Territorial Organization Of Local Self-government Research Articles

Problems and Prospects for Improving the Territorial Organization of Local Self-Government (On the Example of Municipalities of the Republic of Tyva)

The specificity of the socio-economic and ethno-cultural processes developing on the territory of the Republic of Tyva reflects the objective need for expert and scientific analysis of the problems of managing the territories of municipalities in the region in the general context of the transformation of the system of territorial organization of local self-government in Russia. The purpose of this study is to develop practical recommendations for improving the territorial organization of local self-government in the Republic of Tyva. In the article, based on the application of general scientific methods (logical method, comparative analysis and a systematic approach), the features of the territorial structure of local self-government in the Republic of Tuva are investigated, and the main problems of spatial and territorial development of municipalities are identified. A general conclusion is made that the republican government bodies, in cooperation with municipalities, need to jointly develop a draft “road map” for the transition to a single-level system of local self-government, taking into account the opinion of the population and repre-sentatives of the expert community. The author proposes a project of territorial reforms of local self-government in the region and gives a preliminary assessment of possible management decisions to transform the boundaries of the municipalities of the Tyva Republic (projected changes in population, area of municipalities, administrative and managerial effects, etc.).

Location of small towns and rural settlements of Ukraine and new realities of the administrative- territorial system: contradictions and perspectives of mutual influences


 
 
 The article reveals the mutual influences of the geography of small towns (mistechka) and rural settlements in Ukraine and the system of administrative-territorial organization at the middle and lowest levels. Based on the statistical analysis, it was concluded that the location of very small cities, urban-type settlements (selyshchа miskoho typu) and villages is significantly differentiated by regions of Ukraine, taking into account the historical-geographical and natural-geographical prerequisites, the level of urbanization and industrialization, as well as differences in the demographic situation. The study proved that before the administrative reform, the small towns of Ukraine played an important role in the organization of the middle link of the administrative territorial system, being the centers of most districts, but as a result of the reform, their administrative importance in the district division became minimal. At the same time, almost half of the small towns became centres of united territorial communities. The author concludes that the loss of the status of medium-sized administrative units by towns could be compensated by transferring a significant part of the functions of regional authorities to new administrative districts, and most of the functions of former district centres to the centres of low-level territorial communities. For this purpose, it is necessary to create appropriate socio-economic conditions for the small towns-centres of new territorial communities to perform all the functions of serving the population of nearby settlements. It was concluded that such changes in administrative powers can ensure, in general, a shift in the weight of socio-economic life deep into the territory, which is necessary to overcome intra-regional disproportions in the development of the economy and the social sphere. The proposition that the structure of rural resettlement also influenced the territorial organization of local self-government in rural areas in different ways at all times was conceptually substantiated. The main socio-geographic parameters that used to determine and currently determine the structure of rural self-government are the density of the rural population, the average population, and the density of rural settlements. The study proved the presence of various regional variants of the combination of these indicators, which were also reflected in the geography of the centres in rural territorial communities. A positive consequence of the administrative reform was the strengthening of the financial base of rural communities, but at the same time, the administrative importance of many rural settlements of Ukraine decreased due to the loss of the status of rural council centres, and the distances between rural settlements and new administrative centres increased. As villages-community centres began to serve larger territories, if their infrastructural potential and economic base were strengthened, they could become new poles of socio-economic development in rural areas.
 
 

ВЫЗОВЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ УКРУПНЕНИЯ МУНИЦИПАЛЬНЫХ ОБРАЗОВАНИЙ НА ПРИМЕРЕ МОСКОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The article is devoted to the study of challenges and prospects of the reform of territorial organization of local self-government as the problem, which has become relevant in the context of the upcoming new law on local self-government regulation. Recently, some experts have been expressing concerns about the final transition to a homogenous system of local self-government in Russia, which will be expressed in the abolition of urban and rural settlements. The declared goals of the reform, among which there are an increase of budgetary independence and reduction in the cost of local administration maintenance, are criticized, but at the same time there is still a lack of thematical practice-oriented research. Therefore, the study examines actual results of transformation of territorial organization of local self-government in the Moscow region as an example of a region, where all municipalities were granted the status of urban districts before the end of 2019. The study is based on a theoretical framework, which is centered around public choice and economies of scale theories. A hypothesis is drawn that the spread of urban and municipal districts may lead to a decrease in the territorial accessibility of local self-government followed by no reduction in the cost of its maintenance. The pre- and post-reform values ​​of indicators, characterizing territorial accessibility of local self-governments and its services and the volume of expenses connected to local self-government maintenance are compared. Conclusions are drawn about the negative impact of the reform: the availability of local authorities and local services for citizens is declining, while there are no visible budgetary savings due to staff cuts.

