Presidential veto power in post-communist Russia, 1994-1998

This article examines the use of presidential veto power in Russia from 199 4 to 1998. Russia's 1993 constitution enables the president to veto legisla tion, but allows the bicameral Federal Assembly to overturn vetoes with a t wo-thirds majority. President Boris Yeltsin was a controversial figure in R ussia's difficult post-communist transition, and although he had considerab le executive powers, his power to veto legislation has rarely been examined as an independent variable which shapes Russian politics. This article loo ks at patterns of presidential vetoing in Russia within their comparative a nd historical context, and argues that unpredictable vetoing has become a s ubstantial issue that has aggravated executive-legislative relations. Incre asingly, the parliamentary opposition challenged presidential vetoes, with profound implications for the future constitutional order in Russia.