INTEREST AGGREGATION AND POLITICAL PARTIES
INTEREST AGGREGATION:
Interest aggregation is the activity in which the political demands of individuals and groups are combined into policy programs. For example, farmer's desires for higher crop prices, public preferences for lower taxes, environmentalists' demands for natural resource quality, and the interests of business often have to be balanced together in determining a economic policy program.
Interest aggregation can occur in many ways. If an influential party leader or military dictator controls substantial political resources, his or her personal impact on interest aggregation may be considerable, large nations usually develop more specialized organizations for the specific purpose of aggregating interests and resources behind a policy. Political parties are just such organizations.
Russia is a competing political party system, having converted from a Communist system during the days of the Cold War.
Interest aggregation can occur in many ways. If an influential party leader or military dictator controls substantial political resources, his or her personal impact on interest aggregation may be considerable, large nations usually develop more specialized organizations for the specific purpose of aggregating interests and resources behind a policy. Political parties are just such organizations.
Russia is a competing political party system, having converted from a Communist system during the days of the Cold War.
Political Parties in Russia
All parties that are registered by the Ministry of Justice have the right to participate in any elections all over the country. Currently, there are more than 35 registered parties, but only 4 dominant parties are currently represented in the State Duma (council assemblies that were established first by the Tsar of Russia). These parties are:
1) The United Russia Party (Единая Россия)
2) The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (Коммунистическая партия Российской Федерации)
3) The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (Либерально-Демократическая Партия России)
4) A Just Russia (Party) (Справедливая Россия)
1) The United Russia Party (Единая Россия)
2) The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (Коммунистическая партия Российской Федерации)
3) The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (Либерально-Демократическая Партия России)
4) A Just Russia (Party) (Справедливая Россия)
VOTING IN RUSSIA
Elections are the means in which society makes political choices by voting for or against competing candidates. Presidential elections typically bring about the most participation from voters, especially when the race is close. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia now enjoys a free election like the United States and many other democratic nations.
In 1996, for the first time in a thousand years, Russia selected its head of state in a democratic election. Elections have been going on for quite a long time in Russia, but they have never enjoyed free elections. Voting in these elections was always limited to a privileged few. Voting is now open to any citizen over the age of 18 that has not been declared incompetent by court or imprisoned. The Russian election is unlike the United States election in that it does not consist of an electoral college. This provides for even more of a free election by the people.
Another difference of elections between the United States and Russia is the number of parties in the political system. Russia has a vast number of different parties, while the United States has only a few. The different numbers of parties does not play a major role .
In Russian, candidates for President may be nominated by electoral associations, voters, and election blocs.
An electoral association is an all-Russian political public association (a political party) registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Electoral blocs are groups of two or more electoral associations, which voluntarily unite for joint participation in the Presidential election. Electoral blocs or associations nominate a candidate and appoint representatives authorized to represent them in all matters concerning participation in the Presidential election. A decision to nominate a candidate is taken by secret ballot at the electoral associations’ or blocs’ Congress (convention). The nomination of a candidate by voters, a nomination by the people, is completed in a different manner. After the decision to call the election of the President has been officially publicized, citizens of the Russian Federation may form an initiative voters’ group consisting of 100 or more people for nominating a candidate. An electoral association, electoral bloc, or initiative voters’ group must all collect at least one million signatures in support of their candidate.
In 1996, for the first time in a thousand years, Russia selected its head of state in a democratic election. Elections have been going on for quite a long time in Russia, but they have never enjoyed free elections. Voting in these elections was always limited to a privileged few. Voting is now open to any citizen over the age of 18 that has not been declared incompetent by court or imprisoned. The Russian election is unlike the United States election in that it does not consist of an electoral college. This provides for even more of a free election by the people.
Another difference of elections between the United States and Russia is the number of parties in the political system. Russia has a vast number of different parties, while the United States has only a few. The different numbers of parties does not play a major role .
In Russian, candidates for President may be nominated by electoral associations, voters, and election blocs.
An electoral association is an all-Russian political public association (a political party) registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Electoral blocs are groups of two or more electoral associations, which voluntarily unite for joint participation in the Presidential election. Electoral blocs or associations nominate a candidate and appoint representatives authorized to represent them in all matters concerning participation in the Presidential election. A decision to nominate a candidate is taken by secret ballot at the electoral associations’ or blocs’ Congress (convention). The nomination of a candidate by voters, a nomination by the people, is completed in a different manner. After the decision to call the election of the President has been officially publicized, citizens of the Russian Federation may form an initiative voters’ group consisting of 100 or more people for nominating a candidate. An electoral association, electoral bloc, or initiative voters’ group must all collect at least one million signatures in support of their candidate.
THE UNITED RUSSIA PARTY
The United Russia Party is a political party in Russia and is the largest party in the country. IT currently holds 238 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party was founded in December 2001, through a merger of the Unity and the Fatherland-All Russia parties. Ideologically, it self identifies as a "Russian conservative" party, and it supports the policies of the current presidential administration.
The United Russia Party is currently the most popular party in the country, ahead of the Communist Party.
The United Russia Party is currently the most popular party in the country, ahead of the Communist Party.
A JUST RUSSIA (PARTY)
A Just Russia is a political party currently holding 64 out of the 450 seats in the State Duma. It was formed on October 28 2006, A Just Russia's political platform is based on the principals of fairness, freedom and solidarity. It calls also for a "New Socialism" of the 21st Century. This guarantees the rights and freedoms of the individuals and ensures the proper functioning of the Welfare State.
THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF RUSSIA
The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia is considered a "Radical Party" in Russia. Opposing both Communism and the "wild" capitalism in the 1990's but despite of the party's name. This party is frequently described as NEITHER liberal or democratic. While the Party describes itself as a centrist and reformist party, it is usually regarded as a far-right and populist party with heavy amounts of conservatism. It's ideology is based primarily on Zhirinovsky's ideas of "a renewed Russian Empire" and an authoritarian vision of a "Greater Russia".
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation is usually seen as the successor of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which was banned in 1991 by Boris Yeltsin.
The Goal of the Party is to build a "New Socialism" in Russia. Short-term goals of the party include the bringing of "patriotic forces" to power and the nationalization of mineral resources and of strategic sectors of the economy while preserving the small and medium enterprises and social public policy.
The Communist Party is the second largest political party in Russia.
The Goal of the Party is to build a "New Socialism" in Russia. Short-term goals of the party include the bringing of "patriotic forces" to power and the nationalization of mineral resources and of strategic sectors of the economy while preserving the small and medium enterprises and social public policy.
The Communist Party is the second largest political party in Russia.