Law

• Russians taught to show devotion to their Tsar Russian people were his children
• The Tsar’s imperial edicts (Ukazy in Russian) were the law of the land. The Tsar did have advisers and ministers but they were all chosen by him and no one could do anything without his approval.
• Main advisory bodies: Imperial Council – nobles chosen by the Tsar to advise and provide ‘expert opinion' and the Council of Ministers – ministers in charge of different government departments.
• The Tsar and the central government were based in the Imperial capital of St Petersburgbut the regime also depended on the provincial nobility for support.
• The civil servants who made up the bureaucracy were paid noble officials selected from a ‘table of ranks’ (14 ranks from Rank 1 – members of the Council of Ministers to Rank 14 – minor state positions such as collecting taxes).
• This bureaucracy was riddled with corruption and incompetence but through it orders were passed down.