Putin\u27s Federal Reforms: A Legal-Institutional Perspective

The first year of Putin\u27s presidency proved to be the most concerted and fundamental shake-up of federal relations in Russia since the 1993 Constitution. This paper examines this transition in detail, focusing attention on the legal-institutional aspects of this dramatic shift in policy. First, the end of Yeltsin\u27s \u27parade\u27 - of sovereignties, bilateral treaties and special agreements - is examined. Next, attention is paid to Putin\u27s early decrees: \u27positive\u27 decrees creating the seven federal districts and federal envoys, and \u27negative\u27 decrees that annulled regional laws and legal acts judged by him not to be in conformity with federal law. Finally, the author explores Putin\u27s legislative reforms - a three-part package of bills that altered the composition of the upper chamber of the federal parliament, the Federation Council, and the relationship of its former members to the federal president