Source: http://blacksea.bcnl.org/en/articles/30-russia-federal-law-no-32fz-of-april-4-2005-on-the-public-chamber-of-the-russian-federation.html
Timestamp: 2020-08-07 18:19:35
Document Index: 651203615

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'arts 5', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 2', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'arts 1', 'art 1', 'arts 1', 'art 15', 'art 5', 'art 4', 'arts 6', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 17', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 5', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'arts 2']

(RUSSIA) FEDERAL LAW NO. 32-FZ OF APRIL 4, 2005 ON THE PUBLIC CHAMBER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
» Country Laws » (RUSSIA) FEDERAL LAW NO. 32-FZ OF APRIL 4, 2005 ON THE PUBLIC CHAMBER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Federal Law No. 78-FZ of June 10, 2008 amended Part 1 of Article 1 of this Federal Law
1. The Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Public Chamber) shall provide for the interaction of citizens of the Russian Federation and public associations with federal state power bodies, state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies for the purposes of taking account of the needs and interests of citizens of the Russian Federation and the rights of public associations in devising and implementing state policy for purposes of exercising public control over the activity of federal executive bodies, executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and of local self-government bodies, as well as for the purpose of assisting the implementation of the state policy in respect of ensuring human rights at compulsory detention places.
2. The Public Chamber shall be formed on the basis of voluntary participation in its activities of citizens of the Russian Federation, public associations and associations of non-profit organisations.
3. The name "the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation" may not be used in denominations of federal bodies of state power, state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies and also in denominations of associations, organisations, agencies and enterprises. The name "the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation" shall not be subject to state registration.
4. The Public Chamber shall have its headquarters in the city of Moscow.
Federal Law No. 195-FZ of December 27, 2005 amended Article 2 of this Federal Law
Article 2. Aims and Goals of the Public Chamber
The Public Chamber is called to provide for coordination of socially significant interests of citizens of the Russian Federation, public associations, state power bodies and local self-government bodies to solve highly important issues of economic and social development, secure national security, protect the rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation, the constitutional system of the Russian Federation and democratic principles of development of civic society of the Russian Federation by:
1) drawing citizens and public associations in the realisation of state policy;
2) advancing and supporting civil initiatives of all-Russia significance aimed at realising the constitutional rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens and public associations;
3) conducting public expert examination (expert examination) of draft federal laws and draft laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation and also draft regulatory legal acts of executive authorities of the Russian Federation and draft legal acts of local self-government bodies;
4) exercise in accordance with this Federal Law of public control (control) over the activity of the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive bodies, executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies and also over observance of the freedom of speech in mass media;
5) preparing recommendations to the state power bodies of the Russian Federation in setting the priorities as concerns state support for public associations and other associations of citizens of the Russian Federation whose activity is aimed at development of civic society in the Russian Federation;
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Item 6 of Article 2 of this Federal Law
6) the provision of information, methodological and another support to the public chambers formed in subjects of the Russian Federation and the public associations whose activities are aimed at developing the civil society in the Russian Federation;
7) involving citizens, public associations and representatives of mass media in discussing issues concerning observance of the freedom of speech in mass media, exercise of the right of citizens to distribution of information by legal methods, providing guarantees of the freedom of speech and freedom of mass media and preparation of recommendations on said issues;
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 supplemented Article 2 of this Federal Law with Item 8
8) carrying out international cooperation in accordance with the goals and tasks defined by the present article, and taking part in the work of international organisations, and also in the work of international conferences, meetings and in other events.
Article 3. Legal Basis for the Public Chamber's Activity
The Public Chamber shall conduct its activity on the basis of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal constitutional laws, this Federal Law, other federal laws and other regulatory legal acts.
