political structure

Question 1

imperial council of state

Answer 1

• body that gave advice to tsar on legal/financial matters
• members appointed by tsar & he had no obligation to listen to them

Question 2

senate

Answer 2

• till 1905, acted as supreme court in russia
• it was final court of appeal on major legal matters, promoter of manifestos, confirmer of titles of nobility

Question 3

council of ministers

Answer 3

• chaired by tsar
• consisted of officials nominated by him
• main task was to discuss draft legislation which could be given immediate real assent or passed on to committee of ministers for further scrutiny

Question 4

committee of ministers

Answer 4

• initially 13 ministers who had a responsibility for a particular aspect of russian affairs
• each ministry connected to departments that had very specific responsibilities
• important posts where minister of interior (responsible for domestic affairs on law & order), minister of war & minister of interior
• always answerable to tsar
• major weakness was communication between ministers

Question 5

tsar

Answer 5

• as an autocrat tsar had complete control of policy making & implementation
• all of organs of central gov were accountable to tsar