Answer to Question #182071 in History for Emma marleau

Question

what is the difference between the RUSSIAN EMPIRE, the former SOVIET UNION (USSR), and the present RUSSIAN FEDERATION in both territorial and political terms.

Answer 1

The Russian Empire lasted from 1721 to 1917 and was ruled by an emperor; the Soviet Union lasted from 1922 to 1991 and was ruled by leaders from the Communist Party; Russian Federation was formed in December 1991 and is in existence till today, headed by a President and Prime Minister.

The Russian Empire was an absolute monarchy up to 1906,when it became a constitutional monarchy; the Soviet Union started as a one party socialist republic up to 1927 where it became a one party socialist state. Stalin ruled by totalitarian dictatorship upto 1953. There was no formal separation of powers between the communist party, the Supreme Soviet and the council of ministers; the Russian Federation is a semi-presidential Republic and an asymmetric Federation. It's formally structured as a multiparty democracy.

Russian Empire was legislated by a Governing Senate, with state council in upper house and State Duma in lower house; the Soviet Union was legislated by a Congress of Soviets from 1922 to 1936 and a Supreme Soviet from 1936 to its end in 1991; the Russian Federation is legislated by the bicameral Federal Assembly of Russia consisting of State Duma and Federal council.

Russian Empire stretched over 3 continents, Europe, Asia and North America with 22400000 square kilometers; the Soviet Union stretched over Europe and Asia and covered 22402000 square kilometers; the Russian Federation occupies both Europe and Asia with 17075200 square kilometers. 

The Russian Empire and Soviet Union were Russian dominated but encompassed several otger Asian and European territories. In the transition from USSR to Russian Federation, 15 territories became independent republics. These include: Latvia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Estonia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Russia.