State Duma plans to examine over 400 bills at its autumn session

The State Duma (lower house of Russian parliament) plans to consider more than 400 bills during the course of its autumn session opening on September 9, first State Duma vice-speaker Lyubov Sliska, who is in charge of house law-making, told parliamentary journalists.

According to her, out of these bills 14 are legislative initiatives of the Russian president, 65 of the government, 16 of the Federation Council and members of the upper house of parliament, 228 of State Duma deputies, 81 of legislative /representative/ bodies of the constituent members of the Russian Federation, and three of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Sliska recalled that the autumn session is the final one of the third Duma /2000-2003/. Under house rules, during preparations to elect a new State Duma /scheduled for December 7/, it will be meeting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the State Duma Council, which will in particular determine the agendas of plenary meetings, on Mondays and Thursdays.