Government

Federation. Independence: August 24, 1991. Constitution: December 12, 1993. Branches: //Executive//--president, prime minister (chairman of the government). //Legislative//--Federal Assembly. //Judicial//--Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Arbitration, Office of Procurator General. Political parties: After a shakeup in late 2008 dissolved and combined several parties, seven registered parties remain: United Russia, the Communist Party (KPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), Just Russia, Yabloko, Patriots of Russia, and the new Right Cause party. Yabloko, which favors liberal reforms, and Patriots of Russia failed to clear the 7% threshold in 2007 to enter the Duma. The next round of Duma elections will be held in 2011. Subdivisions: 83 federal subjects (members of the Federation), including 21 republics, 9 krays, 46 oblasts, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 4 autonomous okrugs. Suffrage: Universal at 18 years.