Russian State Duma OKs term limit reading

MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The State Duma of the Russian parliament voted 392-57 Friday in support of a third reading of a proposed presidential term limit increase.

With 300 votes needed to pass the proposed amendments to the Russian Constitution, the lower parliamentary house passed the motion during its third and final reading, ITAR-TASS reported.

The amendments wouldn't only increase the current presidential term limit from four years to six years but would raise the current four-year term for all State Duma members by a year.

State Duma members also voted in support of the final reading of a proposal to have government official submit annual reports to the parliamentary body, PRIME-TASS said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev initially proposed the amendments this month and the proposals must earn 60 percent of the Federation Council and parliamentary upper house's support, along with being backed by at least two-thirds of regional legislatures.

Only then will the amendments by placed before Medvedev for his signature, making them law.