Rathaus

Categories / City Administration/Government Bodies
RATHAUS, the supreme authority of municipal government, established in St. Petersburg in 1798 by order of emperor Paul I instead of the abolished bodies of local government instituted by Cities Letter of Grant of 1785. Rathaus managed city income, administrative and police matters, dealt with criminal and civil legal proceedings of middle- and lower-class persons. Rathaus was headed by the President and economy chief (appointed by the Senate), its staff included 6 elective burgmeisters and 10 elective ratsherrs (rathaus staff was approved by the emperor). Rathaus was under the jurisdiction of Residency Provision Supply Board, and city magistrates and city halls of chief district towns of St. Petersburg province were subordinated to the institution. Soon after the enthronement of emperor Alexander I (1801), Rathaus was abolished, and in 1802 those bodies of municipal government were reestablished which functioned during the reign of empress Catherine II.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Alexander I, Emperor
Catherine II, Empress
Senate
Residency Provision Supply Board
1798