Article 4. Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation
1. The Public Chamber shall approve the Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.
2. The Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation shall determine:
1) the procedure for participation of members of the Public Chamber in its activity;
2) time frame and procedure for holding plenary meetings of the Public Chamber;
3) the make-up, powers and procedure for activity of the council of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the council of the Public Chamber);
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 amended Item 4 of Part 2 of Article 4 of this Federal Law
4) the powers and procedure for activity of the secretary of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary of the Public Chamber) and deputy secretaries of the Public Chamber;
5) the procedure for the formation and activity of commissions and working groups of the Public Chamber and also the procedure for electing and the powers of heads thereof;
6) procedure for termination and suspension of the powers of members of the Public Chamber as is envisaged under this Federal Law;
7) procedure for activity of the central office of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the central office of the Public Chamber);
8) forms and procedure for taking decisions of the Public Chamber;
9) the procedure for drawing in the work of the Public Chamber public associations whose representatives are not included as its members and the forms of their interaction with the Public Chamber;
10) procedures for selecting as members of the Public Chamber representatives of all-Russia, interregional and regional public associations provided under Parts 5 and 6 of Article 8 of this Federal Law;
11) procedure for preparing and holding activities within the Public Chamber;
12) procedure for preparing and publishing an annual report of the Public Chamber on the state of civic society in the Russian Federation;
Federal Law No. 78-FZ of June 10, 2008 supplemented Part 2 of Article 4 of this Federal Law with Item 12.1
12.1) procedure for participation of the Public Chamber's bodies in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation in forming public supervising committees in constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the purpose of assisting the implementation of the state policy in respect of ensuring human rights at compulsory detention places (hereinafter referred to as a public supervising committee), in suspending and terminating the activities of a public supervising committee with a certain composition, in vesting with powers and terminating the authority of members of a public supervising committee;
13) other issues related to the internal organisation and procedure for activity of the Public Chamber in accordance with this Federal Law.
Article 5. Ethical Code of Members of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation
The Council of the Public Chamber shall prepare and submit for approval of the Public Chamber an Ethical Code of Members of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Ethical Code). Compliance with the requirements envisaged under the Ethical Code shall be binding upon members of the Public Chamber.
Article 6. Composition of the Public Chamber
1. The Public Chamber shall be made up as is provided under this Federal Law of forty two citizens of the Russian Federation to be approved by the President of the Russian Federation, forty two representatives of all-Russia public associations and forty two representatives of inter-regional and regional public associations.
2. The following public associations shall not be allowed to nominate its candidates as members of the Public Chamber, viz.:
1) associations that were registered less than one year prior to the expiration of the term of office of active members of the Public Chamber;
2) political parties;
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 supplemented Part 2 of Article 6 of this Federal Law with Item 3
3) the associations to which warnings in writing have been issued in accordance with Federal Law No. 114-FZ of July 25, 2002 on Countering Extremist Activities (hereinafter referred to as the Federal Law on Countering Extremist Activities") on the inadmissibility of pursuance of extremist activities: within one year after the date of the warning, unless the warning has been declared illegal by a court;
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 supplemented Part 2 of Article 6 of this Federal Law with Item 4
4) the associations whose activities have been suspended in accordance with the Federal Law on Countering Extremist Activities, unless the decision on suspension has been declared illegal by a court.
Article 7. Member of the Public Chamber
1. Any citizen of the Russian Federation who is eighteen may be a member of the Public Chamber.
2. Members of the Public Chamber may not include:
1) the President of the Russian Federation, members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, members of the Government of the Russian Federation, judges, other persons occupying state posts of the Russian Federation, persons occupying posts in the federal civil service, state posts within the subjects of the Russian Federation, posts in the state civil service within the subjects of the Russian Federation, posts in municipal service and also persons occupying electoral posts in the local self-government bodies;
2) persons declared legally incapable by court decisions;
3) persons whose prior conviction has not been cancelled or struck off their criminal record;
4) persons whose membership of the Public Chamber was earlier terminated on the basis of Item 6 of Part 1 of Article 15 of this Federal Law. In that case a ban on the membership in the Public Chamber shall apply only to the work of the Public Chamber of the next composition.
Article 8. Procedure for the Formation of the Public Chamber
1. The President of the Russian Federation shall, in accordance with Part 14 of this Article, proceeding from the results of consultations held with public associations, associations of non-profit organisations, Russian academies of science and creative unions, designate candidatures of forty two citizens of the Russian Federation offering special services to the state and society and invite those citizens to join as members the Public Chamber.
2. The citizens of the Russian Federation who have been invited to join the Public Chamber shall, within thirty days, advise the President of the Russian Federation in writing either of their consent or refusal to join the Public Chamber as its members.
