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.

Russian Empire

Originated in Russia on the basis of a decree issued on 21 April 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" of urban inhabitants. "Шестигласная дума" have been replaced by "всесословные общие" and sometimes "распорядительные думa", Moscow, and after the administrative reform in 1870, the City Duma in all the cities.

Russian Federation

In 1991 the Russian law "On Local Self-Government in the RSFSR" was adopted, which actually allowed the creation instead of the city councils of people's deputies of urban duma. In 2003, a new federal law, under which the exclusive competence of the City Council are: