Drawing on the approach of historical institutionalism and the concept of path dependence, the author examines the construction of Russian parliamentary institutions during the period from 1990 to 1995. This timeframe is divided into distinct stages of institutional development and is analyzed within the broader context of historical influences on the formation process. The author concludes that, despite the dissolution of the previous parliament, the institutional structure of the new parliament was largely shaped by discussions surrounding the reform of its predecessor. This continuity was particularly evident in the formation of the State Duma, where former deputies of the USSR and the RSFSR played a significant role. However, in the context of a polarized and fragmented deputy corps, the newly established institutions emerged as a consensus-based construct, making the introduction of radical innovations challenging. Consequently, debates over further reforms of the Federal Assembly predominantly focused on proposals to revive elements of the former Supreme Soviet – an institution with which many deputies had prior experience.
Russia; State Duma; Supreme Soviet; historical institutionalism; path dependence.