3. The President of the Russian Federation shall, within thirty days from receipt by him of a consent in writing of citizens of the Russian Federation to join the Public Chamber as its members or upon the expiration of the term fixed under Part 2 of this Article, approve by decree the members of the Public Chamber designated by him and suggest that they proceed to form the complete composition of the Public Chamber.
4. All-Russia, inter-regional and regional public associations shall, not later than within thirty days from the day of approval by the President of the Russian Federation of members of the Public Chamber designated by him file with the Public Chamber applications for the desire to include their representatives in the composition of the Public Chamber to be executed by decisions of the governing collective bodies of corresponding associations. Said applications shall contain information on the activity of a public association and also data on the representative who may be delegated as a member of the Public Chamber.
5. Members of the Public Chamber approved by the President of the Russian Federation shall, within sixty days from their approval in accordance with the procedure established under the Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for competitive selection, take decision as to the admission as members of the Public Chamber of forty two representatives of all-Russia public associations - one representative from each public association.
6. Members of the Public Chamber approved by the President of the Russian Federation shall, jointly with representatives of All-Russia public associations admitted as members of the Public Chamber, within thirty days upon the expiration of the term specified under Part 5 of this Article, in the procedure prescribed under the Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, take decision on admission as members of the Public Chamber of forty two representatives of interregional and regional public associations - one representative from each public association.
7. The make-up of representatives from inter-regional and regional public associations shall be formed at conferences of delegates from inter-regional and regional public associations registered on the territories of the subjects of the Russian Federation incorporated as part of a single federal district. Said conferences shall be held within federal districts within thirty days upon the expiration of the term fixed under Part 8 of this Article. The norm of representation at a conference shall be set on the basis of twenty delegates elected at each meeting of representatives of inter-regional and regional public associations held within each subject of the Russian Federation incorporated as part of a single federal district.
8. Meetings specified under Part 7 of this Article shall be held within thirty days from the day of approval by the President of the Russian Federation of the members of the Public Chamber designated by him.
9. The holding of meetings within the subjects of the Russian Federation and of conferences within federal districts shall be effected on the initiative and with the assistance of the members of the Public Chamber approved by the President of the Russian Federation and of the representatives of all-Russia public associations admitted as members of the Public Chamber as envisaged under Part 5 of this Article.
10. Election of representatives of the interregional and regional public associations shall be made by the members of the Public Chamber approved by the President of the Russian Federation jointly with representatives of the All-Russia public associations admitted as members of the Public Chamber in accordance with Part 5 of this Article, by way of voting from among the candidacies nominated at conferences held within the federal districts, on the basis of six representatives from each of the public associations registered on the territories of the subjects of the Russian Federation incorporated as part of a single federal district. The number of candidacies nominated at a conference shall be no less than ten persons.
11. The conference shall have the right to nominate candidates as members of the Public Chamber, provided the conference was attended by no less than half the delegates elected at the meetings of representatives of interregional and regional public associations held within the subjects of the Russian Federation and incorporated as part of a single federal district. Notably, said candidates shall represent the inter-regional and regional public associations registered in not less than half of the subjects of the Russian Federation incorporated as part of that federal district.
12. The first plenary meeting of the Public Chamber shall be held no later than in thirty days from the day of completion of the competent membership of the Public Chamber. The Public Chamber shall be competent provided its make-up includes more than three quarters of the number of members of the Public Chamber fixed under this Federal Law.
13. The term of powers of members of the Public Chamber shall expire in two years from the first plenary meeting of the Public Chamber.
14. Six months prior to the expiration of the term of powers of members of the Public Chamber the President of the Russian Federation shall initiate the procedure for forming a fresh make-up of the Public Chamber specified under Parts 1-11 of this Article.
15. In the event when a complete make-up of the Public Chamber is not formed in the procedure specified under this Article or in the event of early termination of powers of at least one member of the Public Chamber as is provided under Items 2-10 of Part 1 of Article 15 of this Federal Law, new members of the Public Chamber shall be introduced in its make-up in the following procedure:
1) the President of the Russian Federation shall make a decision to admit as members of the Public Chamber citizens of the Russian Federation in the procedure specified under Parts 1-3 of this Article, in that case the terms of carrying out said procedures shall be reduced by half;
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 amended Item 2 of Part 15 of Article 8 of this Federal Law
2) the members of the Public Chamber approved by the President of the Russian Federation, shall make a decision to admit as members of the Public Chamber representatives of all-Russia public associations in the procedure prescribed under Part 5 of the present Article from the ranks of the representatives delegated by all-Russia public associations when the effective corps of the Public Chamber was formed in accordance with Part 4 of the present Article.
