Civil Service in Soviet Russia

Before the Revolution. Peter the Great, among other attempts to westernize Russia, introduced in 1722 a “table of ranks” consisting of fourteen classes of civil officials (chinovniki) ranging from mere filing clerks to privy councillors. Advancement in civil service also brought with it advancement in social status, but few persons of plebeian origin could reach the higher ranks. Officials attaining the rank of “actual state councillor” automatically became hereditary nobles. The old nobility resented this “corruption of blood;” but with the growth of the Empire, the nobles alone were not sufficiently numerous to render all the civil service necessary for the administration of the state. The admission of non-nobles into civil service was, however, rigidly restricted, not so much by educational qualifications as by stipulations that sons of officials, military officers, orthodox clergy, merchants of the first class, and members of the learned professions should be given preference. Others were admitted provided they were graduated from middle and higher educational institutions with honor (gold medal). Jews were in general excluded, exceptions being made in the case of the medical service.