The Council of Ministers was established in Russia. Reformed Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire

On November 12 (24), 1861, the Council of Ministers was established in Russia as an advisory body on national affairs. Unofficially, the Council began to function since October 1857, and its first meeting was held on December 19 (31), 1857.

The Council of Ministers was established for "exclusive consideration in the Highest Presence of His Majesty" of cases requiring "general consideration", that is, related to several branches of government at the same time.

The Council of Ministers consisted of ministers and chief executives equivalent to them, the chairman of the State Council and the chairman of the Committee of Ministers, as well as other senior officials by special appointment of the emperor. The emperor himself was the chairman of the Council, who could submit any questions for consideration. All cases were reported to the Council by ministers according to their affiliation, and office work was entrusted to the manager of the Committee of Ministers; The Council of Ministers did not have its own office. At all meetings of the Council, the Secretary of State was present to present information on legislative issues from the affairs of the State Council. Meetings of the Council of Ministers were not regular and were appointed each time by the emperor.

The following were subject to consideration in the Council: “types and assumptions for the arrangement and improvement different parts entrusted to each Ministry and the Main Directorate”, “information on the progress of work on the arrangement and improvement ...”, initial legislative proposals with subsequent submission to the State Council; measures that require the general assistance of various departments, but are not subject to consideration in other higher state institutions; information about the most important orders for each department, requiring a "general consideration"; conclusions of commissions created by the emperor to consider the reports of ministries and main departments.

Since 1863, the number of cases received by the Council has sharply decreased, it met less and less frequently, and after December 11 (23), 1882, the meetings ceased altogether.

The activity of the Council of Ministers was resumed on February 3 (16), 1905 due to the need for state reforms. According to the law of October 19 (November 1), 1905, the Council began to act in a new capacity as the highest state body of the country.

Lit .: Eroshkin N. P. History of public institutions pre-revolutionary Russia. M., 1968; Makarov S. V. Special Meeting on January 17, 1905 (On the problem of unification of ministerial administration in the Russian Empire) // Jurisprudence. 1993. No. 3; Makarov S.V. Creation of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire // Jurisprudence. 1993. No. 2; Council of Ministers // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. T. 24. Book. 1. M., 1977; Too [ Electronic resource]. URL:

On November 1, 1905, Count Sergei Witte was appointed the first chairman of the Council of Ministers of Russia. Prior to this, the tsar personally was the chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Nicholas II went to the appointment of Witte to this position against the will of his wife Alexandra Feodorovna of the palace environment. “The constitution and parliament are not so terrible as Count Witte as chairman of the Council of Ministers. He will outshine you!" the Empress said to her husband.

Nevertheless, fear of the revolution and Western creditors (Witte had a good reputation among European bankers) forced Nicholas II to appoint the count as chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Witte's first step in this post was to invite the editors of all major St. Petersburg newspapers to his dacha on Kamenny Island in order to announce the creation of a coalition cabinet through the media. However, nothing came of this venture. The editors told Mr. Witte that they "didn't trust the government" and demanded that the troops be withdrawn from St. Petersburg.

As a result, Witte did not receive love and recognition from any liberal part. Russian society, nor the entourage of the king. After five months as chairman of the Council of Ministers, Witte asked the tsar to resign. Nicholas II accepted it with ease.

The post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers lasted until February Revolution 1917, it was occupied by seven people.

7 Chairmen of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire

Sergei Yulievich Witte (1849-1915)

Witte began his career in the management of the Odessa Railway. Participated in the work of the Commission for the study of railway business in Russia. In 1889 he was appointed director of the Department of Railways under the Ministry of Finance, and at the end of 1892 - Minister of Finance. Witte actively promoted railway construction, including the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Chinese Eastern Railway. In 1897, he carried out a monetary reform, introducing the gold standard of the ruble, which contributed to the influx of foreign investment.

In the summer of 1905, Witte was sent to Portsmouth to conclude a peace treaty with Japan, where he was able to achieve minimal losses for Russia. For this he was elevated to the rank of count.

Under Witte's leadership, a manifesto was drawn up on October 17, 1905, proclaiming "freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and association" and introducing a representative body - the State Duma. Simultaneously with the promulgation of the manifesto, Witte was appointed the first chairman of the Council of Ministers. He was a supporter of tough measures to suppress revolutionary sentiment, but at the same time tried to cooperate with the liberals.

Ivan Logginovich Goremykin (1839-1917)

In 1895 Goremykin was appointed Minister of the Interior. Under him, in 1897, the first general census of the population was held. Goremykin opposed the policy of the Witte government, believing that it undermined the foundations of the state.

Five days before the start of the session of the First State Duma, Goremykin was appointed chairman of the Council of Ministers, after which he fought with the parliament for all 72 days of its existence. After the dissolution of the first convocation of the Duma on July 8, 1906, Goremykin was replaced by Pyotr Stolypin.

