The ethnic and religious question in the law policy of Catherine II

The article is devoted to national and religious question in the law reforms in the 70-80-ies of 18-th century. On the bases of the analysis of the legislative statements, work-office documents, historical literature in the work discovered socio-economical and political causes, historical conditions of special law institutes formation. Regional legal proceedings met the requirements to unify and centralize legal system in Russia. General and special law institutes carried out an important function in settle relations among social groups of polyethnic and multireligious population in Russian empire.