scholarly journals The Constitutional Principle of Uniform Economic Area and Centralization of Public Finance in the Russian Federation: Analysis of the Russian Federation Constitutional Court’s Rulings

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 151-175
Author(s):  
Elena Ryabova
Keyword(s):  
Public Finance ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Fiscal Federalism ◽  
Intergovernmental Relations ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Regional Powers ◽  
Constitutional Principle ◽  
Economic Area ◽  
Russian Constitution ◽  
The Russian Federation

The paper is devoted to the issue of centralization in public finance in Russia, and highlights one of the problems of interpretation of the Russian Constitution clauses. The Rulings of the Russian Federation Constitutional Court from the period 1997–2006 created legal grounds for the process of centralization and reduction of the regional powers regarding budgeting and taxation. But all arguments of the Court are debatable. Wherein, the centralization is justified by the constitutional principle of uniform economic area. The author argues that the Russian Constitution does not have clauses establishing the uniform budget and tax systems directly, and any model of intergovernmental relations might comply with the Russian Constitution. Uniformity of economic area does not imply uniformity in taxation and budgeting in the sense of sameness. Study of foreign practices shows different approaches to the understanding of uniformity in economy, and in taxation and budgeting. The contemporary Russian public finance law is formed under the influence of the Constitutional Court’s legal positions, and the process of centralization is still evolving. The Russian history of intergovernmental relations (1991–1997) shows another model of fiscal federalism – the decentralized federalism. Replacement of the fiscal federalism models is determined by the political considerations, not by constitutional requirements.

scholarly journals Addressing local government issues in the practice of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation during the implementation of municipal reform in Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-147
Author(s):  
Aleksey Andreevich Amiantov
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Constitutional Principle ◽  
Municipal Reform ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Regional Authorities ◽  
Legal Consequences

The presented study is devoted to the study of the practice of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation in relation to issues of local self-government in the context of the municipal reform of 2014-2015. and its legal consequences. The aim of this work is to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the practice of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on the identified problems of the work of local authorities in the period following the start of municipal reform. The research methodology is built by combining descriptive analysis elements and a case study. It is concluded that the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has consistently maintained its position on the constitutional nature of the reform of local authorities. The provisions of the relevant regulatory legal acts are limited only partially and only in relation to first-level municipalities - municipal authorities of settlements. Given the deprivation of the latter a significant part of the powers and the observed transition to a singlelevel system of local self-government, the adoption of these restrictions does not significantly affect the implementation of the reform. Of fundamental importance is the position of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation regarding the new powers of regional authorities in relation to municipalities. The increase in the arsenal of legal instruments of the influence of the leadership of the constituent entities of the federation on the heads of local self-government was not interpreted as a violation of the constitutional principle of the independence of municipalities. The latter opens up the possibility for further legalization of the process of embedding municipal bodies in the structure of the informal “power vertical”.

The Challenge of Expenditure-Assignment Reform in Russia

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Martinez-Vazquez
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Fiscal Federalism ◽  
Intergovernmental Relations ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Capital Spending ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Social Expenditures

This paper is an examination of the critical role the assignment of expenditure responsibilities must play in building the Russian Federation. The fiscal federalism system and the expenditure assignments inherited from the Soviet Union were not truly decentralized. All the real decisions were made back in Moscow. Although subnational governments now have authority to create their own budgets, past processes and institutions still undermine local autonomy. However, the most serious threat to the Russian Federation comes from the lack of a stable assignment of responsibilities. Primarily for budgetary convenience, the federal government has jettisoned certain expenditure responsibilities onto oblast and rayon governments in the past two years, putting Russian intergovernmental relations on a perilous path. So far, the Parliament and the Executive have failed to recognize that a stable expenditure assignment is the first and necessary step in the design of a lasting system of intergovernmental fiscal relations. Instead, the political system has concentrated entirely on revenue assignments which have not endured. The author analyzes several sets of issues that must be addressed in the design of a stable assignment of expenditure responsibilities in the Russian Federation, including the reassignment of social expenditures and social safety-net responsibilities, the reassignment of capital spending responsibilities, and the divestiture of public services by state enterprises.

