Empress Catherine II began his reign with the reforms in the spirit of the policy of "enlightened absolutism", inspired by the works of many European thinkers.As you know, the very "enlightened absolutism" assumed the equality of all people in the country, regardless of their class, to a single law.So, in 1767 it was convened by the Legislative Commission of Catherine 2, the purpose of which was the establishment of a new set of laws that protect the interests of all classes of citizens.Empress believed that it is enough for the freestyle Russian idea will be supported by representatives of many ranks and classes, and thus strengthen its position on the imperial throne.
So, the Legislative Commission is a collegial body, convened to organize the laws that came into force back in 1649.In total the history of the Russian Empire was convened seven such committees.The most large-scale was the convening Legislative Commission Catherine II, which differed from previous broad representation (now to electing deputies allowed citizens - one representative from the city, nobles, peasants and foreigners).Right to be elected deputies were deprived of the representatives of the spiritual power and serfs.Legislative Commission of Catherine II was composed of 450 members, most of whom were representatives of the citizens (36%), the nobility (33%) and rural residents (20%).
deputies of the Legislative Commission was given plenty of privileges.So, they received an additional salary, could not be subjected to corporal punishment, torture, and death, their estates could not be seized under any circumstances (except for debt).Insulting the deputy punished imposition of severe penalties.
Convocation of the Legislative Commission of Catherine II was marked by another interesting novelty for residents of Russia.The Empress was his own so-called "Instructions" to deputies, they were guided by when making important decisions.In his "Instructions" Catherine laid out his views on the main tasks of the Legislative Commission.The text of the document consisted of twenty chapters, divided into articles.Some of them were written in the spirit of the laws of the French philosopher Charles Montesquieu, and some - in the spirit of the book Italian C. Beccaria, "On Crimes and Punishments".
Empress was convinced that the only possible form of government in a country as vast as Russia, is an absolute monarchy.To protect all citizens from the tyranny and arbitrariness of the monarch and must be created the Legislative Commission, members of which have the right to express the current governor of the opinion that, for example, the adoption of the decree is unacceptable in the framework of the current situation, it is contrary to the opinion of the Legislative Commission, andtherefore, can not be made public.Some of the articles "Mandate" was devoted to the economic development of the country, the construction of new towns, the development of industry, agriculture and trade.
Convocation of the Legislative Commission in the summer of 1767.Its opening was marked by the liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin with the personal presence of Catherine II.All the members before the meeting took the oath.In autumn 1768 the war broke out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, require the attendance of many deputies in military establishments and on the battlefields.Marshall A. Bibikov was announced termination of their meetings.The convening of the Legislative Commission of Catherine II was the last meeting of this kind of representatives of different social classes in Russia.Despite this, an attempt to create a similar class-representative body of the Empress raised her in the eyes of the population, raised its prestige to unprecedented heights in Russia itself and far beyond its borders.
