The Concept of Local Self-Government and the System of its Bodies
Local self-government is a form of organization and activity of the population residing in a respective territory (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, referred to as citizens) for the independent resolution, directly or through bodies elected by them, of social, economic, and political issues of local importance, based on the general state interests and the interests of citizens, the specific features of the development of administrative-territorial units, and on the basis of its own material and financial resources and attracted funds.
Local self-government is carried out through local Councils of Deputies (hereinafter referred to as Councils), bodies of territorial public self-government, local assemblies, local referendums, the legislative initiative of citizens on adopting decisions of the Councils, citizen participation in financing and (or) reimbursement of budget expenditures for purposes defined by them, implementation of civic initiatives, and other forms of citizen participation in state and public affairs.
The system of local self-government bodies includes Councils and bodies of territorial public self-government.
The system of Councils in the Republic of Belarus consists of three territorial levels: regional, basic, and primary, and includes regional, city, district, town, and village Councils.
The regional territorial level includes regional, and the Minsk City Councils (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, referred to as Councils of the regional level). Councils of the regional level are superior to Councils of the basic and primary territorial levels.
The basic territorial level includes city (cities of regional subordination), and district Councils (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, referred to as Councils of the basic level). Councils of the basic level are superior to Councils of the primary territorial level.
The Minsk City Council also has the rights of a Council of the basic level.
The primary territorial level includes city (cities of district subordination), town, and village Councils (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, referred to as Councils of the primary level).
Territorial Public Self-Government
Territorial public self-government is the activity of citizens on a voluntary basis at their place of residence, except in cases provided for by this Law, within a part of the administrative-territorial unit (territories of microdistricts, housing complexes, blocks, streets, courtyards, agro-towns, settlements, villages, etc.), electoral district for the election of deputies of the Council, in order to resolve issues of local significance directly or through bodies of territorial public self-government.
Bodies of territorial public self-government are an organizational form of citizens' exercise of territorial public self-government.
Only one body of territorial public self-government can be established within the corresponding part of the administrative-territorial unit.
Bodies of Territorial Public Self-Government
A body of territorial public self-government can be a collegial body or a sole executive body.
A collegial body of territorial public self-government can be established without forming a legal entity or as a legal entity.
A collegial body of territorial public self-government established as a legal entity is a non-profit organization.
The procedure for the establishment, operation, and termination of a collegial body of territorial public self-government established as a legal entity is determined by the legislation on legal entities of the relevant organizational and legal form, taking into account the provisions of Article 26 of this Law.
A collegial body of territorial public self-government without forming a legal entity is established and operates in accordance with this Law and the regulation on the body of territorial public self-government, approved by the local assembly based on the model regulation approved by the regional council, taking into account the requirements of this Law, unless otherwise established by this Law.
A sole body of territorial public self-government (elder, headman, etc.) is established and operates in accordance with this Law and the regulations approved by the relevant Council based on the model regulations approved by the regional-level Council, taking into account the requirements of this Law. The accounting of sole bodies of territorial public self-government is carried out by the relevant executive and administrative bodies of the primary level.
The body of territorial public self-government is accountable in its activities to the local assembly and the relevant Council.
The coordination of the activities of the body of territorial public self-government is carried out by the relevant Council, unless otherwise established by this Law.