In January 1914, Goremykin returned to the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers, which he held for another two years. In February 1917 he was arrested and gave evidence to the Extraordinary Investigation Commission of the Provisional Government. He died during an attack on his estate in the summer of 1917.

Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin (1862-1911)

From 1884 he served in the Ministry of the Interior. In February 1903, Stolypin was appointed leader of the Saratov province, where he led the suppression of peasant unrest. In April 1906, Stolypin was appointed Minister of the Interior, and in July he assumed the position of Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Stolypin proclaimed a course of socio-political reforms, began to carry out agrarian reform. Under his leadership, a number of other bills were developed: on the reform of local self-government, on universal primary education, on religious tolerance, etc.

There were 11 attempts on Stolypin's life. After the first of these, in August 1906, the Council of Ministers adopted a decree on courts-martial. Within nine months, more than a thousand death sentences were handed down.

June 3, 1907 3 Nicholas II signed a decree on the dissolution of the II State Duma. The procedure for elections to the State Duma was changed in favor of right-wing parties. The June 3 coup is considered the end of the revolution of 1905-1907.

On September 1, 1911, Stolypin was mortally wounded by an agent of the Kiev security department Dmitry Bogrov. The ultimate goals of his reform were never achieved.

Vladimir Nikolaevich Kokovtsev (1853-1943)

After the assassination of Stolypin, Vladimir Kokovtsev was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who since 1904 served as Minister of Finance. He believed that until the end of the Stolypin agrarian reform, industry should be a priority. Over the 11 years of managing Kokovtsev's finances, state revenues have increased significantly.

At the end of January 1914, he was forced to resign due to disagreements with the right-wing parties and Rasputin. In compensation, he received the title of count. In June 1918, Kokovtsev was under arrest for several days, and after his release, he and his wife emigrated to France.

Boris Vladimirovich Shturmer (1848-1917)

Stürmer was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers on January 20, 1916. From March to July, he was also Minister of the Interior, and from July - Minister of Foreign Affairs. Stürmer supported the monarchists, was a member of the Russian Assembly and the Russian Border Society. In 1915 he was elected an honorary member of the Patriotic Union. He fought against the revolutionary movement and the opposition in the State Duma. Upon his retirement on November 10, 1915, he received the rank of chief chamberlain. During the February Revolution he was arrested and died in a prison hospital.

Alexander Fedorovich Trepov (1862-1928)

In 1915, Trepov became head of the Ministry of Railways. Under him, the Murmansk railway was built, the Vologda-Arkhangelsk branch was transferred to the broad gauge. Trepov established the Department of Highways as part of the ministry. He tried to fight the influence of Rasputin, to achieve the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs A. Protopopov. He himself was dismissed on December 27, 1916. After October revolution emigrated, became one of the leaders white movement. Died in Nice.

Nikolai Dmitrievich Golitsyn (1850-1925)

From 1871, he held various positions in the Ministry of the Interior. Since 1914 - a real Privy Councilor. In 1915, Golitsyn was appointed chairman of the Committee for Assistance to Russian Prisoners of War, which was patronized by the Empress. At her request, on December 27, 1916, Golitsyn was appointed chairman of the Council of Ministers. He also tried to achieve the resignation of Protopopov, but was against the dissolution of the State Duma.

During the February Revolution, Golitsyn was arrested along with other ministers, testified to the Extraordinary Investigation Commission of the Provisional Government. After these events, he remained in Russia, but stopped working political activities working as a shoemaker and guarding public gardens. In the early 1920s, Golitsyn was arrested three times on suspicion of counter-revolutionary activities, and for the third time, by order of the United State Political Administration (OGPU), he was shot.

The State Council is the highest legislative body of the Russian Empire in 1810-1906 and the upper house of the legislative institution of the Russian Empire in 1906-1917.

The creation of the State Council was announced by the manifesto "Formation of the State Council" of Emperor Alexander I, published on January 1 (13), 1810.

The predecessor of the State Council was the Permanent Council, established on March 30 (April 11), 1801, which was also informally called the State Council, so the date of the foundation of the latter is sometimes referred to as 1801. The formation of the State Council was one of the elements of the program for the transformation of the system of power in Russia, developed by M. M. Speransky. The goals of its creation were detailed in Speransky's note "On the need to establish the State Council."

Formation procedure

1. Departments of the State Council until 1906

Department of Laws (1810-1906). He considered bills in the field of administrative-territorial structure, legal proceedings, taxation, significant reforms of the state apparatus, draft regulations and states of individual state institutions, industrial, financial and commercial societies, public organizations.