Trends in the development of the territorial organization of local self-government and their impact on the functioning of municipal authorities in the light of the constitutional reform

Trends in the development of the territorial organization of local self-government and their impact on the functioning of municipal authorities in the light of the constitutional reform

Territorial Structure of Municipal Government at the Present Stage

The paper analyzes federal constitutional laws concerning the entry into the Russian Federation of its new constituent entities — Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions — in terms of regulating territorial organization of local self-government. The author analyzes upcoming transformations, makes and justifies proposals regarding the need to expand the system of municipalities in new constituent entitties of the Russian Federation by including settlements as its local self-government territories. The implementation of such a provision will comply with Federal Law No. 131-FZ dated 06.10.2003 «On General Principles of Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation» and will allow the population of rural and other settlements to participate more actively in local self-government.The paper describes the principles of the territorial basis of local self-government and clarifies the possibilities of their preservation in the conditions of the ongoing transformations of local self-government, due to the introduction of amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation in 2020. The author characterizes the procedures fixed in the legislation for ensuring changes in the boundaries of municipalities, transformation and abolition of municipalities, analyzes the norms of relevant laws of constituent entitties of the Russian Federation and municipal legal acts specifying the procedure for solving territorial issues of local self-government, illustrates the process of consolidation of municipalities on the example of the Moscow region. It is noted that in the Russian Federation there is a three-level legal regulation of the municipal-territorial structure, including federal and regional legislation and municipal legal acts. This makes it possible to determine substantive powers of public authorities in this area of local self-government and establish the procedure for their enforcement. Taking into account the results obtained, draft Federal Law No. 40361-8 «On general principles of organization of local self-government in the unified system of public authority» is analyzed in order to identify the degree of stability of the existing system of territorial organization of local self-government. The author summarizes that adoption of the enactment under consideration will not entail significant changes, its principles and will not change the procedure for resolving issues of territorial organization of municipal power.

BASES OF THE TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN STATES OF CONTINENTAL AND ANGLO-SAXON LAW

The article deals with the issues of territorial organization of local self-government in the states of Anglo-Saxon and continental law. Particular attention is paid to the latest changes in the constitutional legislation of this group of states in the field of ATU reform, an analysis of national legislation in the field of building the territorial foundations of local self-government is carried out. The main trends in the development of legislation on local self-government in the states of continental and Anglo-Saxon law are revealed.

Transformation of Territorial Organization of Local Self-Governance in the Irkutsk Region: Based on the Materials of the Round Table Discussion within the Framework of the II International Baikal Forum

The new step in the ongoing local self-governance reform today once again forces us to reassess the role and significance of the institution of local self-governance in Russia. The current stage involves searching for a new and more effective model of territorial organization of local self-government. In February 2022, a draft law "On the general principles of organization of local self-governance in a unified system of public authority" was submitted for consideration to the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The key point of the draft law concerning the territorial organization of local self-governance is a return to a one-tier system with the fundamental principle of being "based on the population" rather than on the territory. The results of the round table discussion "Transformation of territorial local self-governance in a unified system of public authority and other relevant issues of local self-governance" held on April 22, 2022 within the framework of II International Baikal Forum are given. Amendments to the draft law were proposed, which would consolidate and strengthen the constitutional foundations and principles of local self-governance in accordance with the regional specifics regarding development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

НИ В ГОРОДЕ ИВАН, НИ В СЕЛЕ СЕЛИФАН (ПАРАДОКСЫ НОВОГО ПОДХОДА К ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНОЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ МЕСТНОГО САМОУПРАВЛЕНИЯ)

The article considers the issue of relationship between the concepts of 'administrative-territorial division' and 'territorial organization of local self-government'. Regular changes in the definition of the concept 'city district', setting up new types of municipalities create confusion, where not only ordinary citizens but also authority figures are in no state to deal with. Quite frequently in city districts' charters one can come across the notion 'head of city' whereas the city district apart from the city embraces a dozen rural settlements. The residents of villagers are puzzled if they are now citizens or continue to be villagers. The author proposes to reconsider the concept 'administrative-territorial unit' when applied to cities, rayons, settlements, villages as no administrative decisions are taken by them as they are just a seat for federal state bodies.

Municipalities and their types in light of the constitutional reform of the fundamentals of territorial organization of the local self-government

This article is dedicated to the classification of municipalities and clarification of the term “municipality” in the current legislation of the Russian Federation on the local self-government. Special attention is given to the problems and trends of territorial organization of local self-government at the present stage of the constitutional-legal development of the Russian Federation. The subject of this research is the constitutional norms and other normative legal acts that regulate the issues of organization of local self-government in the Russian Federation and its constituent entities, as well as legal provisions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and scientific publications on the topic. The methodological framework is comprised of the logical, comparative, statistical, specific-sociological, and special-legal (formal-legal, technical-legal, interpretation) methods of cognition. It is established that the territorial organization of local self-government in specific municipalities and regions does not always fully correspond with the federal legislation. The author suggests distinguishing between the municipalities of urban, rural, and mixed types, unitary multitarian, simple and complex, universal and special. The recommendations are formulated for the improvement of legislation in terms of terminological apparatus of the local self-government and legal consolidation of types of municipalities. The conclusion is made that the constitutional reform of the local self-government is a consequence of the current trend of shifting away from the settlement principle of territorial organization of local self-government, as well as from the two-level model of territorial organization of the local self-government.

Local self-government in Russian small towns: development models (on the example of the Tver Region)

The subject of the research of this article is the analysis of models of development of local self-government in small towns of modern Russia and the identification of the self-governing potential of their residents. The study of models of the territorial organization of local self-government and methods of formation of municipal government bodies allows us to identify trends in the evolution of the local self-government system, to determine their nature. The study of the ideas of residents of Russian small towns about the models of local self-government and the attitudes of citizens to participate in solving local problems allows us to identify the socio-cultural foundations of the processes unfolding in modern municipalities. The object of the study is residents of small towns in the Tver region. The methods of document analysis, statistical data analysis, and survey methods were used. The data of sociological monitoring carried out in the Tver region in 2018-2020 by the method of formalized interviewing are presented. В The models of the territorial organization of local self-government in small towns are investigated, the degree of prevalence of elective procedures for the formation of municipal bodies is studied. The ideas of the population of small towns about the nature of local self-government and its place in the management system of Russian society are analyzed, the attitude of citizens to various models of territorial organization of local self-government and ways of electing the head of the municipality is studied, the nature of the attitudes of citizens to participate in self-governing practices is revealed. A special contribution of the authors to the study of the topic is the analysis of the prevalence of various models of local self-government in small towns, taking into account their spatial and geographical location, resource characteristics and the level of self-governing potential of the population. The information obtained can be used by state and municipal authorities in the process of forming municipal management systems and organizing work with the population to involve them in self-governing practices.

National (ethnic) peculiarities of legal regulation of the territorial organization of local self-government at the regional level

National (ethnic) peculiarities of legal regulation of the territorial organization of local self-government at the regional level

THE HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL REFORMS IN THE UDMURT REPUBLIC

The article considers the main directions of municipal reforms carried out in the Udmurt Republic that are relevant for the modern organization of municipal management. The authors identify fundamental issues that need to be addressed in order to effectively organize the municipal government. The stages of municipal reform are considered in detail and specific examples are given. The authors focus on the need to consistently implement structural changes in local government. For an objective assessment of the situation in the Udmurt Republic, the following areas are considered: territorial organization of local self-government, formation of local self-government bodies, legal support for municipal reform, and others. The article examines the features and problems of municipal reform, taking into account historical and other conditions and factors. The authors put forward constructive proposals for effective organization of municipal administration.

МУНИЦИПАЛЬНЫЙ ОКРУГ – НОВЫЙ ВИД МУНИЦИПАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ: ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РЕФОРМЫ ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНОЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ МЕСТНОГО САМОУПРАВЛЕНИЯ

The article discusses the amendments made to the Federal Law of 06.10.2003 N 131-ФЗ «On General Principles of Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation» by the Federal Law No. 87-FZ of 05.01.2020 «On Amendments to the Federal Law» On General Principles of Organization local government in the Russian Federation ”. The paper analyzes the feasibility of reforming the territorial organization of local self-government at the present stage, in particular, the introduction of such a new type of municipal entity as the municipal district, considers the prerequisites for enlarging municipalities. As a result of the analysis of the arguments used by the initiators of the reform, an attempt was made to formulate the advantages of a new approach to the organization of local self-government, to identify the main problems of organizing the territories of municipalities that are emerging at the present stage, and also suggest ways to solve them.

TYPOLOGY OF URBAN DISTRICTS IN THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The article discusses the problems of the municipal structure in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to analyze the status and prospects of socio-economic development of urban districts in the system of local self-government. Based on the methods of statistical analysis, a typology of urban districts was performed taking into account their geographical location and the functions performed in the socio-geographical space of the regions. For each type, the characteristic features of spatial development are determined, and the prerequisites and features of ensuring sustainable socio-economic development are also established. The author has proposed ways to improve the management of urban districts in Russia, taking into account the accumulated experience of the post-socialist countries of Europe, especially Poland. Based on the study, adjustments can be made to the fundamental principles of the territorial organization of local self-government.

THEORETICAL ISSUES OF THE TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN UDMURTIA

The article discusses current issues of reforming the territorial organization of local self-government in order to improve the quality of resolving issues of local importance, fixed by federal law for certain types of municipalities. The legal literature currently summarizes the law enforcement practice on this issue, which indicates the presence of a number of problems that need to be resolved. These include the discrepancy between the objects of competence and the powers and territories ensuring their implementation. Some controversial aspects are considered in this article: the directions of reforming the territorial organization of local self-government and attributes of municipalities are identified; the basic regulatory acts in a temporary context and their effect in modern condition are analyzed; the levels of territorial organization are indicated and the difficulties of resolving issues of local importance are revealed. Finally, using the example of municipalities of the Udmurt Republic, the main approaches to the reorganization of inefficient territories related to municipal management are explained, which justifies the expediency of municipal reform and the need for its generalization in scientific research.

Peculiarities of construction of local self-government models in the modern slavic states

The peculiarities of construction of local self-government models in the modern Slavic States, which in the 90-s of XX century abandoned the socialist path of development, – have been examined. The aim of the study is to identify specific features and common approaches to the construction of local self-government system, based on the analysis of the practice of local self-government institutions of the Slavic States and the provisions of the Constitutions of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Poland, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Ukraine, the Republic of Croatia, the Russian Federation, etc.The organizational forms of local self-government and the particularities of the implementation of local issues, taking into account national traditions, – have been analyzed. In this connection, the majority of modern Slavic States recognizes and guarantees local self-government as the most important constitutional value and institution of the people’s right. It has been determined, that the list of issues of local importance mainly affects the areas of urban planning, municipal activities, culture, sports, social protection of the population and children, preschool education, healthcare, approval of municipal programs of economic development, local budgets, taxes and fees, the appointment of local referendums, etc. However, there there is a number of countries, in which local government issues are not specified in the Constitution. Among the criteria for the difference between the models of local self-government are the following: the list of issues of local importance and competence of local self-government bodies; relations with public authorities and the degree of freedom of local self-government from the state; territorial organization of local self-government, etc.It has been concluded, that the most common form of interaction between public authorities and local self-government for the Slavic states at the beginning of the XXI century, was the Zemstvo-state model, that takes into account the mutual interests of a sovereign power and the population, living within certain territorial communities.