Local government in Russia: de jure and de facto

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 103-121
Author(s):  
Olesya L. Kazantseva
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
The State ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Russian State ◽  
Russian Constitution ◽  
Legal Competence ◽  
The Russian Federation

The analysis of the RF Federal Law of 6 October 2003 No 131-FZ, which enshrines the general principles of the organization of local self-government in the Russian Federation, demonstrates the consistent introduction of amendments aimed at restricting the autonomy of local self-government, which clearly contradicts the constitutional provisions on local self-government. In this regard, it seems necessary to determine the presence of the lower level of public authority (local self-government), for which it is necessary to reveal the conformity of the modern realities of local self-government with constitutional provisions and normative legal acts adopted for their development, that is, correlate de jure and de facto. The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the highest constitutional justice body, has a great influence on the formation of local self-government in the Russian state. It forms the legal position on the organizational, legal, competence, territorial, financial and economic foundations of local self-government. In this regard, researchers are interested in the legal positions of the RF Constitutional Court regarding the autonomy of local self-government and its relations with state authorities, which have undergone significant changes throughout the entire period of reforming local self-government. Based on the analysis of changes in the legislation on local self-government and the legal positions of the RF Constitutional Court, this article shows the inconsistency of local self-government at the present stage of its development. Thus, the author proves that there are no working mechanisms for the implementation of local self-government by the population. This article concludes that the current situation requires special attention and attitude from the state, since without purposeful changes in the state policy in the sphere of local self-government it is impossible to preserve such postulates enshrined in the Russian Constitution, as democracy and local government.

scholarly journals Constitutional status of federal territories in Russia: theoretical foundations of legislative regulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-140
Author(s):  
N. V. Vasilieva ◽  
S. V. Praskova ◽  
Yu. V. Pyatkovskaya
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Complex Analysis ◽  
The State ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
The Status ◽  
Russian Constitution ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Moment

The subject of the study is the constitutional concept of federal territories in Russia. The purpose of the article is to confirm or disprove hypothesis that constitutional status of federal territories in Russia consists of system of elements and identify such elements. The authors use the method of formal legal interpretation of Russian Constitution, the methods of comparative constitutional law, complex analysis, systemic interpretation of Russian laws and drafts of laws. The main results of research, scope of application. When making an amendment to part 1 of Article 67 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the content of this innovation was not disclosed. Therefore the federal law on federal territories will be of decisive importance. The authors define the constitutional characteristics of the federal territories based on the literal content of the constitutional norm and the conclusion of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. The federal territory is an element of the state territory that is not a subject of the federal structure and has a status different from the status of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. There are specific features of the organization of public power in federal territory. The authors’ vision of the content of each of the elements of the federal territories is presented. It is noted that the defining element of the status of federal territories will be the purpose of their creation. The authors propose a conceptual division of federal territories in Russia into two types: inhabited and uninhabited. It is stated that at the moment, the status elements can be clearly defined only in relation to uninhabited federal territories. The formation of the concept of inhabited federal territories will depend on definition of the purpose of their creation. Conclusions. It is proposed to consider the elements of the status of federal territories in Russia, based on the elements of the status of the subject of the Russian Federation, and in comparison with them. Such elements are: territory, population, subjects of jurisdiction, responsibilities, state power organization, property and budget, system of taxes and fees, names and symbols, population’s role in the state affairs management.

scholarly journals Individual and Authorities: Principle of Sustaining Citizens’ Trust to the Law and Actions of the State

2019 ◽  
pp. 143-158
Author(s):  
Alexey Semitko
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
The State ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Social Conventions ◽  
Legal Principles ◽  
The Public ◽  
Russian Constitution ◽  
Legitimate Expectations ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Law

The paper analyzes the principle of sustaining citizen’s trust to the law and actions of the state in the system of individual / authorities relations. This principle is introduced into the Russian legal system by rulings of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation possessing the legal force of the Russian Constitution. However, the Supreme Law itself does not feature this property in the text. It is accordingly required – which is the purpose of this paper – to study this principle’s notion, content, nature, character, scope and place in the system of other legal principles, including those established in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, some of which are referenced by the Court in its rulings to justify the identification of the analyzed principle. To solve the above tasks, methods of interpreting official legal texts were applied (systemic, special legal and logical methods), as well as the anthropological approach. It is established that the researched principle is a general legal (universal) principle that stands on its own in the system of principles and is associated with the need for the whole state’s activity to comply with the established value, moral and ideological beliefs, generally accepted social conventions, etc., i.e. society’s legitimate expectations, which defines its scope and applicability. The recognition and respect of human dignity is central in society’s legitimate expectations from the state as it implements its activities. The latter requirement is fundamental for this principle and the public trust to state’s activities that is shaped during its realization; at the same time, such requirement is a criterion of how aligned state’s actions are with the society’s legitimate expectations. The novelty of this approach rests on identifying closely interconnected grounds, features, content and scope of the researched principle.

