Expert Potential of the RF Citizens and Civil Society Institutions in the Sphere of Law-Making: Theoretical and Legal Analysis

In the context of the increasing role of civil society, its influence on individual institutions and mechanisms of functioning of the Russian statehood, the participation of citizens and their associations in the sphere of law-making activity is becoming increasingly important. At the constitutional level, the right of citizens to participate in the management of state affairs, including through the implementation of expert activities, is guaranteed. Expert activity of citizens acting as public (independent) experts is most in demand in the field of rule-making. Joint efforts of the state and civil society in the development and adoption of regulatory legal acts have a positive impact on the final result of this activity - improving the quality and effectiveness of the norms of the current legislation. In the course of the study, the features of the expert potential of citizens of the Russian Federation and civil society institutions that are characteristic of law-making and its individual types were established. The analysis of the current state of the expert potential of civil society in the field of law-making showed that despite the desire to ensure an effective system of involving citizens of the Russian Federation, the mechanisms for public participation in the development and adoption of regulatory legal acts remain insufficiently developed and transparent. The article analyzes the existing expert capabilities of citizens of the Russian Federation in the sphere of law-making, their potential, limitations, as well as considers the ways to increase the involvement of citizens in lawmaking activities. The work provides the author’s definition of the concept of ‘expert potential of citizens of the Russian Federation and civil society institutions in the sphere of lawmaking”. It is therefore concluded that there is a necessity to bring order to the norms that are currently in place within legislation, with regard to the organization and management of various forms of non-state public expertise in the process of rule-making. Furthermore, there is a requirement for the popularization of the very institution of public, independent expertise.