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The State Duma (Russian: Государственная дума (Gosudarstvennaya Duma), common abbreviation: Госдума (Gosduma)) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (legislature), the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma is headquartered in downtown Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to as deputies. The State Duma replaced the Supreme Soviet as a result of the new constitution introduced by Boris Yeltsin in the aftermath of the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993, and approved by the Russian public in a referendum.

Main article: State Duma of the Russian Empire

The State Duma was first introduced in 1906 and was Russia's first elected parliament. The first two attempts by Tsar Nicholas II were too radical and ineffective and were subsequently dissolved after only a few months each. After the 1907 electoral reform the third Duma, elected in November 1907, was largely made up of members of the upper classes and radical influences in the Duma had almost entirely been removed. The establishment of the Duma after the 1905 Revolution was to herald significant changes to the Russian autocratic system. Furthermore the Duma was later to have a larger effect on Russia as it was one of the contributing factors in the February Revolution, which led to the abolition of the autocracy in Russia.

The State Duma has its powers enumerated by the Constitution of Russia. They are:

• To pass laws by a majority, which must then be approved by the Federation Council and signed by the President
  • To similarly amend the constitution with a two thirds majority.
• To override a rejection of a law by the Federation Council of Russia by two thirds
• To override the veto of the President by a two thirds majority (The Federation Council must also vote to override with a three quarters majority)
• To approve or reject the President's nominee for Prime Minister of Russia
• To appoint the deputy chairman of the Audit Chamber and half of its auditors
• To file an impeachment against the President (Requires a two thirds majority)
• All bills related to revenue are debated and approved here, to be further debated and approved in the Federation Council.
• Considers and approves federal taxes and levies.
• Debates matters of war and peace.
• Duties are enumerated in Section 1, Chapter 5, Articles 100-108, in the Russian Constitution.

Additionally, there are constitutionally 450 deputies of the State Duma (Article 95), each elected to a term of four years (Article 96). Russian citizens at least 21 years old are eligible to run for the Duma (Article 97). Seats are awarded on the basis of the percentage of election votes won by a party. The party then elects candidates to fill its eligible seats.

The current speaker of the State Duma is Boris Gryzlov.

Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the Russian State Duma since December of 2003

Emblem commemorating 100 years of State Duma in Russia

Main article: Russian legislative election, 2003

Main article: Russian legislative election, 2003

• Alexander Yakovlev (February 18, 1994, – February 10, 1996)
• Alexander Kotenkov (February 10, 1996, – April 5, 2004)
• Alexander Kosopkin (since April 5, 2004)

• (Russian) Official site