On Sept. 18 almost 112 million Russian voters are set to elect the 450 members of the lower chamber of Parliament (Duma, as it was called before 1917 and again since 1993). The members of the upper chamber, Council of Federation or Senate, are directly 'delegated' by regions and the President. On Sept. 18 there will be also a series of local elections, which is why it's called 'unified voting day'.
The parliament is the main legislative body in the Russian Federation. It approves bills which are later sent to the President for his signature. According to Constitution, the so-called “legislative initiative” (i.e., the right to propose bills) lies both with the government or Presidential administration, and also with the the Duma which usually produces more than a half of such bills.
