Central gov

• Despite the gov structurally changing between 1855 and 1964, it was constantly dominated by one party and only gave the illusion of democracy
• Both Nich II and Stalin appeared to make democratic changes, but really they were just consolidating power
• Alex II:

  • 1861: Committee of Ministers established 
  • Council of Ministers was abandoned in 1882 and its duties were shared out among other organs of the government
• Nich II:

  • 1905: Duma introduced the main role to debate proposed legislation. But, the Fundamental Laws kept autocracy. The Tsar could dissolve Duma and rule without it.
• Prov Gov:

  • Dual authority between the Prov Gov and Petrograd Soviet
• Lenin:

  • All-Russian Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee (CEC)
  • Jan 1918: closing down of the Constituent Assembly 
  • 1921: Ban on factions (undermined internal party democracy)
• Stalin:

  • 1936 Constitution introduced significant political changes, but Article 126 of Stalin’s constitution ensured that the Supreme Soviet was really the Communist Party’s puppet
• Synthesis:

  • Despite the gov structurally changing between 1855 and 1964, it was constantly dominated by one party and only gave the illusion of democracy
  • Both Nich II and Stalin appeared to make democratic changes, but really they were just consolidating power