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Comparative Politics and Government

Notes The Privy Council
The international jurisdiction of the Privy Council of the time when it acted as the final court of
appeal throughout the British Empire, in each case applying the law of the jurisdiction from which
the appeal came, remains for some Commonwealth Countries, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man
and the British Overseas Territories.
The Privy Council also has some domestic jurisdictions, principally concerned with final appeals in
matters relation to professional discipline for medical practitioners, dentists, opticians, veterinary
surgeons, osteopaths, chiropractors and professions supplementary to medicine.
A new jurisdiction for the Privy Council is related to devolution issues (questions relating to the
competences and functions of the legislative and executive authorities established in Scotland and
Northern Ireland, the competence and functions of the Assembly established in Wales).

What do you mean by ‘Old Bailey’?

Judicial System of Russia

The Russian Constitution has made an achievement by making provisions for the independence of
judiciary. Art. 118 says that the administration of justice shall be vested in the courts. Judicial authority
shall cover civil, criminal, administrative and constitutional varieties. The creation of special or
extraordinary courts shall not be permitted. The judicial system is established according to the terms
of the Constitution and federal laws. With a view to maintain independence of judiciary these
provisions have been made:
1. The judges shall be the citizens of the Russian Federation, be above, 25 years of age, must have
higher qualifications in law and have served in the legal profession for not less than five years,
the federal law may require additional requirements.
2. The judges shall be independent. They shall have the power to examine the validity of any act
or of a law in the event of its conflict with the provisions of the Constitution and thereby hold
supremacy of law.
3. More important is the provision that the judges shall be irremovable. The powers of a judge
may be terminated or suspended only on the grounds of and in accordance with the procedure
established by law.
4. The judges shall be inviolable. As such, a judge cannot face criminal liability otherwise than in
accordance with the procedure established by federal law.
5. The hearing or examination of a case in all courts shall be open. Cases may be heard in close
sessions in a situation permitted by a federal law. The examination of criminal cases by default
in courts shall not be permitted except in a situation permitted by law. Judicial proceedings
shall be conducted on the basis of controversy and the equality of the parties concerned. Where
legally required, judicial proceedings shall be conducted with the participation of a jury.
6. Finally, it is given that the courts shall be financed from the federal budget and should ensure
the possibility of the complete and independent administration of justice according to the
requirements of a federal law.
The Constitution provides for three apex courts — Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and Supreme
Arbitration Court. The President appoints the judges of these courts with the consent of the Federal
Council. It implies that the nominations of the judges made by the President shall be approved by the
upper house of the Federal Assembly. It resembles the American system where the appointments of
the judges made by the President are ratified by the Senate. But appointments of the judges of other
federal courts are made by the President according to the provisions of a federal law. The powers and
procedure of all the courts shall be determined by a federal constitutional law.

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