POL354Y5 Lecture Notes - Mikhail Gorbachev, United Russia, Division Of Property
Document Summary
School of democracy & training ground for high level politicians; Provide public goods that reflect local preferences; Ensure higher levels of government express plurality of local views; Local governments must have: autonomy, free & fair elections, clear mandates, budget to provide services, legislative & executive bodies to make choices, administrative structure to deliver services. Limits: created & controlled from above, dominance of conservative local nobility in elections; Limits: unity of state (vertical hierarchy), dual subordination (party), absence of real elections, limited decision-making power, budgets externally controlled. 1993 decrees: unilaterally dissolves local soviets, gives regional governments power over local governments; 1993 constitution: recognition of distinction between organs of state power" & Local self-government": democratic & participatory elements of self-government, autonomy, guarantees of funding for delegated mandates. 1995 law on local self-government: autonomous & separate from state structure", powers defined. General strategy: construction of power vertical" thru executive channels. 2003 law on local self-government: in force 2006; postponed to 2009, aims: