Development of the Institute of Constitutional (Charter) Councils of the Subjects of the Russian Federation: Legal and Organizational Aspects

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, the organization of constitutional control in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation has undergone significant changes due to the reform of the institution of public authority in general, and the levels of its organization in particular. The constitutional (charter) councils of the subjects of the Russian Federation are a relatively new institution in the system of regional authorities. Their creation was needed to ensure compliance of regional regulations with the constitutions (charters) of the subjects of the Russian Federation.Methodology and materials: The purpose of the study is to analysis the issues of formation and activity of constitutional (charter) councils established in the subjects of the Russian Federation, their legal regulation, as well as to identify areas for their improvement. The methodological basis was provided by general scientific and private scientific methods, namely the historical method, comparative legal and system-structural approaches, as well as formal legal analysis. The sources were regulatory legal acts of the federal and regional levels.Research results: Based on the analysis of the current legislation, the author outlined the reasons for the abolition of the constitutional (charter) courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The article examines the legal foundations of the activities of the constitutional (charter) councils of the subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as the specifics of the formation and functioning of these bodies in the context of modern legislation. The necessity of improving the legal status of the constitutional (charter) councils of the subjects of the Russian Federation to increase the effectiveness of constitutional control at this level is substantiated.Conclusions: Regional constitutional control has certain difficulties in implementation, which prevents the maintenance of an appropriate level of legality in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Accordingly, the introduction of constitutional (charter) councils into the practice of regional authorities with amendments to the current federal legislation is argued. In the future, it is necessary to align federal and regional legislation for their consistent application in practice.