Kadet domination of the First Duma and its limits

This chapter discusses the extent to which, if at all, the Kadets were responsible for the failure of the 'Constitutional Experiment' - that is, for the failure to establish a government acceptable to the Duma. On the basis of a fresh look at existing secondary and primary sources and an examination of new material (the draft notes of the protocols of the last two sessions of the First State Duma and the condensed minutes of Goremykin's government), it concludes that the chances that Nicholas II would have agreed to the establishment of such a government were very slim and became even slimmer when it transpired that the Kadets were unable to muster a solid majority in the Duma.