Governor (Russia)

In Russia, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each the federal subjects of Russia, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the federal subject. A governor in Russia is said to serve a gubernatorial administration.

Role and powers

The Constitution preserves the notion that the country is a federation of semi-sovereign federal subjects and that powers not specifically granted to the federal government are retained by the federal subjects. Federal subjects, therefore, are not administrative divisions. Regional governments in Russia are relatively powerful; each federal subject has its own independent criminal and civil law codes, as well as manages its internal government.

The governor thus heads the executive branch in the federal subjects and, depending on the individual jurisdiction, may have considerable control over government budgeting, the power of appointment of many officials (including many judges), and a considerable role in legislation. The governor may also have additional roles, and in many territories the governor has partial or absolute power to commute or pardon a criminal sentence. All governors serve five-year terms for no more than two terms in row.

In all federal subjects, the governor is directly elected, and in most cases has considerable practical powers, though this may be moderated by the legislature and in some cases by other elected executive officials.

A governor may give an annual address about his achievements in order to satisfy a constitutional stipulation that a governor must report annually (or in older constitutions described as being "from time to time") on the territory or condition of the republic/oblast. Governors of oblasts may also perform ceremonial roles, such as greeting dignitaries, conferring state decorations, issuing symbolic proclamations. The governor may also have an official residence.

History

In modern Russia, the governor - is the highest official figure in the Russian Federation (territory, region, autonomous region, city), heads the executive branch in the Republics and oblasts of the Russian Federation.

On November 30, 1991, Presidential decree of Yeltsin, appointed Boris Nemtsov to the post of governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region in and the first week of work at the new location, Nemtsov then issued a decree according to which he, the head of the regional government is to officially called the governor. Thus, he became the first governor of the new Russia.

From 1995 to 2005, governors were elected by the residents of the Russian Federation in the framework of direct, equal and secret ballot. From 2005 to 2012, governors were appointed by the legislative (representative) bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation by the recommendation of the President of Russia.

On June 1, 2012, an Act came into force, which returns the direct election of senior officials in the regions. In 2015, governors were restricted to a term of five years, with no more than two consecutive terms.

Demographics

Party

There are currently 69 Conservatives, one Liberal-Democrat, two Communists, and 7 independent serving as governors. No other parties hold a Governorship.

Tenure

For each term, governors serve five years in office.

The longest-serving current governor is Aman Tuleyev of Kemerovo Oblast, who recently got elected to his sixth consecutive term, since July 1, 1997.

Gender

There are currently 81 male state governors. There are only one female governor: Natalya Komarova of Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug from United Russia.

Only three women have been or are currently serving as the governor, including two in an acting capacity.

The first female governor was Valentina Matviyenko who was Governor of Saint Petersburg from 2003 to 2011.

See also

• List of current heads of federal subjects of Russia
• History of the administrative division of Russia