The local self-government is one of the obligatory and inalienable elements that underlie the constitutional system of Russia. In 1993, this apparatus was fixed at the legislative level. The abbreviation LSG stands for local government.
According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, such a component of social and social governance is a form of democracy, an instrument for the implementation and protection of civil rights, the solution of a number of problems through the partial delegation of authority from state authorities.
In the wide and narrow sense
In the main law of our country there is no definition of the abbreviation LSG. However, this does not mean at all that the concept under consideration is not covered in any other document. So, for example, the decoding of the local self-government is presented in the Federal Law “On General Principles of the Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation”. This normative legal act discloses its definition. The local self-government is a kind of form of exercise of power by the people, which is provided within the limits established by law, and implies responsibility to the population for decisions made in matters of local importance.
The population of a certain territory (region) independently establishes the organizational basis of their municipality. In addition to self-government bodies, other forms of exercising democracy can also take place. If we consider the concept of local self-government in a narrower sense, the decoding will imply units of self-governing territorial communities.
In the democratic system, a special place is occupied by the structure of local bodies. The principle of the formation of local self-government is to provide the state with a functioning decentralization management system. In this context, one can single out the main goals that the authorities pursue, delegating authority to municipalities - to ensure the interests of the civil society of territorial units, while preserving historical local traditions, language, and religion.
Thanks to the coordinated work of local authorities, there is an effective organization of power at the local level, which provides an opportunity for independent decision-making in matters of local importance by civil society.
The system of non-governmental authorities
The local self-government is the local government that exercises its authority and represents the interests of the population. At the same time, local government is not a state structure. The main task of local governments (LSG) is the exercise of power, which explains the binding nature of the decisions they make.
Normative legal acts of municipal and state bodies have equal legal force for citizens, commercial enterprises, public organizations and budgetary institutions in the territory of a particular administrative-territorial unit.
Despite the fact that the local self-government system in Russia is separate and independent, its representatives have to interact closely with government agencies. However, do not confuse interaction with the interference of state bodies and their officials in the activities of municipalities. The law prohibits any state invasion of the local self-government, the substitution and restriction of the powers of local self-government by public organizations is not allowed.
Conventionally, the structure of power associations in the field can be divided into two categories. Representative bodies belong to the first, and other formations formed by the charter of a particular municipality belong to the second. The name, composition and procedure for exercising the powers of the self-government apparatus are also determined by the laws of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation and federal regulatory legal acts.
At the legislative level, the mandatory formation of an elected local government is established. In this regard, the state provides municipalities with independence in the selection of various organizational and structural schemes for the creation of local self-government. The activities of the bodies should be of an executive and administrative nature, despite the fact that this is not spelled out in the main federal law regulating the general principles of the formation of the local government institution.
Positions in municipalities
The officials who came to work in local government are classified as municipal employees. Unlike civil service, the local one is regulated by the charter of a specific regional entity, which is based on the provisions of the Federal Law “On the Basics of Municipal Service in the Russian Federation” and other laws of the subject.
Positions in the structure of the local self-government are divided into:
- Election - employees are appointed to such places after the municipal elections by voting. Electoral are the posts of deputies, members of the elected body, and others.
- Occupied - the basis for appointment to such positions is the decision of any elected body elected by law.
- Other posts of the municipality.
The last group includes vacancies that are received by highly qualified specialists after completing an employment contract. However, citizens holding such posts are also considered municipal employees.
Local Elections
The most important principle of the organization of work of the local self-government is the formation of the local government through elections. Their main and only goal is the formation of a leading link capable of representing and protecting popular interests, ensuring the coordinated work of the entire administrative-territorial unit.
Elections to local self-government bodies (LSGs) are held in accordance with federal law and international law, in particular, the provisions of the European Charter on Local Self-Government. The timing of the election is limited and established by the laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
The preparation and conduct of the election process to the municipal bodies is provided by territorial election commissions (district and precinct), which are fully responsible for ensuring the legality of the electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation. Together with the regional election commissions, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation takes part in the election of persons for representative and other elected posts.
