A municipal deputy is a people's deputy who is entrusted with representing the interests of residents of a particular municipality. According to the law, municipal self-government is not regarded as a form of state power, but is only a tool, thanks to which residents are given the opportunity to decide for themselves which measures to improve their lives are currently the most relevant. They exercise their right to participate in the management of the municipality through the deputies elected by them.
Finance and the Charter of the Moscow Region
Despite the fact that the powers of municipal deputies are significantly inferior to those vested in the people's deputies sitting in the State Duma, they also have the opportunity to solve very important issues. For example, they are in charge of everything related to the property and budget of the Moscow Region, which is calculated in accordance with the total number of inhabitants. The results of the work carried out in this direction, they should bring to the attention of voters, and report in detail to them on what exactly the money was spent.
Another important responsibility entrusted to the deputy of the municipal council is his participation in the drafting and approval of the Local Charter, which is the basic document on the basis of which the entire internal life of the Moscow Region is built. If the previously adopted Charter needs to be improved over time, then the introduction of appropriate amendments to it is also the prerogative of the people's representative.
Caring for the disabled and organizing leisure activities for citizens
The powers of municipal deputies also include issues related to the guardianship and trusteeship of fully or partially incompetent citizens residing within the district. It is the people's representatives who are entrusted with the control over the observance of their legal rights and interests. Working in this direction, they have the opportunity to rely on the help of specialists of various profiles.
The work of a deputy of the Council of Deputies of the municipal district is also closely connected with everything related to the development of sports in the territory under his jurisdiction and the organization of leisure for local residents. Taking into account that he is in charge of the distribution of all the premises located in the district suitable for hosting private sports sections and leisure centers, it becomes obvious that the deputy must be a person of high moral principles, and be able to withstand possible attempts to bribe, from unscrupulous entrepreneurs.
Land improvement and lawmaking issues
An important aspect of the activity of a municipal deputy is concern for the improvement of the territory of his district. It includes not only the organization of certain works aimed at improving the condition of streets and courtyards, but also monitoring the quality of the execution of instructions given to them. For example, it is not enough to make efforts to ensure that a playground is built in a certain area, it is also important to personally verify that the work was completed on time, at the proper technical level and in the future ensure the complete safety of children.
According to existing standards, a deputy of the Council of Deputies of the municipal district has certain rights to lawmaking. It is expressed in the opportunity provided to him to introduce projects for the creation of new regulatory legal acts, as well as amendments to existing laws, but having legal force only in the territory of this municipal entity. This "local lawmaking", carried out taking into account the peculiarities, traditions and problems, can play an important role in improving the life of the population of the district.
The interaction of the deputy with voters
In case of solving especially important issues, the status of a municipal deputy allows him to initiate a referendum, the purpose of which is to find out the opinion of the majority of citizens on this issue. He is obliged to listen to their opinion even in those cases when the proposed initiatives run counter to the plans outlined earlier.
For closer interaction with the population of the district, the deputy can organize public hearings, for example, related to problems of construction, ensuring the protection of order or holding events in honor of any local holidays. This is most relevant in rural settlements that have their own historical traditions and the specific features of life.
Municipal Councils and State Power
Due to the characteristic features of municipal authorities, an important problem is to ensure their interaction with representatives of state authorities, which makes it possible to coordinate local issues at the regional level. For this, the municipal deputies are provided with the widest opportunities. For example, each of them has the right to apply with a deputy’s request to any federal authority.
In addition, deputies are empowered to initiate an audit of the work of the head of the district administration, that is, to invade the area of activity of the executive branch. In conflict cases, they are given the right to resolve municipal issues in court, if necessary, directing appeals to its higher instances.
At the same time, to draw public attention to issues that have not been resolved at the municipal level, the deputy can take advantage of the help of the media, which in some cases has already brought the desired results.
Socio-economic sphere of activity of deputies
People’s deputies are also obligated to monitor the activities of other municipalities and various organizations that perform certain actions on the order of their district. He was also given the right to work together with representatives of any other municipalities, aimed at solving common problems.
The competence of deputies also includes the solution of a number of socio-economic issues. An example is the work of the Peterhof Council of Municipal Deputies, whose members regularly collect statistical data characterizing the state of these two most important areas of the district’s life. Submitted for consideration by the relevant state authorities, the results of the checks help to fully compose a picture of the economic and social life of this part of the Petrodvorets district of St. Petersburg.
What funds does the deputy live on?
Is it possible to combine the performance of deputy duties with another form of paid activity? This issue often causes discussion, and it is worth dwelling on it. The fact is that, in search of an answer, a parallel is usually drawn between State Duma deputies and their colleagues from municipal councils, and this is not entirely true. Indeed, according to the law, the holders of the mandates of the highest legislative body of Russia are deprived of the right to do anything other than fulfill their direct duties. The exception is teaching, creative and scientific activities.
In municipal councils, the picture is somewhat different. The above restrictions apply only to those deputies who fulfill their duties on an ongoing basis (for money), and they, according to the law, can be no more than 10% of the total number of persons with mandates. Since the number of deputies depends on the population of the district, it is often possible to meet councils (for example, in rural settlements) consisting of 10 people. In this case, only one of them has the right to work on a permanent basis, and only he is forbidden to combine deputy activity with business or any other form of income.
How to become a municipal deputy?
The composition of the Council of Municipal Deputies is formed on the basis of elections held every 4 years. Representatives of certain political parties, as well as self-nominated people, can participate in them. In the first case, the candidate’s task is facilitated, since he is provided with the support of his party members in advance. Otherwise, the mandate applicant must prove himself in advance and earn the respect of his future electorate. For passage to this body of self-government it is required to collect at least 5% of the vote.
Responsibility for the work performed
The existing legislation clearly outlines the rights of the municipal deputy and his duties. The only privilege provided to him is the possibility of free travel in public transport. Responsibilities are very extensive, they were discussed in the previous sections. It remains to add a few words about the responsibility that the deputy bears for the fulfillment of certain promises made to him during the election campaign.
An important role here is played by what mandate was given to the deputy. The fact is that there are two types of them ─ mandatory and free. Only the first of them obliges the deputy to strictly follow the program put forward earlier, in which case he is responsible to the voters for its implementation.
The second leaves him the right to act at his discretion. As the majority of the people’s representatives are precisely those who have a free mandate, their real actions often diverge from what voters expect from them. However, even in this case, no one removes moral responsibility from them for the result of the work done.
