Sakhalin Oblast Duma internally elects a legislative representative to the Federation Council, which is the Upper House of Russia's legislative branch. The executive branch of Sakhalin works closely with the oblast's Duma. The executive branch is also known as the government of Sakhalin and is headed by the Governor, who is the highest ranking person in the oblast. The Governor is not to be confused with the Chairman of the Duma, who is head of the Duma only. Sakhalin Oblast Duma The Sakhalin Oblast Duma is the highest permanent and only legislative body of the Sakhalin Oblast. Together with the executive and judicial
Duma this was changed to a five-year term in late 2008. In previous elections of 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2003 one half of the deputies were elected by a system of proportional representation and one half were elected by plurality in single member districts. However, the 2007 Duma elections were carried out in a new format: all 450 deputies were elected by a system of proportional representation. Russian citizens at least 21 years old are eligible to run for the Duma (Article 97). Duma A duma (дума) was a Russian assembly with advisory or legislative functions. The term comes from the