3) the members of the Public Chamber approved by the President of the Russian Federation shall, jointly with representatives of all-Russia public associations admitted as members of the Public Chamber, take a decision to admit as members of the Public Chamber representatives of inter-regional and regional public associations from among the candidatures determined at conferences held within the federal districts in forming the active membership of the Public Chamber in the procedure stipulated under Parts 6-11 of this Article.
16. The procedures specified under Item 2 and 3 of Part 15 of this Article, shall be carried out within thirty days from the day of occurrence of the circumstances specified in Paragraph One of Part 15 of this Article.
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 amended Part 17 of Article 8 of this Federal Law
See text of the Part in the previous wording
17. The expenditures on formation of the Public Chamber provided under this Article shall be financed from the funds set aside in the federal budget to provide for the activity of the Public Chamber. To the representatives of inter-regional and regional public associations and the newly elected members of the Public Chamber attending the conferences held in federal okrugs the following shall be reimbursed: travel expenses for travelling to the venues thereof and back, the accommodation and additional expenses relating to residence outside of personal residence (per diem) if relevant documents are on hand to confirm the expenses incurred, at the rates and in the procedure established by the Government of the Russian Federation.
Article 9. Bodies of the Public Chamber
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 amended Part 1 of Article 9 of this Federal Law
1. Members of the Public Chamber shall, at the first plenary meeting, elect a council of the Public Chamber, the secretary of the Public Chamber and deputy secretaries of the Public Chamber. The council of the Public Chamber shall be an ongoing body of the Public Chamber.
2. The Public Chamber shall have the right to set up commissions and working groups of the Public Chamber.
3. The commissions of the Public Chamber shall include members of the Public Chamber. The working groups of the Public Chamber may include members of the Public Chamber, representatives of public associations and other citizens drawn in the work of the Public Chamber.
Article 10. Drawing Public Associations and Other Associations of Citizens of the Russian Federation in the Work of the Public Chamber
The Public Chamber may draw in its work public associations and other associations of citizens of the Russian Federation whose representatives were not incorporated as its members. Decision to involve in the work of the Public Chamber public associations and other associations of citizens of the Russian Federation whose representatives were not incorporated as its members shall be made by the council of the Public Chamber.
Article 11. Restrictions Associated with Membership of the Public Chamber
1. A member of the Public Chamber shall suspend his or her membership in a political party for a period of exercise of his or her powers.
2. The grouping of members of the Public Chamber on national, religious, regional or party-membership basis shall not be allowed.
Article 12. Participation of Members of the Public Chamber in Its Work
1. Members of the Public Chamber shall take personal part in the work of plenary meetings of the Public Chamber, the council of the Public Chamber, commissions and working groups of the Public Chamber.
2. Members of the Public Chamber shall be free to voice their views on any issue related to the activity of the Public Chamber, the council of the Public Chamber, commissions and working groups of the Public Chamber.
3. Members of the Public Chamber shall not be bound by decisions of public associations in exercising their powers.
Article 13. Guarantees of the Activity of Members of the Public Chamber
1. A member of the Public Chamber shall for a period of his or her being involved in the work of the plenary meeting of the Public Chamber, the council of the Public Chamber, commissions and working groups of the Public Chamber and also for the duration of exercise of the powers set under Article 20 of this Federal Law, be exempted by the employer from labour obligations at the main job subject to reservation to him or her of the job (post).
2. A member of the Public Chamber shall be reimbursed for expenses associated with the exercise by him or her of the powers of a member of the Public Chamber and shall also be paid compensation in the amount fixed under the law or other regulatory legal act, from funds of the federal budget.
3. A member of the Public Chamber may not be recalled.
Article 14. Certificate of a Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation
1. A member of the Public Chamber shall have a certificate of a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the certificate) that is a document to confirm his or her powers. A member of the Public Chamber shall use the certificate within the term of his or her respective powers.
