the Federation Council the power to remove high-court judges at the President’s request and strengthened the State Council, which was previously just an advisory body.
Basically, the form of government in russia became even more centralized.
The "Supremacy of International Law" was also tossed out the window. Now, if a decision from an international body like the European Court of Human Rights contradicts the Russian Constitution, the Russian court can just ignore it. This was a huge deal for legal scholars because it effectively isolated the Russian legal system from Western influence.
The Real Power: The Siloviki and the State Corporations
To understand how Russia works, you have to know the siloviki.
The term comes from sila, meaning "force." These are the guys from the FSB (the successor to the KGB), the GRU (military intelligence), and the SVR (foreign intelligence). They aren't just spies; they are a massive political and economic force. Many high-ranking officials in the Russian government started their careers in the security services. They bring a specific worldview to the form of government in russia: a focus on national security, sovereignty, and a deep-seated suspicion of Western liberal values.
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Then you have the state corporations.
Think Gazprom or Rosneft. These aren't just companies. They are extensions of state power. The line between private business and government interest is incredibly blurry. When the state needs something done—whether it’s building infrastructure for the Sochi Olympics or funding a specific political project—these entities are the ones writing the checks.
This creates a system of "managed democracy."
Elections happen. People vote. There are multiple parties on the ballot. But the outcome is rarely a surprise. The ruling party, United Russia, dominates the legislative landscape. Opposition figures often find themselves facing legal hurdles that prevent them from running, or their parties are denied registration on technicalities. It’s a system designed for stability above all else.
Federalism... Sort Of
Russia is a federation. It says so right in the name: The Russian Federation.
But federalism in Russia doesn't look like federalism in the U.S. or Germany. Under the current form of government in russia, the central government in Moscow holds almost all the cards. In the early 2000s, Putin moved to appoint regional governors rather than having them elected. Later, they brought back elections, but with a "municipal filter" that makes it almost impossible for anyone not approved by the Kremlin to get on the ballot.
The regions are also financially dependent on Moscow.
Most tax revenue goes to the federal center first, and then it’s redistributed back to the regions. This gives the Kremlin massive leverage. If a governor isn't playing ball, their region might suddenly find its budget for schools and hospitals slashed. It’s a carrot-and-stick approach that keeps the vast territory of Russia unified under a single command.
The Role of the Judiciary
Ideally, the courts should be independent.
In the Russian system, the judiciary is often seen as another branch of the executive. While there are plenty of talented and honest judges dealing with everyday civil and criminal cases, any case with political implications is a different story. "Telephone justice" is a slang term used in Russia to describe the practice of a government official calling a judge to tell them what the verdict should be.
It’s not always that blatant, but the pressure is there.
The Constitutional Court is the highest authority on legal matters. Since the 2020 changes, its independence has been further curtailed. It’s become more of a tool for legalizing the Kremlin's decisions rather than questioning them. This lack of an independent "umpire" is one of the biggest criticisms of the current Russian political model.
Is it an Autocracy?
Many political scientists, like those at the V-Dem Institute or Freedom House, categorize Russia as a "consolidated authoritarian regime."
They point to the lack of competitive elections, the crackdown on independent media, and the centralization of power in the hands of one person. However, Russian officials argue that they are practicing "Sovereign Democracy." This is the idea that Russia has the right to define its own version of democracy based on its unique history and culture, without interference from the West.
It’s a fundamental disagreement.
Western observers see a retreat from democratic norms. The Kremlin sees a necessary consolidation of power to prevent the chaos that characterized the 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed. To many Russians, the "democracy" of the 90s meant poverty, crime, and national humiliation. The current form of government in russia, for all its flaws, represents stability and a return to "Great Power" status.
The Impact of Geopolitics
You can't talk about the Russian government without talking about the war in Ukraine and the sanctions that followed.
Since 2022, the government has shifted into what some call "war footing." This has accelerated the crackdown on dissent. Laws have been passed that criminalize "discrediting the armed forces," which effectively shut down what was left of the independent press inside the country. Thousands of people have been arrested for protesting or even just posting on social media.
This has made the form of government in russia even more rigid.
The influence of the military and security services has reached its highest point since the Soviet era. The economy is being restructured to bypass Western sanctions, leading to closer ties with China, Iran, and India. This pivot isn't just economic; it’s ideological. The Russian government is increasingly framing itself as the leader of a "Global South" or a "multipolar world" that stands against Western hegemony.
What to Keep in Mind
If you’re trying to navigate or understand the Russian political landscape, here are a few hard truths to keep in mind:
- The Constitution is a guide, not a rulebook. Formal rules often take a backseat to informal agreements among the elite.
- Centralization is the goal. Every reform in the last 20 years has been about moving power from the regions and the legislature to the Kremlin.
- The "Opposition" is fragmented. There is the "systemic opposition" (parties in the Duma that generally support the Kremlin) and the "non-systemic opposition" (those outside the system who are often barred from participating).
- Stability is the primary currency. The government’s main selling point to the public is that it prevents the country from sliding back into the 1990s.
Your Next Steps for Research
To get a real handle on this, you shouldn't just read government websites.
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- Read the 1993 Constitution (and the 2020 amendments): See what the "ideal" version of the state looks like.
- Follow independent Russian media in exile: Outlets like Meduza or The Moscow Times (now operating outside Russia) provide a perspective you won't get from state-run TV.
- Look into the "Human Rights Watch" or "Amnesty International" reports: These give you the gritty details on how laws are actually applied to citizens.
- Study the "Power Vertical": Look up Mark Galeotti's work on the Russian "security state." He’s an expert who explains how the siloviki actually influence policy.
Understanding the form of government in russia isn't about memorizing a definition. It's about watching how power is used, who gets to use it, and what happens to those who try to challenge it. The system is currently in a state of high tension, shaped by conflict abroad and a desire for total control at home. It’s a moving target, and it’s likely to keep changing as the geopolitical landscape shifts.