Was Russia really a constitutional monarchy in 1906?

A constitutional monarchy does not mean that you have a document called a Constitution. For example the UK has no such document, and has merely a collection of laws that are foundational in character, but have no special formal status. read more

A constitutional monarchy is one where the monarch is bound to obey the law. Before the 1905–1906 revolution, the Russian monarch was superior to the law, and could do whatever he pleased, in fact “autocrat” was part of his regnal title. The laws of the Russian empire were simply edicts issued by the monarch. read more

Following this, the draft was further discussed and amended under the Tsar's chairmanship; Nicholas chose to officially publish this new constitution on 6 May [O.S. 23 April] 1906. With this act, Russia was officially transformed from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional one, though the exact extent of just how constitutional quickly became the subject of debate, based upon the emperor's subsequent actions. read more