The subject of this work is the experience of Russia, forming the federal state, the lineament of Russian federation. The aim of the beginning of the work is to define the term „federation“, it is identified as the state, that consists of different territorial subjects disposing the powers of the central government, and these powers are limited by the constitution of federation. The sources of Russian Federation are discussed, the conclusion is made, that neither the USSR neither Russian Federation were federal states. The foundation of Russian federation is overviewed, the treaty of federation, signed in 1992, is discussed. Much attention is payed to studying the legal status of the subjects of Russian Federation. The conclusion is made, that Russia is the assymetrical federation and its subjects have no totally equal rights. While describing the institutions of the federation members, the author notices the dangerously diminishing independence of the local institutions from the federal government, a matter of great concern is the direct elections of the governor, abolished in 2004, and the new order, according to whom local governor is imposed by the President of the state, after the approbation of the local parlament. The status and the role of Federation‘s council is discussed, it is concluded that it is too powerless and needs reforms. The process of the affairs between Russian federation and its subjects is overviewed. In 1993 – 1999 members of the federation had much... [to full text]