2. The type and description of the certificate shall be such as approved by the Public Chamber.
Article 15. Termination and Suspension of Powers of Member of the Public Chamber
1. The powers of a member of the Public Chamber shall be terminated in the procedure specified under the Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation in the case:
1) of the expiration of the term of his/her powers;
2) of submission of his/her application for withdrawal from the Public Chamber;
3) of incapability due to health reasons to participate in the work of the Public Chamber;
4) when a verdict of guilty that has become legally valid has been pronounced against him/her;
5) when he/she has been declared legally incapable, missing or dead by a court decision that has taken legal effect;
6) of gross violation by him/her of the Ethical Code - by the decision of no less than half of members of the Public Chamber taken at a plenary meeting of the Public Chamber;
7) of his/her election as the President of the Russian Federation, a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, election (appointment) as a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, election as a deputy of the legislative (representative) body of state power of a subject of the Russian Federation and also to an electoral post within a local self-government body;
8) of his/her appointment to a state post of the Russian Federation, post of the federal civil service, state post within the subject of the Russian Federation, a post of the state civil service within the subject of the Russian Federation or a municipal service post;
9) when, upon the expiration of thirty day from the first plenary meeting of the Public Chamber, a member of the Public Chamber fails to comply with the requirement of Part 1 of Article 11 of this Federal Law;
10) death of a member of the Public Chamber.
2. The powers of a member of the Public Chamber shall be suspended in the procedure envisaged under the Regulations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation in the case:
1) that he/she is charged in the procedure set under the criminal procedural legislation of the Russian Federation, with the commission of a crime;
2) when he/she is subjected to administrative punishment in the form of administrative arrest;
3) when he/she is registered as a candidate running for presidency in the Russian Federation, a candidate for a deputy of the legislative (representative) body of state power, a candidate for an electoral post at a local self-government body, as an agent or an authorised agent of the candidate (political party) and also in the case of his/her being a member of an initiative group for holding a referendum in the Russian Federation.
Article 16. Basic Forms of Work of the Public Chamber
1. The basic forms of work used by the Public Chamber shall be plenary meetings of the Public Chamber, meetings of the council of the Public Chamber, of commissions and working groups of the Public Chamber.
2. Plenary meetings of the Public Chamber shall be held not more rarely than twice a year. By decision of the council of the Public Chamber an extraordinary plenary meeting may be convened.
3. For the purposes of realising the functions entrusted to the Public Chamber under this Federal Law, the Public Chamber shall have the right:
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Item 1 of Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law
1) to hold civil forums, hearings and other events on issues of public importance in the procedure established by the Standing Orders of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation;
Federal Law No. 195-FZ of December 27, 2005 reworded Item 2 of part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law
2) to provide conclusions on violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation by federal executive bodies, executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies and also on violations of the freedom of speech in mass media and to forward said conclusions to competent state bodies or officials;
3) to undertake independent examination of draft laws of the Russian Federation to amend the Constitution of the Russian Federation, draft federal constitutional laws and draft federal laws, draft regulatory acts of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal executive bodies, draft laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation and draft regulatory acts of state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, draft acts of local self-government bodies;
4) to invite the heads of federal state power bodies, state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies to attend plenary meetings of the Public Chamber;
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 amended Item 5 of Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law
5) to depute members of the Public Chamber empowered by the council of the Public Chamber to take part in the work of committees and commissions of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and also meetings of the boards of federal executive bodies in the procedure to be prescribed by the Government of the Russian Federation;
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 amended Item 6 of Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law
6) to make, as is envisaged under Article 24 of this Federal Law, inquiries of the Public Chamber. In the period in-between plenary meetings of the Public Chamber, inquiries on behalf of the Public Chamber shall be made by a decision of the council of the Public Chamber;
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 supplemented Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law with Item 7
7) to join international organisations, conclude agreement on cooperation with them, send members of the Public Chamber to attend international conferences and meetings and to take part in other events in the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation;
Federal Law No. 121-FZ of June 30, 2007 supplemented Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law with Item 8
8) take part in the deliberations of the public chambers of subjects of the Russian Federation, and also to send members of the Public Chamber to take part in events conducted by all-Russia, interregional and regional public associations.
