The problem of the “Pub constitution” in the State Duma of the Russian Empire

Abstract

The article reviews the issue of the “Pub constitution” which was discussed in the State Duma of the Russian Empire (1907-1912), the issue when rural societies could control the presence of drinking establishment on their territory, a so called “Pub constitution”. It is the right rural societies had before 1890-s when the government started their wine monopoly and continued to take a fee from the owner of a pub for the permission to work in the rural area. The government getting rid of this constitution said about negative consequences (such as drinking). The peasants claimed to spend this money on the village development. Deputies of the State Duma tried to understand this issue.

Keywords

• State Duma
• “Pub constitution”
• M.D. Chelyshov
• the fight against drunkenness
• sobriety
• the peasantry
• the village
• rural societies.
• rural societies