SECURING DEMOCRACY IN THE MODERN SYSTEM OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
The paper examines a number of issues related to ensuring the principles of constitutional democracy at the local level of public authority. The author argues that significant steps in democratization of the municipal people's representation have been made in Russia: debates are devoid of ideological over-organization, of unanimity in decision-making, they are problem-oriented and built on the basis of discussion; people's representatives at the municipal level enjoy broad freedom of thought and expression of opinions on local issues. In contrast to the Soviet period, cases of persecution for criticism are eliminated. However, the democratization process of the municipal life has not been completed.