1. The executive power is vested in Chief of the Government and the Cabinet.
2. The legislature is represented by the Duma.
3. The judicial power is vested in courts and administered by the Ministry of Justice.
4. The President is the head of state and is elected by popular vote every five years for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
5. The President’s working residence is in the so-called White House in Moscow.
6. Government duties are split between a number of ministries, some of which, in turn, have federal services and federal agencies answerable to them.
7. The head of government, the prime minister, is appointed by the State Duma.
8. The government is housed in Moscow Kremlin.
9. The Federation Council of Russia is the upper house of the Russian Parliament.
10. The Council isn’t directly elected.
11. The State Duma is the lower house of the Russian Parliament.
12. The 450 deputies are elected for terms of four years following constitutional amendments agreed by parliament late in 2008.
13. Two types of court make up the Russian judiciary: the courts of general jurisdiction (including military courts), subordinated to the Supreme Court; the Constitutional Court (as well as constitutional courts in a number of federal entities).
