THE ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN RUSSIAN REGIONS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY: A COMPARISON OF GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVES AND SENATE DECREE

Andreev Aleksey Evgenievich

This article analyzes the role of local institutions in the Russian Empire in the second half of the 18th century through a comparison of gubernatorial initiatives and Senate decrees. It focuses on the regulatory framework of the 1775 "Institution for Governance of the Provinces," the 1782 "Charter of Decency," and the 1785 "Charter to the Cities," as well as the Senate's oversight mechanisms (departments, prosecutor's office, audits). It is shown that gubernatorial initiatives in the financial, economic, police, and social spheres developed within the framework of imperial legality and accountability, forming a "mixed" governance model. It is concluded that the interaction between the center and the regions, despite all the contradictions, contributed to administrative modernization and strengthened the governability of the provincial space.

Keywords:Russian Empire, Catherine II, Governing Senate, Senate departments, prosecutor's office, governor-general.