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"
1997 Moscow City Duma election 1997 Moscow City Duma election The Moscow legislative election of 1997 were held December 14 of that year to the Moscow City Duma, the city's unicameral parliament (city council). Participated in the election were 28 associations and four electoral blocs. In 1995, the deputies refused to schedule new elections and instead extended their term for a further two years. This provoked a two-year court case that ended this summer with a ruling that the Duma had acted illegally in extending its powers. The "Nikolai Gonchar" bloc was the only bloc that has adopted a platform critical of the way Mayor