State Duma (Russian Empire) denying responsible government at the executive level. Furthermore, the Tsar had the power to dismiss the Duma and announce new elections whenever he wished; article 87 allowed him to pass temporary (emergency) laws by decrees. All these powers and prerogatives assured that, in practice, the Government of Russia continued to be a non-official absolute monarchy. It was in this context that the first Duma opened four days later, on April 27, 1906. The first Duma opened on 27 April 1906 after the 1905 revolution and was established by Nicholas II in his October Manifesto, with around 500 deputies; most radical
Moscow City Duma Moscow City Duma The Moscow City Duma (, "Moskovskaya Gorodskaya Duma") is the Russian regional parliament in Moscow, the unicameral City Duma (city council, a local parliament) of the Russian capital city of Moscow. As Moscow is one of three federal cities, the city duma's legislation can only be overridden by the mayor and the federal government. It includes 45 members who are elected for a five-year term on Single-mandate constituency basis. From 1993 to 2001 was elected by single-member districts. From 2005 to 2009, 20 deputies were elected on party lists, and 15 - in single-seat constituencies. From 2009