1. Russia History a. Emergence of Moscow b. Path to Revolution i. Lower Class Freedom ii. Nicholas II reign iii. Bolsheviks vs: Menshiviks c. The Soviet Era i. Lenins Death ii. Second World War d. Post Communism

2. Legal Issues a. Logging in Khimki Forest b. Russian NGO’s c. Russian Democratic Reform 1. Russian Government a. Notable dates i. Independence from Soviet Union—August 24, 1991 ii. Constitution adopted--- December 12, 1993 b. The Executive Branch
i. Presidential Powers 1. Determines basic direction of Russia’s domestic and foreign policy 2. Appoints ambassadors upon consultation with legislature 3. Conducts international talks 4. Signs international treaties 5. Issues decrees and directives that have the force of law without legislative review a. Constitution notes that they must not contravene that document or other laws 6. Schedules referendums 7. Submits draft laws to State Duma ii. Removal of President 1. Commits “grave crimes” or treason 2. State Duma files impeachment charges with the parliament upper house, Fed Council
a. Must be confirmed by ruling of Supreme Court 3. Charges must be adopted by a special commission of the State Duma and confirmed by at least 2/3 of State Duma deputies
a. 2/3 vote of Fed Council is required 4. If president is removed, prime minister is to temporarily assume duties
a. President election must be held within three months
b. Constitution does not provide for vice president iii. Presidential Elections 1. Constitution sets few requirements for presidential elections
a. Term is 4 years
b. May only serve 2 terms 2. Candidate requirements
a. Russian citizen
b. At least 35 years old
c. Resident of the country for at least ten years 3. The Law on Presidential Elections: establishes legal basis for presidential elections
a. Alterations included reduction in the number of signatures required to register a candidate from 2 million to 1 million i. Hailed by international analysts as a major step toward democratization
b. Parties, blocs, and voters’ groups register with Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and designate their candidates
c. 7% of signatures only to come from single federal jurisdiction
d. The Legislative Branch i. Federal Assembly 1. Upper house
a. The Federal Council i. 166 seats ii. members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 83 federal administrative units iii. members serve four year terms 2. Lower house
a. State Duma i. 450 seats ii. members elected by proportional representation from party lists winning at least 7% of the vote ii. members serve four year terms
d. The Judicial Branch i. Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration Court ii. judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president

1. Marketing in Russia
a. Melting pot of cultures—Slavic, Turkic, Finno-Ugric, etc.
b. Markets are so dynamic that selling points that work today may not tomorrow
c. No reliable national statistics i. Official data may be wildly inaccurate ii. Because there is so little reliable info to draw predictions from, marketing in Russia is mostly qualitative rather than quantitative
d. Poor Advertising i. Most of Russian advertisers do not have an idea of what good advertising means ii. President of Russian chapter of International Advertising Association 2. “Want to start thinking in other ways but have not started” iii. Government is