Structural Transformations of the Municipal Space: Substantiation of Expediency and Evaluation of Efficiency

The article discusses a set of scientific and applied problems about the meaning and bases, content, and consequences of structural transformations of the municipal space. Interest in these problems is caused by the need to search for reasons for the increased variability of the structural organization of this space, which throughout the post-Soviet period has not only undergone individual situational changes, but has repeatedly been the object of intensive and ubiquitous targeted state (at federal and regional levels) transformations that have had a contradictory nature of the reciprocating pulsations according to the reform–counterreform scheme. A retrospective analysis of the mass transformations in the territorial organization of local self-government that consistently took place in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s leads to such conclusions. The author clarifies the reasons for the three quantitative and structural transformations opposite in meaning and fundamental in their consequences over such a short period, the requisite criteria (economic, financial, legal, etc.) for which formed the basis for the choice of spatial configuration variants, which rapidly replaced one another and were the results of changes. Russian processes of spatial transformation of the system of local self-government are compared with similar foreign practice. The fundamental possibility and availability of theoretical bases for formulating and solving the problem of rational determination of the spatial scale of municipalities (configuration of the municipal space) are clarified, and a conceptual approach, criteria, and methodological bases for systemic assessment of the prerequisites and efficiency of structural transformations of the municipal space are discussed.

The territorial organization of local government in the Republic of Buryatia: problems and prospects

The article discusses the main factors influencing the process of territorial organization of local selfgovernment in the Republic of Buryatia. These are low population density, uneven resettlement, undeveloped transport infrastructure. The tendency of reduction (transformation) of the number of settlements in municipal districts of the Republic of Buryatia and the experience of territorial transformations of municipal formations in the subjects of the Russian Federation are shown. The main risks and benefits of optimizing the territorial organization of municipalities in the region through the merger and liquidation of a two-tier system of local governance are highlighted.

Новый «майский указ» Президента: региональные аспекты реализации

<span>Майский указ 2018 г. Президента РФ № 204 стал программным документом, определяющим для всей страны цели и задачи в экономике и социальной сфере на ближайшие шесть лет. Перед субъектами Федерации поставлена задача синхронизировать с этим документом имеющиеся и новые региональные проекты и программы по ключевым направлениям социально-экономического развития. В этой связи автор рассматривает те меры совершенствования межбюджетных отношений в РФ, которые должны способствовать реализации поставленных задач и сглаживанию региональных неравенств. По авторской схеме проведены расчеты и выполнен межрегиональный сравнительный анализ ряда финансово-бюджетных показателей в разрезе макрорегионов РФ (федеральных округов). Рассмотрены плюсы и минусы такой новации в межбюджетных отношениях как модельный бюджет региона. На примере муниципальных районов исследована региональная специфика территориальной организации местного самоуправления. Для отдельных субъектов РФ проведен сравнительный анализ структурных характеристик региональных образовательных систем. Сделан вывод о необходимости более полного учета пространственных особенностей социально-экономического развития регионов в системе межбюджетного выравнивания.</span>

ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНОЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ МЕСТНОГО САМОУПРАВЛЕНИЯ В РЕГИОНАХ РОССИИ, "Известия Российской академии наук. Серия географическая"

The theoretical issues of territorial organization of local self-government are considered, a definition of this category is proposed. It is stated that the territorial organization of local self-government in general should correspond to the hierarchy of the prevailing settlement systems and local communities. Factors, intermediate results and processes of transformation of territorial organization of local self-government in Russia’s regions in 2009–2016 are considered in details (after the finishing of the transition period of local self-government reform). The main source of information is the Rosstat data. Forms of transformation of municipalities of the first and second territorial levels are identified. The growing practice of transforming municipal districts in urban districts and minimizing the number of settlements composed municipal districts is criticized. Examples of new forms of territorial organization of local government in Russia’s regions are given. The conclusion of the inevitable variety of regional forms of territorial organization of local self-government in modern Russia is made.