The Dumas 1906 - 1914

How the Duma Worked ?

Lower Chamber - The state Duma - Members were elected under a system of indirect voting by estates. It was heavily weighted in favour of the nobility and peasants. Deputies were elected for a five year term.

First Duma (year, nickname, main party, problems.)

-May July 1906

-'Duma of National Hopes'

-Radical Liberal Composition - Main party was Kadets

-Problems - Nicholas thought the duma was to radical and wouldn't accept any of their suggestions.

Second Duma (year, nickname, main party, problems.)

-Feb-June 1907

-'Duma of national anger'

-Main parties were extreme left wing

-Problems - When Stolypin didn't get any support needed for his agrarian reforms he dissolved the Duma and SD delegates were exiled. Stolypin therefore altered the franchise so that representation of the gentry increased and the represenatation of peasants and workers reduced.

Third Duma (year, nickname, main party, achievements, problems.)

-Nov 1907-1912

-'Duma of Lords and Lackeys'

-Main parties - Octoberists and Rightists

-Achievements - submissive Duma who agreed with 2,200 gov proposals including stolypins agricultural reforms.

-Problems - even this Duma has disputes over naval staff and local gov, evidence how unpopular the tsar was considering even this Duma were fighting.

Fourth Duma (year, nickname, main party, problems.)

-November 1912-1917

-Main parties - Octoberists and Rightists, but considerably less Octoberists as in 1911 the Octoberists became gov opponents.

-Problems - New prime minister Kokovtstov 'Thank god we still have no parliament.' Chose to ignore the Duma. Furthermore Duma's influence declined because it was to divided to fight back.