The subject of the article is the problem of comprehension by the Russian peasantry, of the electoral legislation due to the appearance of the pre-Revolutionary State Duma. Classification is presented of both the appraisals on this score and the behavioural reactions on the part of the Vyatskaya Province peasants. The conclusion has been made that the Vyatskaya Province villagers perceived the role of the State Duma after their own fashion: according to the opinion they adopted, it had for its mission first of all to solve their economic problems.