2.3. Regional / Local level of the political system

Local level of political system is represented by the system of the local self-governance, e.g. organizations of community self-government (councils of deputies and committees formed by neighborhoods, housing blocks, streets and villages, among others), local referenda, meetings and other forms of direct democracy.
As it was mentioned before the system of the local self-government introduced by the Law "On Local Government and Self-governance". Local self-governance is implemented within the borders of administrative -territorial and territorial units.
The Law "On the Administrative-territorial Division and Procedures for Resolving Issues of the Administrative-territorial Organization of the Republic of Belarus" (1998), refers to "administrative-territorial units" that have local councils, their own budget, etc. These include regions (oblast), districts (raion), rural settlements, cities and towns. "

Local councils of deputies within the limits of their competence, resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies.
Local councils of deputies and executive and administrative bodies, on the basis of existing laws, adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.
The following falls exclusively within the competence of the local councils of deputies:

  • the approval of programmes of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts
  • the setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with the law;
  • the determination, within the limits specified by law, of the procedure governing the management and disposal of municipal property;
  • the calling of local referenda.

Local councils also possess the authority to demand or organize additional environmental or other expert assessments of projects and technologies. They may establish exclusive standards of environmental safety in the area, following legally established procedures. According to this law, local councils may apply economic sanctions for the violation of the environmental safety standards that they have set.
Moreover, local governments have the right to establish special conditions or regimes for residential or economic activities in order to prevent and eliminate mass disease and contamination.


Local governments have been granted significant rights in the area of environmental protection and control over natural resources. The Law "On Local Government and Self-governance" stipulates that local council consent is required for the allocation of economic and social facilities, the use of resources on local territory and the resolution of other issues pertaining to economic, social and cultural activities which affect public interests. For instance, the Law "On Environmental Protection" (1992) establishes that areas used for waste storage or disposal must be identified by regional councils, with the approval of the lower-level council. According to the Code on Subsoil Assets, local councils decide upon the allocation of land for mining, construction or the utilization of subsoil structures. Similarly, the Water Code establishes that the planned location and construction designs of projects affecting the local water supply must be coordinated with local councils or executive committees.
Local councils are subject to legal control by the president and Parliament, and may be dissolved by parliamentary decision. Higher level councils coordinate the activities of lower-level councils, regulate their budgets and abolish any of their decisions which contradict legislation.
Decisions of local councils of deputies and their executive and administrative bodies that restrict or violate civil rights and liberties and the legitimate interests of citizens, and in other instances specified in law, may be challenged in a court of law.


Where a local council of deputies systematically or flagrantly violates the requirements of the law, it may be dissolved by the Council of the Republic.
It is established a 4 year term of office for local councils. Furthermore, a local council may be dissolved before the end of its term on grounds of their brazen or systematic violation of legislation


The Law "On Local Government and Self-governance" also stipulates procedures for the establishment and activities of community organizations of self-government in city neighborhoods and villages. These bodies are elected by assemblies of residents, which also approve the organizational charters to be registered with the local executive committee. Major provisions to be included in the charters are specified by the Law on the Local Government, primarily relating to their mandates, their territorial jurisdiction and participation by residents in the organization's activities. The term of office for these community organizations should not exceed that of the local council. Community organizations have the right to submit proposals on all activities by local authorities and participate in the subsequent discussion of those issues.

Levels and specific aspects of the political system:

 

aspect

level

institution(s)

authority/ function

tasks

national level

 

· President  of the Republic of Belarus
  • Calling national referenda.
  • Calling regular and extraordinary elections to the Parliament  and local representative bodies.
  • Forming, dissolving  and reorganizing  the Administration of the President, other bodies of state administration and bodies attached to the Presidency;
  • Appointing the Prime minister with the consent of the House of Representatives;
  • Determining  the structure of the Government, appointing  and dismissing the deputy Prime ministers, ministers and other members of the Government;
  • Appointing the Chairperson of the Constitutional, Supreme and Economic Courts; etc.
  • Advocacy of the Constitution;
  • To personify  the unity of the nation, the implementation of the main guidelines of the domestic and foreign policy;
  • To provide the protection of the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, its national security and territorial integrity;
  • To ensure political and economic stability of the state, continuity and interaction of bodies of state power;
  • To maintain the intermediation among the bodies of state power; etc.

· Parliament  - National Assembly

(The House of Representatives and 

The Council of the Republic)
  • Law-making;
  • Adoption of the state budget;
  • Participation in the formation of the executive and judicial powers;
  • Exercise of control functions;
  • Foreign policy activities.

