Law on State Council adopted in Russia

Russia's State Duma adopted in the third and final reading the presidential law on the Russian State Council's status, organizational and legal foundations of the formation and activities.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov recalled that the State Council has been functioning under the president for 20 years - since September 2000.

According to the law, the Chairman of the State Council is the President of Russia, and the members are the head of the government, the chairmen of the Federation Council and the State Duma, as well as the head of the presidential administration and the heads of regions.

By the decision of the president, it may include representatives of parties that have factions in the State Duma; local government representatives and other persons. At the same time, the State Council cannot include persons who have foreign citizenship or a residence permit, as well as accounts, money and valuables in foreign banks outside Russia.

The new law defines the status of the State Council as a constitutional state body. It can indicate the need to amend the legislation, but does not have the right to initiate legislation.

"These initiatives can be submitted, for example, by the president, the government or the chambers of the Federal Assembly," Interfax cited Krasheninnikov as saying.

The law provides that the State Council will be able to consider bills before being submitted to the lower house of parliament.

In addition, the document states that the president, if necessary, will be able to "assign other tasks of great national importance to the State Council."