Zemsky councils is an executive body that was created as a result of the reform of 1864 during the reign of Alexander II. These institutions were formed as part of a series of reforms that took place in the second half of this century.
Characteristic of the era
The abolition of serfdom was the immediate impetus for reforms in all spheres of Russian society. This major step required immediate changes in the social, administrative, judicial structures, as well as innovations in the fields of education and culture. Therefore, literally in one decade, a whole series of measures was taken to reform the administration and judicial institutions. In 1864, the emperor signed a decree on the creation of special zemstvo institutions. Following the same model, the city reform was subsequently carried out. A new liberal university charter was introduced, giving these institutions broad autonomy. So, the creation of local self-government was an important step in the transformational activities of Alexander II.
Backstory
Zemsky councils were not an innovation: the draft of such reforms was prepared at the beginning of the century. Alexander I instructed Speranskyprepare a reform to expand the rights and powers of local authorities. The plan developed by this statesman provided for the creation of three levels of power: volost, district and provincial. At each of these levels, the creation of dumas was envisaged: local noble landowners with peasants made up the volost duma, which elected the district duma, the latter, in turn, formed the provincial, and that - the All-Russian State Duma. This project of an elected all-Russian body of power was perhaps Speransky's most important project, despite the fact that privately-owned peasants were not allowed to participate in the elections. However, at the beginning of the century, this plan was not implemented and, with very significant changes, was embodied in the reform of Alexander II.
Basics
Zemsky councils were the most important part of the new system of self-government. According to the regulations, administrative provincial and district zemstvo assemblies were created on the ground, which, in turn, elected executive bodies - councils. The population participated only in the selection of county assemblies. The electorate consisted of landowners, urban population and peasants. Their participation was limited by property qualification. For the first group - land ownership of at least 200 acres, real estate of at least 15 thousand rubles. or a certain annual income.
City voters had to own commercial or industrial enterprises or an annual income of at least 6 thousand rubles. Peasant elections were two-stage: rural society and volost. SoThus, preference was given to large landowners and the bourgeoisie, while the rights of the main part of the population were limited.
Structure
Zemsky councils were elected by provincial and district zemstvo assemblies. The leaders of the nobility led these assemblies. Thus, this estate occupied the main positions in these local governments. But these bodies did not have political power, their functions were limited to solving local needs and landscaping. Moreover, their activities were controlled by the central and local authorities. Thus, the chairman of the zemstvo council in the province was approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs. There have been many such cases when the activities of this local self-government were even limited. In addition, they did not have their own punitive and protective bodies and, if necessary, were forced to turn to the police and the administration, thereby recognizing their dependence on them. However, the reform contributed to the intensification of social activities of the intelligentsia in the field.
Functions
The fact of who approved the chairmen of zemstvo councils proves how much the authorities were interested in establishing control over these bodies. The head of the county government was appointed with the approval of the governor, who monitored the activities of local government. The task of the new bodies was to organize public amenities: they were in charge of communication routes, hospitals, public education,improvement of agricultural technology and assistance in the development of agriculture. They formed their own budget, which was based on property taxes, with the bulk falling on the peasantry. Nevertheless, many representatives of the intelligentsia accepted the reform with enthusiasm: many talented doctors, teachers, paramedics, engineers went to work in the village and contributed to its economic, social and cultural development.
Meaning
In this new system, zemstvo councils were the main executive cell, since it directly de alt with local needs. It was elected for three years and consisted of a chairman and about three members. But, despite the obvious positive significance of the reform, it had a significant drawback compared to the Speransky plan, which provided for the creation of an entire electoral system, from the smallest social unit, the volost duma, to the all-Russian body, the State Duma, in the election of which almost all segments of the population participated. According to the reform of 1864, the provincial and district zemstvo councils, along with assemblies, were, in fact, the only elected bodies without a foundation, a volost level, and an All-Russian Duma.
