The document determines the legal organizational basis for the formation and activity of the Public Chamber, as well as its aims and tasks that are to include public expertise of draft laws, amendments to the constitution, public control of executive bodies, taking its own initiatives and supporting others that are of public importance.
The bill specifies that the Chamber's decisions are actually recommendations that could be in the form of conclusions, proposals and addresses.
The bill passed with support from 346 deputies, while 50 were against it.
It states that Public Chamber members must be Russian citizens at least 18 years and older. There are also limitations put on existing government members. The Russian President, members of the state Duma, the Federation Council and the government, judges and the persons occupying state posts cannot be members of the Public Chamber.
A representative of the Public Chamber must forsake membership in a political party while serving in the Chamber.
The document also establishes the Chamber's activities, including plenary meetings, sessions of the Chamber's council, commissions and working groups. The term of the Chamber's power was set at two years from its first session.
The document says that the Chamber should be formed from representatives of the all-Russian, regional and inter-regional public associations and also associations of non-commercial organizations. The Chamber will have 126 members.
