
The Constitutional Court of Russia is the highest judicial body in the country, with the power to rule on whether laws or presidential decrees contradict the Constitution of Russia. The Court's primary objective is to protect the Constitution, a function known as constitutional control or constitutional supervision. The Court consists of 11 judges, including a President and Deputy President, and while it has the authority to rule on disputes, the Supreme Court of Russia is the highest court of appeal. The Constitutional Court of Russia has undergone several changes since its inception, including suspensions, amendments to its powers, and relocations. The Court's independence has also been questioned, with accusations of executive influence and a lack of true judicial independence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Judges | 11 (quorum of 8) |
| Judges' Age Limit | 70 years (regular), 76 years (Deputy President) |
| Judges' Citizenship | Russian |
| Judges' Minimum Age | 40 years |
| Judges' Qualifications | Legal education, recognised high qualification in law, and at least 15 years of experience as a lawyer |
| Powers | Rules on whether laws or presidential decrees contradict the Constitution, deals with specific kinds of disputes, and has original jurisdiction |
| Jurisdiction | Authorised to review the constitutionality of laws and other normative acts, rule on complaints from citizens when their constitutional rights are violated, and rule on the possibility of enforcing decisions of interstate bodies, foreign or international courts, and foreign or international arbitration courts |
| Appointment Process | Judges are nominated by the President and appointed by the Federation Council |
| Dismissal | Council of the Federation can dismiss judges at the request of the President |
| Role in Amendments | Approves amendments to the Constitution |
| Location | Moscow (previously proposed to be moved to Saint Petersburg) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitutional Court of Russia is the highest judicial body
- The Court's primary objective is to protect the Constitution
- It rules on laws and decrees that are contrary to the Constitution
- The Court has 11 judges, including a President and Deputy President
- Judges are appointed by the Federation Council, based on the President's proposals

The Constitutional Court of Russia is the highest judicial body
The Court is composed of 11 judges, including the President and Deputy President. These judges are nominated by the President of Russia and appointed by the Federation Council, serving indefinite terms until the age limit of 70 for regular judges and 76 for the Deputy President. The President of the Court has no age limit. To be eligible, a judge must be a Russian citizen, over 40 years old, with a legal education and at least 15 years of experience as a lawyer.
The Constitutional Court's mandate includes ruling on disputes related to the Constitution and dealing with complaints from citizens regarding violations of their constitutional rights. It can also determine the enforcement of decisions made by foreign or international courts that may impose obligations on Russia, ensuring they do not contradict Russian public law and order.
The Court has undergone several suspensions and reforms since its establishment. Notably, in 1993, President Boris Yeltsin suspended the Court, claiming it was "in deep crisis". A new Constitutional Court Act was adopted in 1994, but the Court only resumed functioning in 1995 due to delays in appointing judges.
In 2020, extensive amendments were made to the Constitution, altering the Court's jurisdiction and the procedure for appointing judges. These amendments included enhancing the role of the State Duma, limiting presidential terms to two, and expanding the President's power to appoint and dismiss judges. The amendments were proposed by President Putin and approved by the Constitutional Court, sparking debates about the independence of the judiciary in Russia.
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The Court's primary objective is to protect the Constitution
The primary objective of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is to protect the Constitution. The Court is a high court within the judiciary of Russia, and its role is to ensure that laws and presidential decrees do not contradict the Constitution of Russia. This function is known as "constitutional control" or "constitutional supervision".
The Court's mandate is to uphold the principles and provisions of the Constitution, and it has the power to rule on the constitutionality of laws and decrees. The Constitutional Court is the highest judicial body in Russia, and it plays a crucial role in interpreting and safeguarding the Constitution. The Court's decisions are final and cannot be overruled by any other court.
The Constitutional Court is composed of 11 judges, including the President and Deputy President of the Court. The judges are nominated by the President of Russia and appointed by the Federation Council for an indefinite term. To become a judge, an individual must be a Russian citizen, at least 40 years old, with a legal education and at least 15 years of experience as a lawyer.
The Court has the authority to rule on a range of issues, including the compatibility of legislation and executive actions with the Constitution. It can also deal with specific kinds of disputes where it has original jurisdiction. The Court's powers have been amended over time, with changes made in 2008, 2014, and 2020, impacting the Court's jurisdiction and the appointment process for judges.
The Constitutional Court plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of the Russian government, ensuring that the Constitution is upheld and respected.
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It rules on laws and decrees that are contrary to the Constitution
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is a high court within the judiciary of Russia. It is empowered to rule on whether laws or presidential decrees contradict the Constitution of Russia. Its primary objective is to protect the Constitution, a function known as "constitutional control" or "constitutional supervision".
