It is the fourth highest position, after the President, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Federation Council, in the government of Russia.

His responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day business of the State Duma, presiding and maintaining order at the regular sessions of the parliament.

The Speaker also chairs the Council of the Duma which includes representatives from all the parliamentary parties and determines the legislative agenda.

The Speaker of the Duma may intervene and express his views but is supposed to be unbiased in his activities at the regular sessions of the parliament.

Since January 1995, the speaker of the State Duma is also a member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.