Continuation. Beginning in N 4, 5 for 1999 The potential for the emergence of a representative form of legislative power in Russia has arisen more than once. In the XVIII century after the death of Peter I. At the beginning of the XIX century under Alexander I. In the second half of the last century, before the assassination of Alexander II, which served as a signal for curtailing any reforms in the field of representative power. But each time the autocracy refrained from taking a decisive step towards democratization, so the system of state administration, in particular the legislative power, lagged more and more behind the requirements of the time, and came into conflict with the objective needs of the country's development. In the autumn of 1905, Nicholas II decided to take such a step only under the pressure of popular demands, the danger that threatened the monarchy - the democratic revolution. It was with a heavy heart that the Emperor signed a manifesto on October 17 granting civil liberties of conscience, speech, assembly and association, and electoral rights to those segments of the population who had previously been deprived of them. Workers of industrial establishments numbering more than 50 people received the right to vote. At the same time, a significant part of the population - women, students, and military personnel - did not have the right to vote. The Duma, in accordance with the manifesto, received not only legislative functions: "... so that no law can take effect without the approval of the State Duma, " but also control functions: "...so that the elected representatives of the people are provided with the opportunity to actually participate in monitoring the regularity of the actions of the authorities appointed by Us." The Russian Parliament consisted of two equal chambers: the lower - the State Duma and the upper-the State Council. It should be noted that almost a century earlier, exactly such a bicameral structure based on the separatio ... Читать далее