Department of Civil and Ecclesiastical Affairs (1810-1906). Considered legal issues and cases of spiritual administration: forms and procedure for legal proceedings; interpretation and application in judicial practice individual articles of civil and criminal legislation; elevation to the nobility and deprivation thereof, of the case on the assignment of princely, count and baronial titles; cases on inheritance, land and other property disputes, on alienation real estate for public needs or its transfer from state ownership to private hands; on the establishment of new dioceses and parishes of the Orthodox and other faiths. Also, the department considered cases that caused disagreements when they were resolved in the Senate or between the Senate and individual ministries.

Department of State Economy (1810-1906). He dealt with issues of finance, trade, industry and public education. He considered bills related to the development of the economy, state revenues and expenditures, financial estimates of ministries and main departments, reports of state banks, taxation issues, granting privileges to individual joint-stock companies, cases of discoveries and inventions.

Department of Military Affairs (1810-1854). Considered questions of the military legislation; recruiting and arming the army; creation of central and local institutions of the military department; means to meet his economic needs; class and service rights and privileges of persons assigned to the military department, their judicial and administrative responsibility. Actually ceased to operate in 1854, but its chairman was appointed until 1858, and members until 1859

Provisional Department (1817). It was formed to consider and prepare bills in the financial field: on the establishment of the State commercial bank, the Council of State Credit Establishments, as well as the introduction of a drinking tax, etc.

Department of Affairs of the Kingdom of Poland (1832-1862). Formed after the abolition of the constitutional autonomy of the Kingdom of Poland for consideration general issues policies in relation to the Polish lands, the development of relevant bills, as well as listing the income and expenses of the Kingdom of Poland.

Department of Industry, Sciences and Trade (1900-1906). Considered bills and budget allocations in the field of development of industry and trade, as well as education; statute approval cases joint-stock companies and railways; granting privileges for discoveries and inventions.

2. State Council in 1906-1917

The Manifesto of February 20, 1906, and the new edition of the Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire of April 23, 1906 established the State Council as a legislative body - the upper house of the first Russian parliament, along with the lower house - the State Duma.

Departments of the State Council in 1906-1917

The first department concentrated mainly legal matters in its hands. He made decisions on issues that caused disagreement in the Senate, between the Senate and the Ministry of Justice, the Military Council or the Admiralty Council. He considered cases relating to liability for crimes committed by members of the State Council and the State Duma, ministers and other senior officials (holding positions of 1-3 classes according to the Table of Ranks), as well as cases of approval in princely, count and baronial dignity, etc.

The second department was specialized in matters related to finance and economics. He considered the annual reports of the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank, the State Noble Land Bank, the Peasant Land Bank, state savings banks, cases related to private railways sale of state lands to private individuals, etc.

The powers of the State Council included consideration of:

new laws or legislative proposals;

issues of internal management requiring the abolition, restriction, addition or clarification of previous laws;

internal and foreign policy in emergency situations;

annual estimate of general state income and expenditure (since 1862 - the state list of income and expenditure);

reports of the State Control on the execution of the list of income and expenses (since 1836);

emergency financial measures, etc.

The Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire is the highest executive body of the Russian Empire, created in a new form by the personal Imperial Decree of October 19, 1905 for the general "management and unification of the actions of the chief heads of departments on subjects of both legislation and higher government controlled The ministers ceased to be separate officials, each responsible to the emperor only for their actions and orders.

Prior to that, since 1861, there was a body with the same name under the chairmanship of the emperor - along with the Committee of Ministers. He considered cases that required not only the approval of the emperor, but also his personal presence during their discussion. The meetings were not regular and were appointed each time by the emperor.

After the February Revolution of 1917, it was replaced by the Provisional Government.

The Council of Ministers was headed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire- the highest executive body of the Russian Empire, created in a new form by the personal Imperial Decree of October 19, 1905 for the general "management and unification of the actions of the chief heads of departments on subjects of both legislation and higher state administration." The ministers ceased to be separate officials, each responsible to the emperor only for their actions and orders.

Composition

The Council of Ministers was headed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers included:

• Minister of Railways
• Minister of the Imperial Court

1st period

1. Alexander II (1857-1881)

2nd period

1. Witte, Sergei Yulievich (October 19, 1905 - April 22, 1906)
2. Goremykin, Ivan Logginovich (April 22 - July 8, 1906)
3. Stolypin, Pyotr Arkadyevich (July 8, 1906 - September 1, 1911)
4. Kokovtsov, Vladimir Nikolaevich (September 11, 1911 - January 30, 1914)
5. Goremykin, Ivan Logginovich, again (January 30, 1914 - January 20, 1916)
6. Stürmer, Boris Vladimirovich (January 20 - November 10, 1916)
7. Trepov, Alexander Fedorovich (November 10 - December 27, 1916)
8. Golitsyn, Nikolai Dmitrievich (December 27, 1916 - February 27, 1917)

1st period

The Council of Ministers was established for "exclusive consideration in the Highest Presence of His Majesty" of cases requiring "general consideration", that is, related to several branches of government at the same time.