Federal Law No. 78-FZ of June 10, 2008 supplemented Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law with Item 9
9) to participate in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation in forming public supervising committees, suspending and terminating the activities of a public supervising committee with a certain composition, in vesting with powers and terminating the authority of members of a public supervisory commission;
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 supplemented Part 3 of Article 16 of this Federal Law with Item 10
10) to provide assistance to the public chambers formed in subjects of the Russian Federation and to the public associations whose activities are aimed at developing the civil society in the Russian Federation in the provision of methodological materials thereto, to provide the documents and materials the Public Chamber has on hand, and also to hold seminars for the purpose of improving the activities of said public chambers and public associations.
Federal Law No. 78-FZ of June 10, 2008 amended Article 17 of this Federal Law
Article 17. Decisions of the Public Chamber and of the Public Chamber's Bodies
1. Decisions of the Public Chamber taken in the form of reports, proposals and applications and shall be advisory in character.
2. The governmental bodies, self-government bodies or officials to which applications have been sent by the Public Chamber shall inform the Public Chamber of the results of consideration of the relevant applications within 30 days after the registration thereof. In exceptional cases the head of the governmental body, the head of the local self-government body, the official or the person empowered to do so are entitled to extend the term for consideration of the said applications by up to 30 days, having notified the Public Chamber accordingly.
3. The Council of the Public Chamber and the secretary of the Public Chamber shall make decisions on the matters referred to their scope of authority by this Federal Law and other federal laws in the procedure established by the Rules of Procedure of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.
Article 18. Public Independent Examination
1. The Public Chamber shall be authorised by decision of the council of the Public Chamber to conduct independent expert examination of draft regulatory legal acts of the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive bodies, draft laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation and draft regulatory acts of state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, draft legal acts of local self-government bodies or in connection with the application of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, to conduct expert examination of draft federal constitutional laws and federal laws, draft regulatory legal acts of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal executive bodies, draft laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation and draft regulatory legal acts of state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, draft legal acts of local self-government bodies.
2. By decision of the council of the Public Chamber, the Public Chamber shall undertake expert examination of draft laws of the Russian Federation to amend the Constitution of the Russian Federation, draft federal constitutional laws and draft federal laws touching upon issues related to:
1) state social policy and constitutional rights of citizens of the Russian Federation in the field of social security;
2) securing public safety and law and order.
3. To carry out an examination, the Public Chamber shall set up a working group that is entitled:
1) to engage the services of experts;
2) to recommend that the Public Chamber make an inquiry to the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive bodies, state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies for supply of documents and materials required to conduct the examination;
3) to propose that the Public Chamber depute members of the Public Chamber to take part in the work of commissions and committees of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in considering draft laws which are the subject of the examination;
4) to propose that the Public Chamber depute members of the Public Chamber to attend the meetings of the Government of the Russian Federation, the boards of federal executive bodies which are considering draft regulatory legal acts which are the subject of the examination.
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Part 4 of Article 18 of this Federal Law
4. Having been submitted to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, draft laws of the Russian Federation on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, draft federal constitutional laws and draft federal laws shall be sent together with the documents and materials attached thereto to the Public Chamber in the procedure established by the Standing Orders of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The drafts of the other acts specified in Item 3 of Part 3 of Article 16 of the present Federal Law together with the documents and materials required for an expert examination shall be given to the Public Chamber by the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive governmental bodies, governmental bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation and local selfgovernment bodies on a request of the Public Chamber.
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 supplemented Article 18 of this Federal Law with Part 5
5. When an expert examination is being carried out in respect of the draft laws which are specified in Part 2 of the present Article and are concerning the imposition of a restriction by the state or the imprisonment of citizens, arrest, seizure or confiscation of property in connection with the commission of crimes or administrative offences, the Public Chamber is entitled to send an inquiry to state bodies, state and other organisations and/or to officials thereof in accordance with the scope of their powers asking for a statement concerning the relevant draft law as based on the results of completed inspections, research and other information held by the bodies, organisations and/or officials thereof. Said statement shall be sent to the Public Chamber within 30 days after the receipt of the inquiry. The expenses relating to the preparation of said statements of state bodies and organisations shall be borne by these bodies and organisations. The expenses relating to the preparation of said statements by other organisations shall be compensated for with the federal budget funds envisaged for supporting the activities of the Public Chamber.";
Article 19. Conclusions of the Public Chamber Based on the Results of Public Examination
1. The conclusions of the Public Chamber based on the results of expert examination of draft laws of the Russian Federation to amend the Constitution of the Russian Federation, of draft federal constitutional laws and federal laws, draft regulatory legal acts of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal executive bodies, draft laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation and draft regulatory legal acts of state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, draft acts of local self-government bodies shall be advisory in character and shall be submitted to the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive bodies, state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies respectively.
