NIKOV (since
25 January 1996) were appointed by the president on approval of the
Dumas
Security Council: originally established as a presidential advisory
body in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992, with
responsibility for managing individual and state security
Presidential Administration: drafts presidential edicts and provides
staff and policy support to the entire executive branch
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" was appointed
by the president
Group of Assistants: schedules president's appointments, processes
presidential edicts and other official documents, and houses the
president's press service and primary speechwriters
Council of Heads of Republics: includes the leaders of the 21
ethnic-based Republics
Council of Heads of Administrations: includes the leaders of the 66
autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St.
Petersburg
Presidential Council: prepares policy papers for the president

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly
Federation Council: 178 seats, filled ex-officio by the top
executive and legislative officials in each of the 89 federal
administrative units (oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs
and oblasts, and the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg)
State Duma: elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA
December 1999); results - percent of vote received by parties
clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of
the 225 party list seats: Communist Party of the Russian Federation
22.3%, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 11.2%, Our Home Is Russia
10.1%, Yabloko Bloc 6.9%; seats - (450 total - half elected in
single-member districts and half elected from national party lists)
Communist Party of the Russian Federation 157, Independents 78, Our
Home Is Russia 55, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 51, Yabloko
Bloc 45, Agrarian Party of Russia 20, Russia's Democratic Choice 9,
Power To the People 9, Congress of Russian Communities 5, Forward,
Russia! 3, Women of Russia 3, other parties 15

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the
Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Supreme Court
(highest court for criminal, civil, and administrative cases),
judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of
the president; Superior Court of Arbitration (highest court that
resolves e