At the stage of preparation for the election process, as well as during the event itself, the manifestation of the independence of municipal structures from state bodies is of fundamental importance. Within their competence, local self-government bodies should make independent decisions and ensure fruitful interaction not only with government agencies, but also with the media.
The role of the CEC of the Russian Federation in the election process is to use its own powers in order to ensure monitoring of the observance of the rights of voters, providing organizational, methodological, legal and other advisory assistance to local commissions in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
How to choose people for positions in local self-government
Over the years of independence, our country has managed to accumulate enough experience for the preparation and full holding of elections to municipal authorities.The election of persons who will represent the legitimate interests of citizens is carried out on the basis of secret ballot. Elections to the local self-government are the realization of universal equal suffrage of the population. They must fully comply with the principles of democracy and international standards.
Russian citizens have the authority not only to elect, but also to be elected to the municipality. At the same time, gender, nationality, religion, social status and material status do not matter. Regardless of political beliefs and commitment, the electoral votes of citizens are not more or less significant - they have the same weight.
The election of persons to positions in the local self-government, as well as civil servants, can be carried out on an alternative basis. As practice shows, an average of 2 to 12 candidates apply for one deputy mandate. In the process of creating local self-government structures, public associations are directly involved. In most cases, these are large non-profit organizations that campaign in favor of their nominees, provide transparency and control over the electoral process.
In the Russian Federation, as well as in the developed European powers, several methods of forming local self-government are used. For example, representative bodies are elected by voting, which is held among the population. In some cases, the credentials of citizens may be transferred to public assemblies and organizations.
Head of Municipality
The head of the local self-government is an elected official who received his post as a result of victory in elections to local authorities. He heads the local administration, which is engaged in daily management in a certain territory of the subject of the Russian Federation. In urban settlements, the head of the local self-government is most often called the mayor, the head of the city, and in districts, villages and other administrative-territorial units, the heads of local self-government of districts, municipal districts, village councils, etc.
The head of the local self-government structure can be elected in two ways: either by voting of the population living in the territory, or nominated as a candidate from the representative body. In almost 2/3 of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the heads of local self-government were elected by secret ballot of citizens. Much less often, a leader is invited to take a position on a labor contract.
Varieties of municipal structures
In order to give an objective assessment of the activities of the local self-government, it is first necessary to find out how effective and useful their structure is for society. In Russia, there are only unicameral municipalities. In other countries, bicameral construction is also sometimes used (for example, the local government of New York). Regardless of the structure of the local self-government, the charters of municipalities must necessarily include the presence of:
- representative bodies;
- heads of local government;
- Administration of the region, district, village;
- supervisory authority of the municipality;
- other self-government structures.
Based on the authority of the local self-government, federal legislation in the field of local self-government allows several options for the construction of municipal administrative entities. In the first case, members of the representative body are elected by citizens. The chapter is also chosen by the population. The chairman of the local administration is appointed by the employment contract.
The second version of the structure of self-government bodies looks like this: a representative body is elected by citizens, the head of the municipality simultaneously holds the position of head of the local executive body.
An alternative to both of the above schemes is as follows: deputies of the municipal council are elected by popular vote, the head of the city, village, district, etc. is appointed by the representative body, and another official becomes the head of the local administration after signing the contract agreement.
Legislators have to do a very painstaking and complex work to modernize regional legislation and bring regulatory standards in line with the provisions of federal laws governing the mechanism for providing guarantees for the exercise of civil rights (participation in elections, referenda).
In addition, the experience of holding elections to the local self-government bodies in recent years demonstrates an urgent need to improve federal legislation. The purpose of the changes is to supplement the general principles of taking civil opinion into account at the stage of the formation and transformation of municipalities, determine the scope of powers of local self-government and establish the boundaries of their capabilities.
Self-government competence
Based on the functions of the local self-government, it is not difficult to identify the main powers that they possess. In fact, local governments are competent in resolving local affairs. First of all, it is worth noting the authority of the leadership in matters of the development of the housing and communal sphere, and the protection of the natural environment.
