City Duma City Duma City Duma () is the parliament/legislative branch of power of in the Russian Empire and contemporary Russian cities, and before the entry into force of the new administrative-territorial division in 2009, in all the cities of Latvia. Originated in Russia on the basis of a decree issued on April 21, 1785 by Empress Catherine II ""The instruments on the rights and benefits of the cities of the Russian Empire"" which included the creation of the "General City Duma". General Duma has elected an executive body, "Шестигласная дума" consisting of the mayor and six councilors, one of six "bits"
Saint Petersburg City Duma crossing with Fontanka River. During the Soviet years, the Smolny effectively functioned as the Saint Petersburg City Hall. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Legislative Assembly made the Marie Palace its headquarters. Антонов П. А. Городская дума на Невском // Диалог. 1989. № 31. С. 21-26. Saint Petersburg City Duma Saint Petersburg City Duma was established in 1785 in the course of Catherine the Great's municipal reform. Emperor Paul replaced it by the so-called Ratusha, but his son, Alexander I, had the Duma restored four years later. The next emperor, Nicholas I, expanded the institution from six to