 

The House of Representatives

  • To consider draft laws, the guidelines of the domestic and foreign policy; the fundamental concept and principles of execution of rights, liberties and duties of its citizens; citizenship issues, etc.
  • To approve a state budget and the account on its implementation;
  • To introduce national taxes and dues; the principles of ownership; the basics of social security; the principles regulating labour and employment, education, upbringing, culture and public health; environmental protection and the rational utilisation of natural resources; determination of the procedure for resolving issues relating to the administrative-territorial structure of the State;
  • To call elections for the Presidency; etc.

The Council of the Republic:

  • To approve or reject draft laws adopted by the House of Representatives;
  • To give its consent for the appointment by the President of the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, Chairperson and judges of the Supreme Court, other top officials.
  • To elect 6 judges of the Constitutional Court and 6 members of the Central Commission on Elections and National Referenda;
  • To reverse decisions of local Councils of deputies which do not conform to legislation; etc

local level

Regional sublevel

· Regional Council of Deputies

 

· Council of Deputies of  Minsk City

  • the approval of programs of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts;
  • the setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with the law;
  • the determination, within the limits specified by law, of the procedure governing the management and disposal of municipal property;
  • the calling of local referenda.
  • To resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies, within the limits of their competence,
  • To adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.

 

Basic sublevel

· Council of Deputies of Administrative district

 

·  
  • the approval of programs of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts;
  • the setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with the law;
  • the determination, within the limits specified by law, of the procedure governing the management and disposal of municipal property;
  • the calling of local referenda.
  • To resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies, within the limits of their competence,
  • To adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.

 

· Municipal Council of Deputies (cities of regional subordination)

Primary sublevel

· Village Council of Deputies

 

· Combined Body - Executive committee & Council of deputies of townships, and rural settlements

 

 
  • the approval of programs of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts.

 
  • To resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies, within the limits of their competence,
  • To adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.

 

aspect

level

institution(s)

authority/ function

tasks

national level

 

· President  of the Republic of Belarus
  • Calling national referenda.
  • Calling regular and extraordinary elections to the Parliament  and local representative bodies.
  • Forming, dissolving  and reorganizing  the Administration of the President, other bodies of state administration and bodies attached to the Presidency;
  • Appointing the Prime minister with the consent of the House of Representatives;
  • Determining  the structure of the Government, appointing  and dismissing the deputy Prime ministers, ministers and other members of the Government;
  • Appointing the Chairperson of the Constitutional, Supreme and Economic Courts; etc.
  • Advocacy of the Constitution;
  • To personify  the unity of the nation, the implementation of the main guidelines of the domestic and foreign policy;
  • To provide the protection of the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, its national security and territorial integrity;
  • To ensure political and economic stability of the state, continuity and interaction of bodies of state power;
  • To maintain the intermediation among the bodies of state power; etc.

· Parliament  - National Assembly

(The House of Representatives and 

The Council of the Republic)
  • Law-making;
  • Adoption of the state budget;
  • Participation in the formation of the executive and judicial powers;
  • Exercise of control functions;
  • Foreign policy activities.

 

The House of Representatives

  • To consider draft laws, the guidelines of the domestic and foreign policy; the fundamental concept and principles of execution of rights, liberties and duties of its citizens; citizenship issues, etc.
  • To approve a state budget and the account on its implementation;
  • To introduce national taxes and dues; the principles of ownership; the basics of social security; the principles regulating labour and employment, education, upbringing, culture and public health; environmental protection and the rational utilisation of natural resources; determination of the procedure for resolving issues relating to the administrative-territorial structure of the State;
  • To call elections for the Presidency; etc.

The Council of the Republic:

  • To approve or reject draft laws adopted by the House of Representatives;
  • To give its consent for the appointment by the President of the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, Chairperson and judges of the Supreme Court, other top officials.
  • To elect 6 judges of the Constitutional Court and 6 members of the Central Commission on Elections and National Referenda;
  • To reverse decisions of local Councils of deputies which do not conform to legislation; etc

local level

Regional sublevel

· Regional Council of Deputies

 

· Council of Deputies of  Minsk City

  • the approval of programs of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts;
  • the setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with the law;
  • the determination, within the limits specified by law, of the procedure governing the management and disposal of municipal property;
  • the calling of local referenda.
  • To resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies, within the limits of their competence,
  • To adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.

 

Basic sublevel

· Council of Deputies of Administrative district

 

·  
  • the approval of programs of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts;
  • the setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with the law;
  • the determination, within the limits specified by law, of the procedure governing the management and disposal of municipal property;
  • the calling of local referenda.
  • To resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies, within the limits of their competence,
  • To adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.

· Municipal Council of Deputies (cities of regional subordination)

Primary sublevel

· Village Council of Deputies

 

· Combined Body - Executive committee & Council of deputies of townships, and rural settlements

 

 
  • the approval of programs of economic and social development, and local budgets and accounts.

 
  • To resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, and implement the decisions of higher state bodies, within the limits of their competence,
  • To adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.