Spring Break
New amendment could harm Russian society
Kathleen Wilmes
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Opinion
Russia's President, Dmitry Medvedev, has recently proposed some major legislation: the lengthening of term limits of both the Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) from four years to five-year terms, as well as the length of term limits in the office of the president, from the current four years to six-year terms.
Although the government has denied it being a means to strengthen the executive branch of the Russian government, it is an act to strengthen the central government of Russia, which encompasses the executive branch, and more specifically, the presidential office.
Since the beginning of the Russian federation, modeled after France's Fifth Republic, the government of Russia's most notable feature has been a strong executive. This strong executive was necessary at the beginning, largely due to the great instability of the area after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And through legislation, the executive branch, and the central government in general, has become increasingly stronger over time.
The last president, Vladimir Putin, proposed legislation in 2005 to increase the percent of support to run for national elections from 5 to 7 percent, largely decreasing the number of political parties being able to participate in elections, and strengthening the main political party, United Russia.
This new amendment to the Russian constitution, proposed by the current president of Russia, although through different means, supports the same end - an even stronger central government, and an even stronger, as well as a less challenged, executive branch.
Although this does not apply to Medvedev now, it would, however, take effect after the next presidential election, which is scheduled for 2012.
Political philosophy teaches us, among other things, that all political units go through periods of political growth as well as political decline. We can see this with any and all countries today, including the United States.
However, a state's constitution, if effectively constructed and carried out, is a means to prevent this decline as long as possible, and extend any positive growth.
If the new amendment to Russia's constitution goes through, as expected, I strongly believe the Russian Federation will go through this decay of the body politic at a far faster rate, and do greater harm to an already shaky Russian civil society.
Although the government has denied it being a means to strengthen the executive branch of the Russian government, it is an act to strengthen the central government of Russia, which encompasses the executive branch, and more specifically, the presidential office.
Since the beginning of the Russian federation, modeled after France's Fifth Republic, the government of Russia's most notable feature has been a strong executive. This strong executive was necessary at the beginning, largely due to the great instability of the area after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And through legislation, the executive branch, and the central government in general, has become increasingly stronger over time.
The last president, Vladimir Putin, proposed legislation in 2005 to increase the percent of support to run for national elections from 5 to 7 percent, largely decreasing the number of political parties being able to participate in elections, and strengthening the main political party, United Russia.
This new amendment to the Russian constitution, proposed by the current president of Russia, although through different means, supports the same end - an even stronger central government, and an even stronger, as well as a less challenged, executive branch.
Although this does not apply to Medvedev now, it would, however, take effect after the next presidential election, which is scheduled for 2012.
Political philosophy teaches us, among other things, that all political units go through periods of political growth as well as political decline. We can see this with any and all countries today, including the United States.
However, a state's constitution, if effectively constructed and carried out, is a means to prevent this decline as long as possible, and extend any positive growth.
If the new amendment to Russia's constitution goes through, as expected, I strongly believe the Russian Federation will go through this decay of the body politic at a far faster rate, and do greater harm to an already shaky Russian civil society.
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