IDs

Procuracy-Russian legal position that both prosecutes crimes and supervises justice. WHY IMPORTANT: Shows a state bias in the legal system; justice is determined by those who prosecute the crime.

Constitutional Court- 19 judge court with the power of judicial review over the Duma and the President. WHY IMPORTANT: 1) It gave more power to the judicial branch, making it closer to an equal branch. 2) It sided with the Duma against Yeltsin when it ruled his actions were illegal. 3) It increased the constitutional legitimacy of legislative and executive acts by judging their constitutionality.

Arbitrazh courts- hear economic disputes between firm & firm, state & firm, and bankruptcy. WHY IMPORTANT: The use of these courts, which is rising, helps Russia better deal with its transition to a market economy.

Courts of general jurisdiction- 1) These courts hear the most cases, 16 million in 2007 and 2) are responsible for all criminal and civil cases that affect an individual. WHY IMPORTANT: The rise in number of cases shows an increase in Russians willingness to use the legal system to resolve disputes.

Justice of the Peace courts- Established by Putin, these are the lowest courts in Russia which deal with simple legal matters and hear a large volume of cases. WHY IMPORTANT: 1) The JP courts have relieved higher courts of a large number of routine cases that had been straining the legal system. 2) The less formal courts allow average Russians easier access to the law.

European Court of Human Rights- Monitors human rights abuses by the members of the European Council, which Russia is a member of. WHY IMPORTANT: 1) Russia accounts for most of the petitions to this court. 2) Russia's human rights actions, especially in Chechnya, are checked by this international court, which Putin mandates compliance with. 3) The rulings of the court can be embarrassing for Russia, who loses some cases, and there has been a problem of local enforcement, but Putin insists on enforcement.

Advokat-Russian lawyer. WHY IMPORTANT: Under Putin's Criminal Procedure Code, this position has more formal qualifications including passing a qualifications commission (which acts like a bar) and has become more professional, receiving attorney-client privileges.

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Rule of law- power is dispersed among many groups, non of which has a monopoly over access to the law. The law defends rights and is respected by government, not used as a tool of the state, like under the Soviet system. WHY IMPORTANT: If Russia had a rule of law society, like Gorbachev wanted, there would be less corruption and a greater justice in the legal system.

Rule by law- a powerful elite concentrating political power uses law to protect itself and wields the law at its prerogative. WHY IMPORTANT: Russia has a history of being closer to a rule by law than a rule of law society, and currently this using the law a tool of the state is still alive.