Chairman of the State Duma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
Emblem of the State Duma
Incumbent Vyacheslav Volodin since 5 October 2016
Appointer	State Duma
Term length	Five years, renewable
Formation	27 April 1906; 119 years ago (1906-04-27)
First holder	Sergey Muromtsev
Deputy	Deputy Chairman
Website	Chairman of the State Duma (ru)

The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is a very important leader in the government of Russia. This person is also known as the Speaker. They lead the State Duma, which is like the lower house of Russia's parliament.

The Chairman's job is to make sure the State Duma runs smoothly every day. They lead meetings and keep order during discussions. They also head the Council of the Duma. This council includes members from all political parties in the parliament. Together, they decide what laws the parliament will work on. The Speaker can share their ideas, but they should always be fair and unbiased during official meetings.

History of the Chairman Role

Sergey Muromtsev, the first Chairman of the State Duma

The role of Chairman of the State Duma began in 1906. This was when the first State Duma of the Russian Empire was created. The very first person to hold this position was Sergey Muromtsev.

This role existed for about 11 years. During that time, five different people served as Chairman. The position, along with the State Duma itself, ended after the Russian Revolution.

The role was brought back 76 years later. This happened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and a big political event in 1993. Ivan Rybkin was the first Chairman after the position was restored.

Since January 1995, the Speaker of the State Duma has also been a member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. This council helps the President make important decisions about national safety.

The current Chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin, was chosen on October 5, 2016.

How the Chairman is Elected

The Chairman of the State Duma is chosen by the members of the Duma themselves. This is stated in the Russian Constitution.

The election usually happens through a secret ballot. This means members vote privately using special papers. Political groups and individual members can suggest candidates for the role. Sometimes, the State Duma might decide to have an open vote instead.

Latest Election Results

What the Chairman Does

Chairman Gennadiy Seleznyov (right) with President Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the Federation Council Sergey Mironov in 2002.

The Chairman of the State Duma has many important duties. Here are some of them:

• They lead all the meetings of the State Duma.
• They make sure the rules of the Duma are followed.
• They organize the work of the Council of the State Duma.
• They manage the staff who help the State Duma operate.
• They represent the Duma when dealing with the President, other government bodies, and foreign countries.
• They help solve disagreements between different parts of the government.
• They decide which committees will review new laws.
• They sign the decisions made by the State Duma.
• They send new laws to the Federation Council and the President for approval.
• They can issue their own orders and instructions related to their job.
• They can invite government ministers to answer questions from Duma members.
• They can create special groups to help with making laws.

The Chairman also gives reports on what the State Duma has done. They talk about future plans for new laws. The State Duma can even cancel an order made by the Chairman if they disagree with it.

List of Chairmen

Former Chairmen Still Alive

As of June 2025, three former Chairmen are still alive. The most recent Chairman to pass away was Gennadiy Seleznyov. He served from 1996 to 2003 and died on July 19, 2015, at age 67.

• 

  Ivan Rybkin
  served: 1994–1996
  born: (1946-10-20) 20 October 1946 (age 78)

• 

  Boris Gryzlov
  served: 2003–2011
  born: (1950-12-15) 15 December 1950 (age 74)

• 

  Sergey Naryshkin
  served: 2011–2016
  born: (1954-10-27) 27 October 1954 (age 70)

See also

• Chairman of the Federation Council
• List of Deputy Chairmen of the State Duma