Problems of the electoral system modernization at the elections of the state duma deputies: modern challenges and responses

The democratic political regime involves people’s participation in state administration in the form of the elections of the deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Representative democracy is spread much wider in the political practice than direct democracy. The stability of electoral legislation and electoral system is a condition of the State Duma effective functioning. The proportional electoral system used in modern Russia implies voting for party lists rather than for candidates for deputies. It results in one party domination in the State Duma, depersonalized nature of party lists, weakened link between deputies and their electors, lowered quality of representation in the State Duma. It is necessary to modernize electoral system which must include both majoritarian and proportional components, remain stable and not undergo major changes before the next deputies’ elections. It is proposed to adopt an amendment to the Russian Federation Constitution to improve the efficiency of the activity of Federal Assembly’s lower house as a body of popular representation, to realize constitutional regulation on the Russian people sovereignty, to stabilize the Russian electoral legislation. This amendment should consolidate the grounds of electoral system at the State Duma deputies’ election. The pre-existing mixed model of electoral system considered as still actual implies one half of deputies to be elected according to majoritarian system, the other half - by proportional system. The modernization of electoral system at deputies’ elections is regarded as necessary condition for further development of Russia as a democratic constitutional state.