The Role of the Minister of Justice in the Proceedings Before the Governing Senate of the Russian Empire in Administrative Matters

Abstract

The dominant role of the minister of justice in the proceedings before the Governing Senate in administrative disputes, was one of the characteristics of the Russian monarchy. Control and supervision of public administration, including the settlement of administrative disputes, remained the fields implemented in the procedure within the administration itself. No strict distinction between the control and supervisory functions of the appropriate bodies, in particular the Governing Senate, meant that the dominant role in the proceedings in administrative matters held the central government authority – the minister of justice. The conduct of the procedure as well as the contents of provided judgments were determined by the decision of the minister of justice. Entrusting the supervision of the administrative departments of the Governing Senate to the minister of justice, and enabling him to intervene in every stage of the proceedings in administrative disputes, provided the Russian bureaucracy with effective protection against unfavorable decisions. Consequently, the Governing Senate could not fulfill the role of an independent judicial authority whose task was to control – independently and impartially – the legalism of administrative operation of the authorities of the Russian State.