The Federal Constitutional Law sets out the procedure for the formation and the powers of the Constitutional Court in conformity with the amendments made to Article 125 of the Russian Federation Constitution by Law No. 1-FKZ of March 14, 2020, amending the Constitution of the Russian Federation, On Improving the Regulation of Specific Aspects in the Functioning of Public Authority.
Under the Federal Constitutional Law, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation shall consist of 11 judges, including the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. The law establishes the order for suspending and discontinuing the powers of judges.
The Federal Constitutional Law sets out that, at the President’s request, the Constitutional Court verifies the constitutionality of draft laws of the Russian Federation amending the Constitution, draft federal constitutional and federal laws as well as laws adopted in accordance with the established procedure before they are signed by the President.
In addition, in conformity with the Federal Constitutional Law, the Constitutional Court shall decide on the possible enforcement of decisions by interstate agencies made based on the provisions of international treaties of the Russian Federation if their interpretation contradicts the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and on possible enforcement of a judgement of a foreign or international (interstate) court, foreign or international (interstate) court of arbitration that compels the Russian Federation to fulfil a decision contradicting the principles of public law and order of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Constitutional Law determines that based on the President’s request, the Constitutional Court verifies the constitutionality of laws of a Russian region before they are published by its Governor (top official).
The Federal Constitutional Law also contains a number of provisions aimed at improving the basic arrangements for the activities of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.