Responsibilities of municipalities also include planning of development of settlements and supervision of the implementation of projects. Companies also receive permission to start road construction from local authorities. Repair of sewage, water supply and gas supply of the municipal housing stock, erection of treatment facilities and preventive measures to prevent pollution of water bodies of a particular territory - all these issues are the responsibility of local self-government.
In the social sphere, municipalities are responsible for providing assistance to vulnerable groups. Support for needy citizens is provided at the expense of the local budget. The social powers of local authorities include the installation of allowances for retirement benefits, the construction and maintenance of homes for the elderly, hospices, hospitals, maternity hospitals, kindergartens, schools, etc. Local self-government bodies manage the non-privatized housing stock and issue permits for the allocation of premises to commercial enterprises.
Separate powers are vested in municipalities in the field of law enforcement and the protection of civil rights and freedoms. Local governments can establish certain rules of conduct in public places, give permission or prohibit the holding of mass gatherings, rallies, exercises, etc.
Municipalities have relative independence in the framework of fiscal relations: local authorities have the right to form reserve financial resources from taxes of the local population. By the way, municipalities are not deprived of the authority to introduce their own fees, tax payments, for example, from advertising, capital, real estate, etc., and direct them to the needs of the region at their discretion.
What are the goals of self-government
Given the role of local authorities in the realization of democracy, the main goals that they pursue become apparent. The presence of the municipality, in the first place, is a guarantee of the participation of the population in solving a number of issues of housing and communal, social, and budgetary spheres.
LSGs are called upon to provide citizens with the opportunity to independently make decisions in matters of local importance. This explains the purpose of municipal activities - to create conditions for effective participation of the population in the life of the state, which is facilitated by the presence of elected bodies, the use of direct democracy institutions by municipalities, and the maintenance of a stable material, technical and financial base for solving economic and social problems.
Each member of the society who is not indifferent to the problems of his region and is ready to show an active citizenship, has the opportunity to send an appeal to the local administration or a specific official in the form of a written proposal, statement or complaint. In the majority of localities, there is a “hot line” of self-government structures, which allows you to get advice on a matter of interest by telephone. By the way, the phone number of the LSG of the municipality can be found on the website of the administration of their city, village, village, district.
Municipal budgets: expense items
As already noted, one of the powers of local governments is to create a budget to ensure the tasks and functions assigned to the subjects of the local government, including the management of the property of the municipality. Efficient use of state property, competent distribution of finances fully justifies the social mission of local authorities.
The Constitution of the Russian Federation officially enshrines the right of the municipality to independently resolve issues at the local level. The costs of maintaining local self-government are also covered by the local budget. Therefore, the population of the administrative-territorial unit, participating in the process of self-government, becomes responsible for the results of property management and rational use of financial resources from the municipal treasury.
In addition, local government bodies provide a comprehensive development of the territories of the municipality. Since any administrative-territorial unit is a kind of housing complex, be it a city, a village, a rural district or a village, not only the economic level, but also socio-cultural indicators, the results of solving environmental problems are of paramount importance.
Therefore, the integrated development of the municipality is directly related to the budget policy chosen by the local authorities. Directing funds for the implementation of municipal programs, local self-government bodies independently manage the finances of local budgets. They are authorized to form extrabudgetary funds for special purposes, establish, in addition to federal, additional taxes and determine the amount of benefits for their payment.
Another area for spending budget funds is improving the living conditions of the population. For the full development of infrastructure and improving the organization of services for the population of the district, the role of non-state self-government structures plays a huge role. In order to meet the basic living needs of citizens, municipalities deal with the issues of education and maintenance of relevant enterprises, institutions, organizations and services.
Local governments are obliged to provide conditions for the expansion of housing construction and socio-cultural infrastructure, to provide the public with places of catering, trade, public services, etc.
Municipalities have an important place in the management system of a democratic society and state. The main goal of organizing the institution of local self-government is to attract citizens to direct participation in resolving issues of local importance.
Thanks to the current apparatus of local authorities in all the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, there is a gradual departure from the tradition that developed during the Soviet Union - resolving issues of any size only by state structures, which meant the actual alienation of the people from power, an obstacle to the realization of their legal right.