The Council of Federation (Sovet Federatsii) is the upper chamber of the Russian Assembly, the lower being the State Duma. In 1993 the Russian Constitution provided the legal basis for the functioning of the Council of Federation. The Council of Federation consists of 178 seats. It has a wide range of functions: from the right of legislative initiative to appointment and dismissal of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation. For a complete list of functions follow the link.
The first Council of Federation was elected in 1994 and worked until 1996. The second Council worked until 2001. At present, Russia has the Council of Federation of the third convocation. According to 1995 Federal Law, every subject of the Russia Federation sends two representatives to the Council, i.e. the head of the executive branch and the head of the legislative branch of regional power. The representatives were elected for a four-year term. According to new (2000) Federal Law, the Council would consist of representatives (two from every region) chosen by the regional legislature or appointed by the regional head of executive branch of power. The terms of representatives depend on the terms of the bodies that appointed or elected them to the Council of Federation.
In comparison with turbulent 1990s and following Putin's reforms, the political weight of the Council of Federation was diminished significantly, as regional leaders could no longer represent their subjects in the Council of the Federation.
The official website of the Council of Federation