Who were the Duma?

The Duma were the state assembly of Russia. First instituted by Tsar Nicholas II in 1905 it was intended to be an elected legislative body that, along with the State Council, made Russian law, and it did until the time of the March 1917 Revolution. However, it was doomed to failure because at its very first meeting, control over state ministers and portions of the state budget were removed.

The Tsar was in overall control. This limited its ability to initiate legislation effectively. The first two Dumas were elected and were predominantly socialist and communist, wanting to effect changes for the ordinary people. The Tsar disposed of both these Dumas. Well, he got his punishmnet in 1917, albeit rather over severe!

The Duma was an elected legislative body that constituted the imperial Russian legislature along with the State Council, from 1906 until it was dissolve at the time of the March 1917 revolution.

The first formally constituted Duma was introduced into the Russian system by Tsar Nicholas II in 1906 after the announcement of the Fundamental Laws. The first Duma lasted for only two months. Four Dumas were held between 1906 and 1914.

The first two were strong opposition to Tsarism. The next two were more flexible as a result of the changes made to the voting system.