Zemstvos

(district and provincial assemblies), district and provincial administrative organs of zemstvo (district and provincial self-government) institutions in Russia from 1864 to 1917.

The zemstvos elected zemstvo boards every three years and controlled their work, approved a budget, and apportioned zemstvo duties. The chairman of the zemstvo was called the marshal of the nobility. The members of the provincial zemstvos were elected by the district zemstvos, from among the district members, who were elected on the basis of property qualifications and an apportionment system that guaranteed the significant predominance of the nobility. The peasants were deprived of zemstvo representation by the statutes of 1890. The peasants elected candidates from volost (small rural district) assemblies, but the peasant members were appointed from their number by the governor on the recommendation of the land captain of the uchastok (subdistrict).