State Council of Imperial Russia

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The State Council ("Государственный Совет") was the supreme state advisory body to Tsar in Imperial Russia.

18th century

Early Tsar's Councils were small and dealt primarily with the external politics.

Peter I of Russia introduced the Secret Council. Catherine I of Russia introduced the Supreme Secret Council. Its role varied during different reigns.

Peter III of Russia created the Imperial Council on May 20, 1762 ("Императорский Совет"), or, formally "The Council at the Highest Court" ("Совет при высочайшем дворе"). It was dismissed shortly after the succession of Catherine II of Russia.

1906-1917

During 1906-1917, the status of the State Counsil was defined by the Russian Constitution of 1906. Its chairman was appointed by Tsar. Initially half of its members were appointed by Tsar and half by elections from various caegories of society, separately (clergy, Russian Academy of Science, universities, guberniya-level zemstvo, Dvoryan Assembly, merchants("купечество"), industrialists ("промышленники")). After 1910, only Tsar appoined the members. During this period it is sometimes formally compared to the upper house of the parliament, the State Duma being compared with the lower house.