The electoral cycle 2018-2024 and institutional changes

The study examines the institutional transformation of the political system of the Russian Federation during the 2018–2024 electoral cycle. The research focuses on political institutions, mechanisms of state power, and legal frameworks that underwent structural changes under the influence of constitutional reform, electoral modernization, and geopolitical challenges. Particular attention is paid to the 2020 constitutional amendments, which reshaped the distribution of authority among branches of power, consolidated the role of the State Council, and strengthened national sovereignty through the prioritization of domestic law. The article analyzes the evolution of the party and electoral systems, the spread of digital voting, and the increasing use of ideological instruments in governance. The impact of the 2022 special military operation is considered as a catalyst for political mobilization and administrative consolidation, leading to the institutionalization of a managed stability model. The methodological framework combines institutional, systemic, and comparative approaches, supported by political and legal analysis, content analysis of legislation, and event-based modeling of electoral dynamics. The novelty of the research lies in its integrated interpretation of electoral and institutional processes as interconnected mechanisms of political adaptation and consolidation. The author’s contribution consists in identifying how constitutional and legislative reforms have ensured political continuity while reducing the space for pluralism. The study concludes that the 2018–2024 electoral cycle resulted in a centralized model of governance combining administrative efficiency, normative control, and ideological cohesion as tools for maintaining national stability.