The Fifth State Duma

Just recently we observed the 90th anniversary of the first appearance of the term "State Duma" in the Russian language. Much water -- and blood -- has flowed under the bridge in that time. Now, after the dramatic events of 1991 and 1993, the Russian Federation once again has a political institution called the "State Duma" and, in order to emphasize historic continuity, the present Duma is considered the Fifth Russian State Duma.


The third -- the longest, most dramatic and most productive -- session of the Fifth Duma has just come to an end. Despite conflicts and seething passions, most deputy organizations, committees and commissions, as well as the majority of deputies themselves, have found their places within a stable legislative process.


Over the last few months, the Duma has begun working much more effectively with the president, the government, the Federation Council and the legislatures of the constituent parts of the Russian Federation. Thanks to positive changes in the positions not only of whole factions and committees but also of individual deputies, it has become easier to work with the executive structures of government. Consequently, draft legislation proposed by the executive branch finds considerable support in the Duma.


As experience with parliamentarism grows, deputies have become more knowledgeable at taking advantage of the authority granted them by the constitution and the laws of the Russian Federation. They have begun using their right to hold hearings and to appeal to the Constitutional Court. Parliamentary inquiries have become sharper and more direct, and controls over the activity of the government have become stricter and more fundamental.


I would like to mention three figures which I feel demonstrate the intensity with which the Fifth Duma has been working. So far, there have been 123 plenary sessions, at which the Duma considered more than 5,000 matters, including more than 400 draft laws. But the flurry of legislative activity has been so great that the collection of draft laws awaiting consideration is greater than ever before.


But I would be unjust if I just limited myself to an arithmetic evaluation of the Duma's work. It is also important to name some of the basic groups of laws that have been worked out. Perhaps the most important is the packet of election laws which provide the legal basis for the conduct of presidential and Duma elections and for the formation of the Federation Council. We must also acknowledge the extreme importance of the Civil Code which can be considered practically a second, economic constitution for the country.


Those who know the history of what is perhaps the most heated issue in Russia, the question of land reform, will also appreciate the importance of the fact that the new Land Code has been accepted in its first reading. A final solution to this problem will do much to relieve social tension.


Just recently, we considered it an achievement that we approved the 1995 budget in March 1995. Now, though, we will most likely approve the 1996 budget before the end of this year thanks to the coordinating work of the appropriate Duma committees and the government.


Despite the way that some journalists and observers (as well as some representatives of the executive branch) have evaluated the work of individual deputies or particular committees, the last year and a half has clearly shown that the State Duma's work on the majority of draft laws has been that of a highly professional legislative organ. And this has bolstered the de facto influence of the Duma on social affairs and on the legal support of market reform.


Legislators have also devoted particular attention to the modernization of the legal basis of the entire social sphere. More than 60 laws concerning labor and social benefits and protecting the rights of women, families, veterans, the disabled and servicemen have been introduced in the Duma. Of course, not all of them have yet had practical effects, but, nonetheless, they form a serious legal foundation for settling some of the most acute legal matters.


In the sphere of international relations, it can be said that the Fifth Duma continued its work in strengthening the legal foundation of Russia's foreign policy. In all, 33 documents were prepared and adopted. But still more importantly, we can say that a new direction in foreign policy has emerged that is characterized by the regulation of relations between the former Soviet republics. A particularly important step in the search for mutually beneficial cooperation among them was the customs union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.


Another of the most important results of the Duma's work is the developing ability of the legislature to seek out solutions which guarantee the preservation of social stability and civil peace in a variety of extremely heated conflict situations. It has not been easy for people who, for the most part, were brought up within the framework of the communist system to master the procedures by which mutually satisfactory compromises are reached.


In short, the process of creating a parliamentary system in Russia is moving forward. And that means that the situation is becoming increasingly stable and the future development of the country is becoming more predictable.


Looking ahead to the fourth session of the Fifth Duma, it is obvious that it will be conducted in a difficult atmosphere. After all, elections to the Sixth Duma are slated for Dec. 17. Some of the present deputies feel that they can toss aside their legislative work and spend all their time working on election campaigns. But such an attitude is dishonest toward all those people who are anxiously awaiting vitally important legislation. Considering the surplus of legislation awaiting consideration, it is obvious that there is work enough already for at least the next three State Dumas.





Ivan Rybkin, a member of the Agrarian Party, is the speaker of the State Duma. He contributed this comment to The Moscow Times.