City Duma

Categories / City Administration/Government Bodies
CITY DUMA, administrative body of the city government. It was instituted in 1786 by Cities letter of grant (1785). City Duma was in charge of the city economy, taxes and levies, trade, medicine, education etc. The decisions of the City Duma were approved by governor-general, since 1871, by the chief of city administration. General City Duma since 1786 had consisted of councilors (deputies), elected for 4 years by the city population divided into 6 categories; City Council elected the permanent executive office, Six-membered council (1 councilor from each categorie). The City Duma was headed by mayor. In 1798, emperor Paul I abolished the City Council and replaced it with Rathaus. In 1802, the City Council was restored. By the City Regulation of 1846 Six-membered council was replaced with Regulatory council, consisting of 12 elective councilors and the person of the Crown (a representative of the royal family). In 1863-1917 Izvestiya Sankt-Peterburgskoy Gorodskoy dumy (The News of St. Petersburg City Council) were published (since 1914 the name had been changed to Izvestiya Petrogradskoy Gorodskoy dumy, (The News of Petrograd City Council). By the City provision of 1870, the estates of its members were no longer taken into account by the City Council. In 1873 Administrative board of the city headed by the chairman of the City Duma (mayor) became its executive office. By City Regulation of 1892 the property qualification of the electorate was marked up. The number of electors thus reduced to 7,000 persons. By the City Regulation of 1903 the number of electors was increased up to 12,000 persons. The administration monitoring of City Council activity was also enhanced. After February Revolution of 1917, the City Duma was replaced with the Central Duma, its councilors were elected by District Councils. In November of 1917, by the decree of People's Commissars Soviet, the Central Duma was disbanded, and new elections were announced. In April of 1918, the Administrative board of the city adopted a resolution of the liquidation of the City Duma. In September of 1918, the City Duma was abolished, and local government passed under the jurisdiction of Soviets. In 1786-1918, the City Duma was located on 33/1 Nevsky Prospect (the building was erected in 1784-87, architect unknown). In 1799-1804 a tower was added to the building (architect G. Ferrari), which became one of the points forming the architectural ensemble of Nevsky Prospect (in the 1830-50s it was used as an optical telegraph station, in the 1850-1920s, as a fire tower). In 1847-52, the building of the City Duma was rebuilt (architects N.E. Efimov, L.L. Bonschtedt); in 1913-14, 2 more storeys were built on it (architect A.V. Kenel). The building of the City Duma once housed one of the best public halls in St. Petersburg (see Public halls).

References: Антонов П. А. Городская дума на Невском // Диалог. 1989. № 31. С. 21-26.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Bonstedt Lyubim (Ludwig) Lyubimovich
Efimov Nikolay Efimovich
Ferrari Giacomo
Kenel Alexander Vasilievich
Paul (Pavel) I, Emperor
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 33/1
Антонов П. А. Городская дума на Невском // Диалог., 1989 Rathaus
Izvestiya Sankt-Peterburgskoy Gorodskoy Dumy (News of St. Petersburg City Duma), newspaper
Administrative board of the city
February Revolution of 1917
Public Halls (entry)
1786
1804
1846
1873
1892
1907
1907
1912