MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - The current State Council was established on September 1, 2000. The president formed the body to tap into the vast professional experience of top officials from members of the Russian Federation while taking into account proposals from members of both chambers of parliament, the Federation Council and State Duma. The State Council is a presidential consultative body chaired by the president that works to ensure coordinated work and interaction in the state machinery.
Presidential aide Alexander Abramov is the State Council's secretary and the Presidential Department for Domestic Policy organizes the council's work.
The State Council includes heads of Federation members and other officials.
The president established the State Council's presidium on September 2, 2000 to draft the agenda of the council's sessions and resolve current issues.
The presidium comprises seven heads of Federation members representing all the federal districts. The presidium is subject to rotation twice a year.
The council discusses issues of state importance, including state development, economic and social reforms and problems in society.
State Council sessions are held four times a year and each one focuses on a single important issue. The presidium meets to discuss the issue prior to sessions.
The State Council's presidium and the Security Council hold joint sessions that sometimes involve other presidential consultative bodies.