The Constitutional Court is composed of 11 judges, including the President and Deputy President. The President of the Court has considerable powers, including the ability to make disciplinary recommendations and appoint judges. The judges are nominated by the President of Russia and appointed by the Federation Council for an indefinite term.
The Court has the authority to review the constitutionality of laws and normative acts, and it can rule on complaints from citizens when their constitutional rights are violated. It can also rule on the enforceability of decisions made by interstate bodies, foreign or international courts, and arbitration courts that may impose obligations on Russia.
The Constitutional Court has played a significant role in Russian history. It was established in the early 1990s, but its work was suspended by a presidential decree in 1993, which claimed the Court was "in deep crisis". A new Constitutional Court Act was adopted in 1994, and the Court resumed its work in 1995.
In 2020, extensive amendments were made to the Constitution, altering various sections, including presidential terms, social policies, and the role of Russian law over international norms. These amendments also impacted the Constitutional Court, with changes to its jurisdiction and the procedure for appointing judges.
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The Court has 11 judges, including a President and Deputy President
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is a high court within the judiciary of Russia. It consists of 11 judges, including a President and Deputy President. The President of the Constitutional Court presides over the court's sessions, represents the court in its relations with state bodies, has considerable powers in the matters of appointment, and makes the initial recommendation for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. The judges are nominated by the President of Russia and appointed by the Federation Council for an indefinite term. There is an age limit of 70 for regular judges and 76 for the Deputy President of the Court, while the President of the Court has no age limit. To become a judge of the Constitutional Court, a person must be a citizen of Russia, at least 40 years of age, have a legal education, have served as a lawyer for at least 15 years, and have "recognized high qualification" in law.
The Constitutional Court is empowered to rule on whether laws or presidential decrees contradict the Constitution of Russia. It also deals with a few types of disputes where it has original jurisdiction. The Court's objective is to protect the Constitution, a function known as "constitutional control" or "constitutional supervision".
The Constitutional Court was established in the early 1990s after the Constitutional Control in the USSR Act was passed in 1989, initiating "judicial review". The Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR) was amended in December 1990 with provisions for the creation of the Constitutional Court. In July 1991, the Constitutional Court of the RSFSR Act was adopted, and in October 1991, 13 members of the Court were elected, marking the beginning of its functioning.
The Constitutional Court has undergone several changes since its establishment. In 1993, work was suspended by a decree from President Boris Yeltsin, who claimed the Court was "in deep crisis". A new Constitutional Court Act was adopted in July 1994, and the new Court started working in February 1995. In 2005, there were proposals to transfer the Court from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, which was completed by 2008.
In 2020, extensive amendments were made to the Constitution of Russia, altering various sections, including presidential terms, social policies, and the role of Russian law over international norms. These amendments also addressed the role of the Constitutional Court, granting it new competencies and changing the procedure for appointing judges. The amendments have been criticized for disproportionately strengthening the position of the President and removing some checks and balances.
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Judges are appointed by the Federation Council, based on the President's proposals
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is a high court within the judiciary of Russia. It is empowered to rule on whether laws or presidential decrees contradict the Constitution of Russia. The Court's objective is to protect the Constitution and deal with specific kinds of disputes over which it has original jurisdiction.
The Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993 and enacted on 25 December 1993. The latest significant reform occurred in 2020, with extensive amendments that altered various sections, including presidential terms, social policies, and the role of Russian law over international norms.
The Constitution Court of the Russian Federation consists of 11 judges, one being the President and another the Deputy President. The President presides over the court's sessions and has considerable powers in matters of appointment. The judges are nominated by the President and appointed by the Federation Council for an indefinite term. To become a judge, a person must be a citizen of Russia, at least 40 years old, with a legal education and 15 years of experience as a lawyer.
The Federation Council is the upper house of Parliament. In 2020, amendments to the Constitution gave the Council the authority to dismiss judges of the Constitutional Court at the request of the President. The President also gained the right to nominate the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Constitutional Court.
The process of appointing judges has been subject to executive influence. In 1995, the Federation Council refused several times to appoint judges nominated by President Yeltsin. In 2008, President Putin chose 17 members of the Federation Council, and in 2020, he made new proposals for constitutional amendments.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is a high court within the judiciary of Russia. It is empowered to rule on whether laws or presidential decrees are contrary to the Constitution of Russia.
The Constitutional Court of Russia consists of 11 judges, with a quorum of 8. The President of the Court presides over sessions and represents the court in its relations with state bodies.
To become a judge of the Constitutional Court of Russia, a person must be a citizen of Russia, at least 40 years old, have a legal education, have served as a lawyer for at least 15 years, and have "recognized high qualifications" in law.
The Constitutional Court of Russia reviews the constitutionality of laws and rules on complaints from citizens when their constitutional rights are violated. It also has the authority to approve amendments to the Constitution.

























