Russian Federation 1993 Constitution (reviewed 2014)

SECTION TWO. Concluding and interim provisions

1. The Constitution of the Russian Federation shall come into force from the moment of its official publication according to the results of the national referendum.The day of the national referendum, December 12, 1993, shall be considered the day of adopting the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

   At the same time the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Federation – Russia adopted on April 12, 1978 with all amendments and additions shall cease to have effect.

   In the event of the non-conformity to the Constitution of the Russian Federation of the provisions of the Federation Treaty – Treaty on the division of authorities and powers between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and the State government bodies of constituent sovereign republics of the Russian Federation, the Treaty on the division of authorities and powers between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and the State government bodies of krays, oblasts, and the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg of the Russian Federation, the Treaty on the division of authorities and powers between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and State government bodies of autonomous oblast and autonomous okrugs within the Russian Federation, and other treaties between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and State government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and treaties between State government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation shall apply.

2. Laws and other legal acts which were in force on the territory of the Russian Federation before this Constitution comes into force shall apply to the extent that they do not conflict with the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
3. The President of the Russian Federation, elected in accordance with the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Federation – Russia, shall from the day that this Constitution comes into force exercise the powers established by it until the term of office for which he (she) was elected expires.
4. The Council of Ministers – Government of the Russian Federation – from the moment that this Constitution comes into force, shall acquire the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the Government of the Russian Federation, which are established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and shall hereafter be called the Government of the Russian Federation.
5. The courts of the Russian Federation shall administer justice in accordance with their powers as established by this Constitution.After the Constitution has come into force, judges of all courts of the Russian Federation shall retain their powers until the term for which they were elected expires. Vacant positions shall be filled in accordance with the procedure established by this Constitution.
6. Until the adoption and implementation of the federal law, which establishes the procedure for the examination of cases by a court of jury, the existing procedure for the court examination of corresponding cases shall apply.Until criminal-procedural legislation of the Russian Federation has been brought into line with the provisions of this Constitution, the previous procedure for the arrest, detention and keeping in custody of persons suspected of committing a crime shall apply.
7. The Council of Federation of the first convocation and the State Duma of the first convocation shall be elected for a period of two years.
8. The Council of Federation shall meet for its first session on the thirtieth day after the elections. The first session of the Council of Federation shall be opened by the President of the Russian Federation.
9. A deputy of the State Duma of the first convocation may be simultaneously a member of the Government of the Russian Federation. Provisions of this Constitution on the immunity of deputies with respect to responsibility for actions (inaction) connected with the fulfilment of their official duties shall not extend to deputies of the State Duma who are members of the Government of the Russian Federation.Deputies of the Council of Federation of the first convocation shall exercise their powers on a non-permanent basis.