Final answer:
Before Ivan IV in Russia, the Veche and the Boyars were central political institutions. The Veche was a town assembly, while the Boyars were influential nobility. The Zemsky Sobor and the Duma came later.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central political institutions before Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) in Russia were the Veche and the Boyars. The Veche was a form of town assembly found in the Novgorod Republic and other Russian cities which dealt with various matters of governance and local affairs.
On the other hand, the Boyars were the highest-ranking members of the feudal nobility, who formed a close advisory council to the Grand Duke or Tsar. Option (B) The Veche is correct if we're considering more localized institutions, while option (D) The Boyars is accurate when discussing those who had considerable influence at the court and national level.
The Zemsky Sobor, sometimes referred to as the Russian Estates-General, was another important assembly that was established during Ivan IV's reign.
The Duma, which started after the period in question, was established during the reforms following the 1905 revolution and was a more structured legislative body that eventually was limited by the second house appointed by the Tsar.