Provincial and district zemstvo meetings and councils. Establishment of provincial and district zemstvo meetings. What were the members of the zemstvo meetings called?

In the beginning of the XIX century local government was carried out within the framework of the feudal system of management. The landlord was the key figure. In his hands, the administrative, judicial, economic and political power over the dependent was concentrated.

Peasant Reform

Its implementation required an urgent restructuring of the local government structure. In the process of reform, the government planned to create conditions that would ensure the preservation of power among the gentry landlords. The conservative part of the class insisted on creating significant and open privileges. Liberal-minded groups, oriented toward the capitalist path, proposed the formation of all-union organizations. The final draft of the Provisions on Zemstvo boards and the provisional rules for their work were prepared only towards the end of 1863.

Formation of new institutions

In 1864, on January 1, the Provision was introduced, which introduced district and zemsky bodies. It was supposed to extend the action of the document to 33 districts. Subsequently, the government planned to put the Regulation into force on the territory of the Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk and 9 western provinces, Bessarabia, the Baltic provinces, the Kingdom of Poland. All institutions that until 1864 administered cases of public contempt, zemstvo duties, national food, were abolished.

Structure of new organizations

The institutions included:

1. Electoral congresses.
2. Zemsky meetings and councils.

The representation system was based on the principle of all-wordness. Elections took place at 3 congresses - from three curiae:

1. County landowners. It consisted mainly of noblemen-landlords. The vote at the congress could be the owners of the qualification of real estate or land or a certain turnover of capital per year. The latter was set at a rate of 6 thousand. The land qualification was determined for each province separately, proceeding from the state of the landowners' possession. So, in Vladimir it was 250 acres, in Moscow - 200, in Vologda - 250-800. The value of real estate was set at 15 thousand. Those landowners who did not have sufficient funds participated in the voting through representatives.
2. The urban curia. It consisted of persons who possessed merchant certificates, owners of commercial and industrial establishments, whose turnover was no less than 6 thousand rubles. / Year., And having a certain amount of real estate.
3. Rural Curia. She also assumed a property qualification. However, three-stage elections were introduced in this curia. Peasants who gathered at the volost meeting, elected their representatives and sent them to the meeting. The voters from the district were already selected on it.

Here it is necessary to tell, as members of zemsky assemblies were called. They were called vowels.

Features of a representative system

Of all the congresses, only the peasant possessed an exclusively class nature. This excluded the participation in it of persons who were not part of the rural society. In the first place, representatives of the intelligentsia were not allowed. At the landowning and city congresses, participants were able to choose the vowels only from their curia. At the same time, rural communities were allowed to vote for landowners who were not members of the curia, as well as local clergymen. The elective right was deprived of persons who had not reached the age of 25, who were under court or criminal investigation, disgraced by a public sentence or a judicial decision. Foreigners who did not swear allegiance to the tsar did not participate in the elections.

Establishment of provincial and district zemstvo assemblies

The second component of the system was formed at electoral congresses. Elections took place every three years. Zemstvo meetings were held once a year. In emergency circumstances they were convened more often. As chairman, as a rule, the leader of the nobility spoke. Provincial and district zemsky assemblies formed a certain hierarchical structure.

Functions

The county and provincial zemstvo meetings consisted of representatives selected from three curia at congresses. The former were subordinate to the latter, but they could solve a number of issues independently. In particular, zemstvo meetings:

1. They gave permission to open bazaars and trades.
2. Distributed in the county provincial and state fees. This function was assigned to institutions by regulation or by law.
3. Provided the provincial organizations with information and conclusions on the subjects of the economy.
4. Solved the question of the maintenance of the shorelines.
5. Translated country and field roads into the category of district and vice versa, changed their direction.
6. Issued orders and supervised the directions of the administration for the construction of roads, mutual insurance, provided a report on the work done.

Higher zemstvo meetings carried out:

1. Separation of buildings, communications, structures, duties, institutions of charity into categories. Classification assumed 2 groups: one related to the uyezd, the other to the province.
2. Conducting business on the organization of new fairs, changing / postponing the terms of validity.
3. Directing through the chief of petitions for transferring road structures to the state category for valid reasons.
4. Conducting business on the organization of new marinas on rivers and porting existing ports.
5. The layout between the counties of state fees.
6. Management of mutual insurance of property against fire.
7. Consideration and resolution of issues and difficulties that could arise when approving layouts and estimates for fees.
8. The analysis of complaints against the actions of managers.

List of activities

It should be noted that in the Statute of 1864 in Art. 2 was given a list of cases that zemstvo meetings could carry out, but they were not obligatory for them. These included, in particular:

1. Management of property, money and capital, management of charitable institutions.
2. Care of the development of the system of national food, industry and trade.
3. Management of mutual property insurance .
4. Layout of government fees.
5. Participation in the development of economic support for public health and education.
6. Charging and spending of fees.

Zemstvo councils

They acted as executive bodies. Their composition was formed zemstvo meetings at the first meeting of the new convocation. Officials from treasuries, state chambers, clergymen were not included in the executive bodies. The provincial government had 6 members and a chairman. Elected body for 3 years. In the county government there were 2 members and a chairman whose candidature was approved by the highest local official.