Russia is a democratic federal state with a republican form of government. The legislative body of the russian federation is the bicameral federal assembly (the council of federation and the state duma). The council of federation consists of representatives of each federal entity. The deputies of the state duma are elected for a term of 5 years from party lists by proportion of the votes that each party receives nationwide.
The head of state is the president of the russian federation, who is also the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by citizens of russia by direct secret ballot for a term of 6 years. Vladimir v.putin was elected president on march 4, 2012.
The executive power is exercised by the government of the russian federation. The chairman of the government is appointed by the president with the consent of the state duma. The russian federation consists of 83 federal entities (republics, territories and regions), including the cities of moscow and st.petersburg. Moscow is the capital of russia.