A municipal deputy is a people's choice who is entrusted to represent the interests of the residents of a particular municipality (MO). According to the law, municipal self-government is not considered as a form of state power, but is only a tool through which residents get the opportunity to decide for themselves what measures to improve life at the moment are the most relevant. They exercise their right to participate in the management of the municipality through their elected deputies.
Finance and Charter of the Moscow Region
Despite the fact that the powers of municipal deputies are significantly inferior to those vested in people's deputies sitting in the State Duma, they also have the opportunity to resolve very important issues. For example, they are in charge of everything related to the property and budget of the MO, which is calculated in accordance with the total number of inhabitants. The results of the work carried out in this direction, they must bring to the attention of voters, and report in detail to them on what exactly they weremoney spent.
Another important duty assigned to the deputy of the municipal council is his participation in the drafting and approval of the Local Statute, which is the basic document on the basis of which the entire internal life of the MO is built. If the previously adopted Charter needs to be improved over time, then making appropriate changes 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 guardianship and guardianship of fully or partially incompetent citizens living within the district. It is the people's representatives who are entrusted with control over the observance of their legitimate 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 premises in the district suitable for accommodating private sports clubs and leisure centers, it becomes obvious that the deputy must be a person of high moral principles, and be able to resist possible bribery attempts from outside unscrupulous entrepreneurs.
Beautification of territories and issues of lawmaking
Importantone of the activities of a municipal deputy is to take care of 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 yards, but also monitoring the quality of the execution of the 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 check that the work is completed on time, at the proper technical level and further ensures the complete safety of children.
According to existing norms, a deputy of the Council of Deputies of a municipal district has certain rights to make laws. It is expressed in the opportunity provided to him to introduce projects for the creation of new legal acts, as well as amendments to existing laws, but having legal force only on the territory of the given municipality. 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.
Interaction of a deputy with voters
In the case of solving particularly 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 initiatives put forward are contrary to the plans outlined earlier.
For greater engagement with the county population, an MP may organize public hearings, such as those related to issuesbuilding, policing or holding events to celebrate any local holiday. This is most relevant in rural settlements, which have their own historical traditions and specific features of life.
Municipal councils and state power
Due to the characteristic features of municipal governments, an important problem is to ensure their interaction with government officials, which makes it possible to coordinate the solution of local issues at the regional level. To do this, municipal deputies are provided with the widest opportunities. For example, each of them has the right to apply with a deputy request to any federal authority.
In addition, the deputies are empowered to initiate an audit of the work of the head of the district administration, that is, to intrude into the area of activity of the executive branch. In conflict cases, they are given the right to resolve municipal issues in court, if necessary, sending appeals to its higher authorities.
At the same time, in order to attract public attention to issues that have not been resolved at the municipal level, the deputy can use the help of the media, which in some cases has already brought the desired results.
Socio-economic sphere of activity of deputies
People's representatives are also obliged to exercise control over the activities of other municipalities and various organizations that perform certain actions on the order of their district. They are given the rightto 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 life of the district. The results of the inspections, which are then submitted to the relevant state authorities for consideration, help to fully compose a picture of the economic and social life of this part of the Petrodvorets district of St. Petersburg.
On what means does the deputy live?
Is it possible to combine the performance of deputy duties with another form of paid activity? This question often causes discussions, and it is worth dwelling on it separately. The fact is that in search of an answer, a parallel is usually drawn between State Duma deputies and their colleagues from the councils of municipalities, but this is not entirely true. Indeed, according to the law, the holders of the mandates of the highest legislative body of power in Russia are deprived of the right to do anything other than the performance of 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 perform their duties on an ongoing basis (for money), and, according to the law, they may not bemore than 10% of the total number of persons with mandates. Since the number of deputies depends on the population of the district, it is not uncommon to find 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 prohibited from combining deputy activities with business or any other form of income generation.
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. Both representatives of certain political parties and self-nominated candidates can participate in them. In the first case, the task of the candidate is made easier, since he is provided with the support of his fellow party members in advance. Otherwise, the candidate for the mandate must prove himself in advance and earn the respect of his future electorate. To get into this body of people's self-government, you need to get at least 5% of the votes.
Responsibility for the work performed
The existing legislation clearly outlines the rights of a municipal deputy and his duties. The only benefit granted to him is the possibility of free travel in public transport. Responsibilities are very broad, as 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 by him during the election campaign.
Here an important role is played by what mandate was given to the deputy. The thing isthat 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, and in this case he is responsible to the voters for its implementation.
The second one leaves him the right to do as he pleases. Since the majority of people's deputies are the holders of a free mandate, their real actions often differ from what the voters expect from them. However, even in this case, no one relieves them of moral responsibility for the result of the work done.
Bringing a deputy to account for offenses
Like any other citizen of the country, the municipal deputy is responsible to the state in case of violation of the requirements of the law. However, due to parliamentary immunity, the procedure for bringing him to justice is somewhat different than that provided for ordinary citizens.
In addition, he cannot be subjected to inspection, search, check of the car and documentation located with it, as well as wiretapping of communications and control over correspondence. The only exceptions are those cases when a people's choice is found at the site of an unlawful act committed by him. But even so, the law requires that the prosecutor and the chairman of the elected body be notified.