The Council of Ministers consisted of ministers and the chief executives of departments equated to them, the chairman of the State Council and the chairman of the Committee of Ministers, as well as other senior officials by special appointment of the emperor. The emperor himself was the chairman of the Council, who could submit any questions for consideration. All cases were reported to the Council by ministers according to their affiliation, and office work was entrusted to the manager of the Committee of Ministers; The Council of Ministers did not have its own office. At all meetings of the Council, the Secretary of State was present to present information on legislative issues from the affairs of the State Council. Meetings of the Council of Ministers were not regular and were appointed each time by the emperor.

The following were subject to consideration in the Council: “types and assumptions for the arrangement and improvement of various parts entrusted to each Ministry and the Main Directorate”, “information on the progress of work on the arrangement and improvement ...”, initial legislative proposals with subsequent submission to the State Council; measures that require the general assistance of various departments, but are not subject to consideration in other higher state institutions; information about the most important orders for each department, requiring a "general consideration"; conclusions of commissions created by the emperor to consider the reports of ministries and main departments.

Notes

Literature

• Statehood of Russia. M., 2001, book. 4, pp. 136-139.
• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907. Article by V.V. Vodovozov

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COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, the highest government body of the Russian Empire. Initially (October 1857) the Council of Ministers was established informally. From 12 Nov. In 1861 it existed officially, along with the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. The Council of Ministers consisted of ministers and chief executives equivalent to them, the chairman of the State Council and the chairman of the Committee of Ministers, as well as, by special appointment of the tsar, other senior officials. The tsar was the chairman of the Council of Ministers, and he also had the initiative to submit all issues for consideration by the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers discussed matters of a national nature, materials and annual reports on the activities of departments, reports of ministers with proposals for changes and reforms, etc.

Most of the meetings of the Council of Ministers took place in 1858-64. In the 1870s, its meetings were held rarely, and from 11 December. 1882 stopped altogether. At the penultimate meeting of the Council of Ministers (March 8, 1881), the projects of M. T. Loris-Melikov were rejected. The work of the Council of Ministers resumed only in January. 1905. In June-July 1905, the Council of Ministers discussed the drafts of a new legislative institution prepared by the commission of A. G. Bulygin, which was called the State Duma in the council.

Oct 19 1905 The Council of Ministers approved the draft law “On Measures to Strengthen Unity in the Activities of the Ministries and Main Directorates” prepared by the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, S. Yu. Witte, approved by the Council of Ministers. According to this law, the Council of Ministers was transformed, and it was entrusted with the "direction and unification of the actions of the chief heads of departments in the subjects of both legislation and higher state administration." The Council of Ministers, in addition, considered the preliminary proposals of the heads of departments, meetings and commissions on issues of legislation before submitting them to the State Duma and the State Council; "most subject" reports of ministers; discussed the orders of the heads of departments that were of national importance, the proposals of the heads of departments on common device ministries and the replacement of chief officials; approved the charters of joint-stock companies.

The Council of Ministers included ministers, chief executives, the state controller, the chief prosecutor of the Synod, as well as the chairman of the State Council and the governor of the Caucasus. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers was appointed by the tsar from among the highest officials who enjoyed his special confidence. The office work of the Council of Ministers was conducted by the permanent office of the Council of Ministers (in the 19th century the office of the Council of Ministers was conducted by the office of the Committee of Ministers), headed by the manager of the affairs of the Council of Ministers. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers received huge rights of the first official in the state, the closest employee of the king. Relatively independent in the Council of Ministers were the ministers: military, naval, court and state controller, who had the right to submit to the Council of Ministers only those measures that they found necessary to discuss jointly. Meetings of the Council of Ministers were held regularly 2-3 times a week and recorded in special journals. Since 1906, the competence of the Council of Ministers has expanded. According to Art. 87 of the Basic Laws of the Russian Empire of 23 April. In 1906, in the event of termination of meetings of the State Council and the State Duma, the Council of Ministers discussed the bills and, through the chairman, submitted them for approval by the king as “highest decrees”, which came into effect without considering them in the legislative order. This ensured the adoption of any law without discussion in the State Duma and the State Council. Only between 1st and 2nd State Dumas(July 1906 - Feb. 1907) 59 emergency "decrees" were carried out through the Council of Ministers under Art. 87. After the abolition of the Committee of Ministers on 24 April. 1906 most of his administrative functions(introduction, extension and termination of the provisions on enhanced and emergency protection, designation of areas for the placement of exiles, strengthening personnel gendarmerie, police, supervision of city and zemstvo self-government, establishment of companies, etc. - a total of 42 categories of cases in 1909) was transferred to the Council of Ministers.