1. The Fundamental Laws, April 1906

Question 1

Fundamental Laws

Answer 1

• Essentially a constitution - Tsar refused to allow it to be described as such
• April 1906
• Detailed role and powers of the principal institutions of govt

Question 2

Oct Manifesto 1905 - promise

Answer 2

• Tsar has promised that steps would be taken to ensure no law could be passed w/out Duma approval
• Duma given powers to hold govt to account for their actions

Question 3

By the time govt ministers came to draft the Fundamental Laws in early 1906…

Answer 3

it was out of danger

- Therefore - the drafting became an exercise in clawing back as much political ground as possible

Question 4

Problem w/ Fundamental Laws?

Answer 4

• Govt ministers - w/ Tsar’s full encouragement - set out to restrict powers of the Duma to barest minimum required by wording of Oct Manifesto

Question 5

Fundamental Laws terms

Answer 5

• Article 4
• Article 87
• Tsar could dissolve Duma at any time of choosing
• Areas of govt that only Tsar had control over
• Imperial State Council
• Tsar appointment and dismissal of ministers
• Guarantee certain freedoms

Question 6

Article 4 of Fundamental Laws

Answer 6

• Insisted on Tsar’s continuing primacy within system of govt
• ‘The All-Russian Emperor possesses the supreme autocratic power’

Question 7

What important areas of govt activity did the Fundamental Laws declare to be preserved by the Tsar alone?

Answer 7

• Defence and foreign affairs - outside Duma’s jurisdiction

Question 8

Article 87

Answer 8

• Tsar could proclaim new laws without Duma approval at times when it wasn’t in session
• Had to be ratified by Duma subsequently - but ratification could be delayed for months or years

Question 9

Imperial State Council

Answer 9

• Set up in 1810 - to offer Tsar advice about proposed new laws - designed to be a solidly conservative body
• Half appointed by Tsar - other half by corporate bodies such as nobility, Orthodox Church and zemstva

Same law-making power same as Duma’s could veto anything it did

Question 10

Tsar’s right to appoint and dismiss govt ministers

Answer 10

• No requirement to seek Duma approval - could be summoned for questioning by Duma - no power to force their resignation

Question 11

What freedoms did the Fundamental laws guarantee?

Limitations?

Answer 11

• Freedom of association (legalised political parties and TUs)
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of speech

These weren’t worth all that much - nothing to prevent laws being introduced that restricted the exercise of individual rights - all rights could be suspended in emergencies