Basic state laws of the Russian empire: an attempt of constitutional construction

The first Russian revolution became the starting point from which the destruction of the absolute monarchy in Russia began and the constitutionalization of the state system began. In 1905, the Supreme Manifesto was adopted, proclaiming the inviolability of the person, freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and association, as well as expanding the electoral rights of subjects of the empire and supplementing the powers of the State Duma. However, a more significant event of the First Russian Revolution was the appearance in the country in 1906 of the first constitution - the Basic State Laws. The «Constitution of 1906» played a colossal role in the development of the theory and practice of Russian constitutionalism. The basic laws clearly showed the possibility of transforming an empire into a state governed by the rule of law.