Dumas + Fundamental Laws

FIRST DUMA!

SECOND DUMA!!

April-July 1906 

Majority was in the favour of the Kadets 

Boycotted by Bolsheviks

Immense hostility towards the Tsar 

Demanded increase in powers 

Elections to be universal and secret

Lasted 75 days, dissolved by Tsar because of lack of respect 

He also saw it as being too anti-government and radical 

“...she had been unable to calm herself from the shock of seeing so many commoners inside the palace.” 

Feb-June 1907

New elections → more radicals 

SRs and SDs participated this time 

Because of this, led to internal division 

Government claimed that the revolutionary groups only wanted to promote more violence rather than strength Russia, leading to its dissolution

Electoral Laws illegally changed by Tsar in 1907 

• Reduced number of deputies representing workers, peasants and national minority groups

• Increase in conservative upper class 

• Aided the gentry and disenfranchised the regular citizens

• Took more than twice the number of industrial workers than peasants to elect deputy 

• Led to the following dumas being dominated by conservative deputies 

THIRD DUMA!!!

FOURTH DUMA!!!!

November 1907- June 1912

Full service filled with conservatives due to change in Electoral laws 

Still disputes with Tsar 

Nov 1912- August 1914 - November 1917 

Orthodox Church reforms and that reduced state control 

Suspended during the war 

Conservatives who became frustrated with the Tsar (because he does nothing) met together in secret and formed a large group called the progressive bloc

Met twice over the next two years to approve the budget and allow the tsar to rule by decree

Last meeting resulted in resolution that tsar should abdicate and hand power to Provis Gov

28th Feb - the progressive Bloc refused to dissolve and named itself the provisional Government 

Bolsheviks:

Participated in the Second Duma 

Lening not there and only came back during April 1917

Mensheviks:

Became larger party

Held main role in Soviets and trade unions 

Limited support to the Provis Gov 

Was divided about the war 

Socialist Revolutionaries 

Only part of the Third Duma 

Protested against repressive reforms of Stolypin 

Key individuals involved in Provis Gov after abdication 

Kadets

Worked closely with zemstvo

Participated in first Duma 

Supported the war 

Octobrists

Became largest group in Third Duma 

Benefitted from reform of Electoral Laws

• Right to supreme autocratic power 

• Appoint and dismiss laws 

• Rule by decree

• Summon and dissolve the duma when he pleased

• “Obedience to His authority…is ordained by God Himself”