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December 12 marks the Day of Constitution of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Constitution was adopted by a public referendum on December 12, 1993, with almost 60% approval rate. It came into effect on December 25, replacing the Soviet Constitution of 1978. The Constitution officially entered into force on December 25, 1993.
It considerably changed the structure of the supreme institutions of state authority formalizing the principle of the separation of powers and making profound changes in Russia’s federal system. For the first time in Russian history, constitutional provisions received direct-action status, meaning that any person could defend his or her rights by citing the specific constitutional provision. The courts and other state agencies were now guided by the provisions of the Fundamental Law when reviewing cases and decisions.
On September 19, 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree proclaiming December 12 a national holiday. However, on December 24, 2004, the State Duma adopted amendments to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, which changed Russia’s holiday calendar. Since January 1st, 2005, the 12th of December is no longer a day off. It exists today as a memorial.
The Russian Constitution was adopted by a public referendum on December 12, 1993, with almost 60% approval rate. It came into effect on December 25, replacing the Soviet Constitution of 1978. The Constitution officially entered into force on December 25, 1993.
It considerably changed the structure of the supreme institutions of state authority formalizing the principle of the separation of powers and making profound changes in Russia’s federal system. For the first time in Russian history, constitutional provisions received direct-action status, meaning that any person could defend his or her rights by citing the specific constitutional provision. The courts and other state agencies were now guided by the provisions of the Fundamental Law when reviewing cases and decisions.
On September 19, 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree proclaiming December 12 a national holiday. However, on December 24, 2004, the State Duma adopted amendments to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, which changed Russia’s holiday calendar. Since January 1st, 2005, the 12th of December is no longer a day off. It exists today as a memorial.
Author: Anna Dorozhkina
