President of Russia

The President of Russia (Template:Lang-ru) is the Head of State and highest office within the Government of Russia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government. The office was instituted in 1991 as the head of RSFSR according to the results of the referendum held on March 171991. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, two individuals have been elected to the presidency. The first President was Boris Yeltsin elected on June 121991 by a direct popular vote. He came into power on July 71991 for a five-year term. According to the Constitution of Russia accepted in 1993, the president is elected every four years by a direct vote of the Russian population. The second and current President of Russia is Vladimir Putin. The next scheduled vote is slated for 2008.

Requirements to hold office

Requirements to be met in order for a person to become a President are listed in the Constitution of Russia.

Rights and duties

The President is the head of state and his main task is to preserve and protect the rights and liberties of the Russian people, which are granted under the Constitution of Russia. The President is tasked to determine the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian government. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The President is also charged in awarding of state decorations, resolves problems on issues in immigration and has the power to grant pardons.

The president's rights and duties are defined in the chapter 4 of the Constitution (Text in English: [1]).

Insignia

After the oath of office has been taken by the elected president, these following insignia are handed over to the president. These devices are used to display the rank of his office and are used on special occasions.

Chain of office

The first insignia that is issued is the chain of office with an emblem. The central emblem is a red cross, with arms in equal size, charged with the Russian coat of arms. On the reverse of the cross, the words "Benefit, Honour and Glory" appear in a form of a circle. A golden wreath is used to connect the cross with the rest of the chain. There are seventeen "links" in the emblem, with nine consisting of the Russian coat of arms. The other eight consist of a rosette, also bearing the motto "Use, Honour and Glory." At the inauguration of Vladimir Putin, the emblem was placed on a red pillow, positioned on the left side of podium. According to the Presidential website, the emblem is placed inside the Kremlin and is used only on certain occasions.

Standard (Flag)

File:Moscow Kremlin 2.jpg

The Kremlin in Moscow, the official residence of the President of Russia.

The standard is a square version of the Russian flag, (pictured below) charged in the center with the Russian coat of arms. Golden fringe is added to the standard. Copies of the standard are used inside his office, at the Kremlin, other state agencies, and while the president is traveling in a vehicle inside Russia. A 2:3 ratio version of the flag is used when the President is at sea. This is the mostly used symbol to denote the presence of the Russian President.

Special Copy of the Constitution

The President also has a special copy of the Russian Constitution that is used during the inauguration. This copy has a hard, red cover with gold lettering. An image of the Russian coat of arms appears in silver. The special copy is kept in the Presidential Library, which is located inside the Kremlin.

Legal Base of the Insignia

These insignia and the procedure were established by the presidential decree No. 1138 from August 5, 1996 (Coбpaниe зaкoнoдaтeльcтвa Рoccийcкoй Фeдepaции 1996, No. 33, ar. 3976). The decree, however, was derogated as a whole by the decree No. 832 from May 6, 2000 (Coбpaниe зaкoнoдaтeльcтвa Рoccийcкoй Фeдepaции 2000, No. 19, ar. 2068), which, derogating the previous decree, left out the special copy of the Constitution as the third symbol of the Russian Presidency (probably due to an "inappropriate and ostentatious acquisition" of the supreme law in relation to the public); the other two symbols remained intact because they were and are regulated by separate decrees (No. 319 from February 15, 1994 on the Standard and No. 906 from July 27, 1999 on the Chain of Office), being only slightly affected by changes ordered in No. 832. Nonetheless, the special copy of the Constitution still exists and serves for inauguration purposes only without being officially presented as a symbol of the Russian Presidency. Regardless of it, the Constitution of the Russian Federation still remains a significant symbol of presidential power.

• 
  Chain of office
• 
  Standard
• Special Copy of the Constitution
  Special Copy of the Constitution

Oath of Office

Each person who has been elected to this office takes this oath during their inauguration:

In performing my duties as the President of the Russian Federation, I pledge to respect and protect the rights and liberties of every citizen; to observe and protect the Constitution of the Russian Federation; to protect the sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state and to serve the people faithfully.

List of Presidents of Russia

• 1. Boris Yeltsin1 July 10, 1991– December 31, 1999
  1.
  Boris Yeltsin¹
  July 10, 1991–
  December 31, 1999
• 
  2.
  >Vladimir Putin
  December 31, 1999–
  present

See also

• Russian presidential administration
• List of Russian rulers

Notes

¹ Aleksandr Rutskoy acted "in opposition" during the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993 from September 22, 1993 - October 4, 1993.
² As Prime Minister, Vladmir Putin was the Acting president following Yeltsin's resignation until being elected by popular vote on May 7, 2000.

External links

• Official site of the President of Russia
• The Constitution of Russian federation (1993) (in English)