2. The conclusions of the Public Chamber based on the results of examination of draft laws of the Russian Federation to amend the Constitution of the Russian Federation, draft federal constitutional laws and draft federal laws shall be subject to obligatory consideration at plenary meetings of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
3. The conclusions of the Public Chamber based on results of examination of draft regulatory acts of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal executive bodies shall be subject to obligatory consideration at the meetings of the Government of the Russian Federation and the boards of relevant federal executive bodies respectively.
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 amended Part 4 of Article 19 of this Federal Law
4. In considering the conclusions of the Public Chamber based on results of examination of drafts of relevant regulatory legal acts, plenary meetings of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and also meetings of the Government of the Russian Federation and of the boards of federal executive bodies shall be attended by members of the Public Chamber empowered by the council of the Public Chamber.
5. The conclusions of the Public Chamber based on results of examination of draft regulatory acts of state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation shall be subject to obligatory consideration by relevant state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
6. The conclusions of the Public Chamber based on the results of examination of draft legal acts of local self-government bodies shall be subject to obligatory consideration by relevant local self-government bodies.
Article 20. Participation of Members of the Public Chamber in the Work of Public Councils Under Federal Executive Bodies
1. The council of the Public Chamber shall have the right to apply to the head of the federal executive body with a proposal to set up a public council under that body.
2. The procedure for setting up public councils under federal executive bodies shall be such as determined by the Government of the Russian Federation. The procedure for setting up public councils under federal executive bodies the direction of whose activity is effected by the President of the Russian Federation, shall be such as prescribed by the President of the Russian Federation.
3. The heads of federal executive bodies shall provide for participation of members of the Public Chamber in the work of public councils under federal executive bodies.
Article 21. Support of the Public Chamber for Civil Initiatives
1. The Public Chamber shall effect collection and processing of information on the initiatives of citizens of the Russian Federation and public associations.
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Part 2 of Article 21 of this Federal Law
2. The Public Chamber shall hold civil forums, hearings and other events on issues of public importance in the procedure established by the Standing Orders of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.
3. The Public Chamber shall bring to the notice of citizens of the Russian Federation information on the initiatives specified under Part 1 of this Article.
Article 22. Annual Report of the Public Chamber
The Public Chamber shall on an annual basis prepare and publish in a periodical of the Public Chamber a report on the state of civil society in the Russian Federation.
Article 23. Provision for Participation of Members of the Public Chamber in the Work of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation and Federal Executive Bodies
1. The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation shall provide for the presence at plenary meetings and meetings of the committees and commissions of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of members of the Public Chamber duly authorised by the council of the Public Chamber.
2. The Government of the Russian Federation shall provide for the presence at its meetings of members of the Public Chamber duly authorised by the council of the Public Chamber.
3. Federal executive bodies shall provide for the presence at meetings of the boards of members of the Public Chamber duly authorised by the council of the Public Chamber.
4. The procedure for participation of members of the Public Chamber in meetings of the boards of federal executive bodies the direction of whose activity is effected by the President of the Russian Federation, shall be such as determined by the President of the Russian Federation. The number of representatives of the Public Chamber taking part in the work of a committee or commission of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation or a committee or commission of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and also in meetings of the board of the federal executive body may not exceed five persons.
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Article 24 of this Federal Law
Article 24. The Provision of Information to the Public Chamber
1. The Public Chamber is entitled to send inquiries to federal governmental bodies, governmental bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies, state and municipal organisations, and in the case envisaged by Part 5 of Article 18 of the present Federal Law, other organisations concerning the issues that fall within the scope of powers of said bodies and organisations. Inquiries of the Public Chamber shall comply with its goals and tasks specified in Article 2 of the present Federal Law.
2. Federal governmental bodies, governmental bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies, state and municipal organisations, and in the case envisaged by Part 5 of Article 18 of the present Federal Law, other organisations shall provide the Public Chamber on its inquiries the information it needs for the purpose of executing its powers, for instance in the form of documents and materials, except for the information deemed state secret and another secret protected by a federal law.
