"The article summing up the results of a research realized in the framework of the international megaproject ""Parliamentary Representation in Europe. 1848 — 2000"" elucidates the history and the contemporary condition of parliamentarism in Russia. Its first part published in the present issue, examines the main stages and results of the evolution of Russian parliament. On demonstrating that the development of the parliamentary system in our country today is in many respects determined by the general European tendency towards professionalization of lawmaking activity, the author turns to analyzing specific features of the Russian model of parliamentarism, concentrating her attention on such components of the model as the dominant role of the head of the state, confrontation style of the interaction within the parliament — head of the state — executive power triangle, and instability of the electoral legislation."