Concerning the practice of changing a concept bill in the State Duma of the Russian Federation

The law has no clear definition of a concept bill. Academics characterize a concept bill as a model of a future legislative act, setting the goals and basic parameters of its content. Resolution No. 11-P of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of July 5, 2001 runs as follows: “No changes can be made to the concept bill at the amendment stage thereof.” However, in recent years the State Duma has repeatedly adopted amendments changing the concept bills following the first reading. There is an urgent need for legislative regulation of the law adoption procedure. The notion of “a concept bill” shall be clearly defined; strict regulation of the concept changing procedure shall be introduced, leaving no room for such a possibility after the first reading. Cases shall be established where bills are considered under an expedited procedure by providing a rule that regardless of urgency, each bill must undergo three readings.