3. The official to whom an inquiry of the Public Chamber is sent shall give a reply thereto within 30 days after the receipt of the inquiry, and in the exceptional cases defined by the Public Chamber, within 14 days. The reply shall be signed by the official to which the inquiry has been sent or by the person acting in the capacity thereof.";
Article 25. Assisting Members of the Public Chamber in Exercise by Them of the Powers Established under This Federal Law
Federal state power bodies, state power bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies, officials of same, other state and municipal officials shall be obligated to assist members of the Public Chamber with exercise by them of powers established under this Federal Law.
Article 26. Central Office of the Public Chamber
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Part 1 of Article 26 of this Federal Law
1. An organisational, legal, analytical, information, documentary, financial and logistical support to the activities of the Public Chamber shall be provided by the staff of the Public Chamber.
2. The central office of the Public Chamber shall be a state agency, have a seal with the State Emblem of the Russian Federation and its denomination inscribed thereupon.
3. The head of the central office of the Public Chamber shall be appointed to and removed from the post by the Government of the Russian Federation upon the recommendation of the council of the Public Chamber.
4. At the order of the council of the Public Chamber the general direction of the activity of the central office of the Public Chamber shall be effected by the secretary of the Public Chamber.
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded the title of Article 27 of this Federal Law
Article 27. Information Support to the Activities of the Public Chamber. The Provision of Information to the General Public on the Activities of the Public Chamber
Federal Law No. 283-FZ of December 25, 2008 reworded Part 1 of Article 27 of this Federal Law
1. For the purpose of rendering an information support to the activities of the Public Chamber and also providing access for citizens and organisations to information about its activities the staff of the Public Chamber shall set up and maintain a website of the Public Chamber in the international computer network Internet, and also maintain the other information resources the Public Chamber has.
2. The all-Russia state teleradiobroadcasting organisations shall on a weekly basis broadcast on one of the all-Russia television channels and on one of the all-Russia radio channels overview information - enlightenment programs according to the schedule approved by the Public Chamber. The amount of air time on each of said television and radio channels may not be less than sixty minutes a month.
3. The Public Chamber shall, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation, set up its periodicals.
Article 28. Financial Support for Activity of the Public Chamber
1. The costs associated with the support for activity of the Public Chamber shall be provided for as a separate line in the federal budget for a respective year.
2. Financial support for the upkeep of the central office of the Public Chamber shall be within the limits of costs set aside in the federal budget for provision of activity of the Public Chamber.
Article 29. Entry into Force of This Federal Law
This Federal Law shall enter into force from July 1, 2005.
Article 30. Transitory Provisions
1. The President of the Russian Federation shall, within thirty days from the effective date of this Federal Law on the basis of results of consultations held with public associations, associations of non-profit organisations, Russia's academies of science and creative unions, determine candidatures of forty two citizens of the Russian Federation, offering special services to the state and society and invite those citizens to join the Public Chamber of the first composition. The further procedure for the formation of the make-up of the Public Chamber shall be such as envisaged under Article 8 of this Federal Law complete with special features described under Parts 2 and 3 of this Article.
2. Members of the Public Chamber of the first composition approved as is stipulated under this Federal Law by the President of the Russian Federation, in line with the procedure prescribed by them for competitive selection, shall take a decision to admit as members of the Public Chamber forty two representatives of the All-Russia public associations. The procedure for competitive selection shall be brought to the notice of the general public through mass media not later than within ten days prior to commencement of that procedure.
3. Members of the Public Chamber of the first composition duly approved by the President of the Russian Federation, shall, jointly with representatives of all-Russia public associations admitted as members of the Public Chamber, in line with the procedure established by them, take a decision to admit as members of the Public Chamber forty two representatives of inter-regional and regional public associations. Said procedure shall be brought to the notice of the general public through the mass media not later than within ten days prior to commencement of that procedure.
4. The nomination of candidates as members of the Public Chamber of the first composition may not be allowed to public associations that have been registered less than one year before the entry into force of this Federal Law.
5. The central office of the Public Chamber shall, within two months from the first plenary meeting of the Public Chamber of the first composition, create a site of the Public Chamber on the Internet international computer network.