Duma of Six Members

Categories / City Administration/Government Bodies
DUMA OF SIX MEMBERS, an elected executive organ of city self-government. The Duma was formed according to the Imperial Decree to Cities of 1785. It was appointed concurrently with the General City Duma in January 21 1786, and was housed in the same building (33/1 Nevsky Prospect). The Duma of Six Members was preceded by the city head, it consisted of Six Members (deputies, hence the name), who were elected by the General city Duma for a period of 3 years (one member from every of six categories of voters: "city residents proper", people attached to their tax districts ("posads"), local merchants, foreign merchants, craftsmen in corporations and "noble citizens". The Duma of Six Members was elected at least once a week (annually up to 120 times), it discussed affairs not requiring participation of all the members of the Duma. It supervised city spending, taxes, construction, order in city trade places, prices for essential foods, etc. At the beginning of the 19th century some functions of the General Duma were transferred to the Duma of Six Members and its meetings became rare. According to City Regulations of 1846 introduced in St. Petersburg the Duma of Six Members was replaced with the Administrative Duma consisting of 13 members from 3 categories of electors (with the same functions). From 1873 the functions of the Duma of Six Members and of the Administrative Duma were transferred to the City Administration.

Reference: Дитятин И. И. Столетие С.-Петербургского городского общества, 1785-1885 гг. СПб., 1885. С. 1-122.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Дитятин И. И. Столетие С.-Петербургского городского общества, 1785-1885 гг. СПб., 1885 City Duma
Administrative board of the city