Russia's new constitution granting President Boris Yeltsin sweeping powers took effect Friday when state-run news media began publishing the official text.
The country's first post-Soviet charter was approved in a nationwide referendum Dec. 12. The ballot was conducted along with par-liamentary elections in which an ultranationalist party was the top vote-getter.Yeltsin campaigned strongly for the constitution, which gives him an edge in power over the new parliament, which is expected to be dominated by opponents of the president's economic reforms.
The new charter gives Yeltsin authority to dissolve the parliament and call early elections.
Leaders of the eight parties and blocs represented in parliament, along with some regional deputies, met Friday to determine their agenda when they convene Jan. 11.
They decided to hold the first session of the two legislative chambers in the Kremlin and to open it with a speech by Yeltsin, the president's press service said.
Yeltsin, meanwhile, ordered Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to submit proposals for the reorganization of Russia's government.
His decree, signed Thursday, said the number of ministries and Cabinet members should be trimmed, the press service said. Yeltsin also ordered the Cabinet's administrative staff to be cut by at least 20 percent within a month, it said.
Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Shumeiko told the Interfax news agency the new government "must become more compact." He said the number of Chernomyrdin's deputies should be decreased.