scholarly journals Problems of the implementation of social state and the constitutional reform 2020

POPULATION ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 71-82
Author(s):  
Oleg Boldyrev ◽  
Yulia Nenakhova
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Social State ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
Constitutional Principle ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Russian Federation

The 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation enshrined the principle of social state, a number of social rights of citizens and other provisions of a social nature. However, according to many researchers, the actual situation, including mass poverty and extreme property differentiation of the population, and the dominant vector of social policy, which is reflected in commercialization and "optimization" of the social sphere, raising the retirement age, strengthening the selective character of social assistance, etc. speak of the dismantling of the welfare state. At the same time, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation does not adequately fulfill its function of protecting the Constitution and, in particular, ensuring the constitutional principle of social state and social rights of citizens, does not recognize the legislative norms that normatively formalize such reforms as unconstitutional, sometimes — as in the case of considering the constitutionality of increasing retirement age in 2018 — actually avoiding consideration of the case on the merits. The draft Law on Amendment to the Constitution of the Russian Federation "On Improving Regulation of Certain Issues of Organizing Public Authority", proposed by the President of Russia in the winter of2020, was substantiated, inter alia, by considerations of the development of social state, ensuring the social rights of citizens and the corresponding social obligations of the State. The article shows which of the key social problems could be solved within the framework of the previous version of the Constitution; the question is examined whether their solution requires its changing. It is shown that the Law on Amendment to the Constitution of the Russian Federation adopted in the spring of 2020 does not solve a number of the key social problems in modern Russia, and does not make enough use of foreign experience in constitutional regulation of the social sphere. Based on the experience of other countries, the article proposes a number of norms, the constitutional enshrining of which could to a greater extent ensure implementation of the principle of social state.

The Role of the Russian Constitutional Court in «Constitutionalizing» Procedural Legislation (on the Example of the Principle of Adversarial Proceedings and Equality of the Parties)

2018 ◽  
pp. 58-63
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Specific Situation ◽  
Legal Rules ◽  
Basic Law ◽  
Meta Level ◽  
Russian Constitution ◽  
The Will ◽  
The Russian Federation

Using the example of the principle of adversarial proceedings and equality of the parties, the author discusses the Russian Constitutional Court’s activities on the non-textual development of provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The author analyzes the constitutional law-making tools of the Court and the mechanism of its influence on legal rules at the constitutional level, and finds that the norms of the Russian Constitution have a huge regulatory potential, but are not able to express the will of the constitutional legislator in relation to each specific situation. In turn, the legal positions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation are an instrument of a more subtle (substantive, targeted, dynamic) constitutional and legal impact. They reveal the semantic values of the norms of the Basic Law, summing up the constitutional legal basis under the provisions checked for compliance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The author concludes that the norms of the Basic Law taken in unity with the legal positions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation provide the necessary regulatory effect and form an integrative constitutional and legal regulator at the meta level.

Theoretical Issues of Sovereignty in Russia and Russian Law

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Antonov
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Regional Powers ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Russian Law ◽  
Legal Arguments ◽  
Soviet Russia ◽  
Theoretical Issues

AbstractThis article examines the background and the framework of discussions about the concept of sovereignty and its limits. It begins with a short historical analysis of the processes which took place in Soviet Russia leading to the 'parade of sovereignties' in the early 1990s. Afterwards, the author sketches the different approaches and doctrines upheld by the Russian Constitutional Court in several landmark decisions concerning sovereignty problems. The article focuses on the vertical dimension of sovereignty, i.e., on different conceptions adopted by federal and regional powers in post-Soviet Russia regarding the legal status of the member-republics (subjects) of the Russian Federation. The development of the doctrine of the Constitutional Court of Russia in this matter is quite illustrative as to the legal arguments used to protect the integrity of the Russian Federation against the diverse disintegrative strategies pursued by the regions.

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