State Duma (Russian Empire)
On the 6th of August 1905, Sergei Witte issued a manifesto about convoking a new legislative body. This document emerged from intense pressure following the Russian Revolution of 1905. The initial plan envisioned a purely advisory group known as the Bulygin-Duma. Tsar Nicholas II later promised civil liberties and broad participation in the October Manifesto. He intended to endow this State Duma with actual legislative powers alongside oversight authority. The upper house remained the State Council of Imperial Russia. Nicholas II retained his title of supreme autocrat through Fundamental Laws issued on the 23rd of April 1906. These laws allowed him to dismiss the Duma whenever he wished. Ministers could not be appointed by or responsible to the assembly. Article 87 permitted him to pass temporary emergency laws by decree. The first session opened four days after these laws were signed. It began on the 27th of April 1906 within the Tauride Palace in Saint Petersburg.
The first Duma contained around 500 deputies but lasted only 73 days until the 8th of July 1906. Most radical left parties boycotted the election leaving moderate Constitutional Democrats with roughly 184 seats. An alliance called Trudoviks held about 100 positions while smaller groups like Octobrists had 45 deputies. Sergei Muromtsev served as Chairman from Moscow University. The emperor dissolved parliament after a speech by Lev Urusov scared the leadership. Witte reportedly cursed the Duma and blamed himself for its creation. Approximately 200 liberal Kadet deputies fled to Vyborg to issue an appeal calling for civil disobedience. They faced arrest and closure of their party offices. The Second Duma ran from the 20th of February 1907 to the 3rd of June 1907 lasting 103 days. Vladimir Purishkevich joined as a new member strongly opposing the October Manifesto. Bolsheviks and Mensheviks abandoned boycott policies winning numerous seats alongside Socialist Revolutionaries. Radical parties outnumbered moderates two-to-one within the assembly. Stolypin accused Social Democrats of preparing an armed uprising on the 1st of June 1907. He demanded exclusion of 55 members and stripping immunity from 16 others. When rejected he dissolved the body via imperial decree known as the Coup of June 1907.
The third Duma convened from the 7th of November 1907 until the 3rd of June 1912 under changed electoral laws. Gentry landowners and businessmen dominated this session reducing representation from non-Russian regions. Harold Whitmore Williams noted in 1915 that the system facilitated better cooperation between government and assembly. It lasted a full five-year term succeeding with 200 pieces of legislation and voting on roughly 2,500 bills. Critics nicknamed it The Duma of the Lords and Lackeys or The Master's Duma due to its noble composition. Octobrist party held around one-third of all deputies making them the largest group. This conservative body supported military improvements and Stolypin's land reform plans. It also passed regressive laws regarding Finnish autonomy and Russification efforts. Fear of empire breakup remained prevalent throughout these years. Martial law covered large portions of the empire after the Second Duma dissolution. References to past events like Muromtsev's funeral were forbidden at various times. Count Kokovtsov replaced assassinated Prime Minister Stolypin in September 1911. He balanced the budget regularly spending money on productive purposes.
The Fourth Duma existed from the 15th of November 1912 until the 6th of October 1917 holding limited political influence. Alexander Kerensky served as a promising new Trudovik member alongside Roman Malinovsky who was a double agent for secret police. In March 1913 Octobrists led by Guchkov commissioned an investigation into Grigori Rasputin allegations. The assembly met briefly on the 8th of August 1914 passing emergency war credits before being dismissed. A serious conflict arose in January when government kept battlefield information secret during the Gorlice campaign. Guchkov initiated War Industries Committees in May to mobilize industry for prolonged military action. On the 17th of July 1915 deputies reconvened for six weeks demanding reinstatement and cabinet replacement. Roughly half formed a Progressive Bloc which became a focal point of resistance in 1917. The tsar announced he would leave for Mogilev fearing Rasputin's influence over Tsarina Alexandra. Boris Stürmer replaced Goremykin as prime minister on the 9th of February 1916 under conditions not mentioning Rasputin. Milyukov spoke of Dark Forces highlighting governmental failures with his famous question about stupidity or treason. Kerensky called ministers hired assassins guided by contemptible Grishka Rasputin. Purishkevich declared monarchy discredited due to ministerial leapfrogging on the 19th of November. Trepov attempted reading a government programme but deputies shouted him down three times.
The February Revolution began on the 22nd of February when strikes broke out in Putilov workshops. Women joined the strike on International Women's Day the 23rd demanding suffrage food relief and an end to World War I. Approximately 250,000 people were on strike by the 25th despite strict bans on gatherings. Mutinous soldiers from the fourth company of Pavlovsky Life Guards Regiment refused orders shooting two officers. They joined protesters on streets while Volhynian Life Guards Regiment brought other units into rebellion. On the 27th Duma delegates received an order proroguing assembly until April leaving no legal authority. Deputies formed a Provisional Committee ordering arrest of ex-ministers and senior officials. The Tauride Palace was occupied by crowds and soldiers. Council of Ministers held its last meeting in Marinsky Palace submitting resignation after telephone lines cut. Guchkov traveled to army headquarters near Pskov persuading tsar to abdicate. Commissars took over ministries forming Provisional Government under Georgi Lvov. On the 2nd of March 1917 Provisional government decided Duma would not reconvene. State Duma formally dissolved on the 6th of October 1917 following Kornilov affair. A Provisional Council convened on the 20th of October preparing for Constituent Assembly election.
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Common questions
When was the State Duma of the Russian Empire established and by whom?
Sergei Witte issued a manifesto on the 6th of August 1905 to convoke the new legislative body. The first session opened four days after Fundamental Laws were signed on the 23rd of April 1906, beginning on the 27th of April 1906 within the Tauride Palace in Saint Petersburg.
How many deputies served in the first State Duma and what was its duration?
The first State Duma contained around 500 deputies but lasted only 73 days until the 8th of July 1906. Most radical left parties boycotted the election leaving moderate Constitutional Democrats with roughly 184 seats while an alliance called Trudoviks held about 100 positions.
What electoral changes occurred for the third State Duma between 1907 and 1912?
The third State Duma convened from the 7th of November 1907 until the 3rd of June 1912 under changed electoral laws that favored gentry landowners and businessmen. This conservative body supported military improvements and Stolypin's land reform plans while Octobrist party held around one-third of all deputies making them the largest group.
Who were notable members of the fourth State Duma during World War I?
Alexander Kerensky served as a promising new Trudovik member alongside Roman Malinovsky who was a double agent for secret police. In March 1913 Octobrists led by Guchkov commissioned an investigation into Grigori Rasputin allegations while Boris Stürmer replaced Goremykin as prime minister on the 9th of February 1916.
When did the State Duma formally dissolve after the February Revolution?
State Duma formally dissolved on the 6th of October 1917 following Kornilov affair. A Provisional Council convened on the 20th of October preparing for Constituent Assembly election after the Provisional government decided Duma would not reconvene on the 2nd of March 1917.