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PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVE STATE AUTHORITIES IN UZBEKISTAN
Ikhtiyor Bekov
DSc, Professor
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16949771
Abstract.
The article analyzes the legal status and the role of local
representative bodies of state authority in Uzbekistan within the framework of
democratic governance. It highlights the impact of the evolving constitutional
and legal framework, the institutional cooperation between the upper chamber
and local councils, as well as the effectiveness of governance through
decentralization at the local level. The study relies on normative-legal analysis
and evaluates the influence of reforms on the decision-making, oversight, and
public communication functions of representative bodies. Problematic issues
such as the clarity of status and powers, participation in budgetary processes,
guarantees for deputies, and transparency are examined from a systemic
perspective, with recommendations for further development. The conclusion
emphasizes that strengthening local representative bodies is an integral part of
democratic reforms and a fundamental condition for the institutional expression
of public interests.
Keywords:
Senate, local state authority, representative bodies,
constitutional
reforms,
Senate–Council
cooperation,
decentralization,
accountability, democratic reforms.
INTRODUCTION
Based on the initiatives and ideas of the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Action Strategy, the Development Strategy,
and the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy were adopted, which have transformed the
democratic image of the country [1]. Economic, political, and social reforms are
taking place.
In particular, in recent years, large-scale changes have been implemented in
organizing public administration in the service of the people. In this regard, the
powers of local councils have been expanded to address urgent issues of socio-
economic development of the regions and the social protection of the
population.
At the same time, effective cooperation between the Senate and local
councils ensures harmony in law-making and oversight activities. By holding
open council sessions, listening to the opinions of the population, conducting
public discussions, and considering citizens’ views through electronic platforms,
communication with the people is being strengthened.
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Moreover, the introduction of the principle of decentralization in regional
governance has made the principle of “serving the interests of the people” a top
priority.
RESULTS
The spirit of the renewed Constitution has fundamentally changed the
attitude toward local representative bodies of state authority. From now on,
supporting their activities has been defined as the absolute prerogative of the
Senate [2]. This marked a new stage in the relationship between the center and
the regions. Within the structure of the Senate, a Commission for Assisting the
Activities of Local Representative Bodies of State Authority and a Center for
Studying the Activities of Regional Representative Bodies have been established.
These entities provide organizational, legal, and methodological assistance to
local councils. Most importantly, councils no longer feel isolated in their
territories but rather perceive themselves as standing shoulder to shoulder with
the Senate.
Local councils are becoming not only advisory bodies but also influential
structures that make decisions, initiate proposals, and ensure socio-economic
stability in their respective regions.
In recent years, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis has adopted more than 20
resolutions aimed at further enhancing the effective functioning of local councils
[3]. Through these resolutions, the legal status, powers, and mechanisms of
activity of local representative bodies have been further clarified, and a solid
legal foundation has been established.
In addition, more than 700 legislative acts were revised, and those relevant
to the activities of the councils were systematically streamlined. As a result, over
300 redundant or duplicative functions were optimized, thereby reducing the
burden on local bodies and shifting the focus toward outcomes and quality.
These processes have become an important stage in shaping local councils
as bodies that work “not in name, but in results.” From now on, local councils
function as genuine representatives of the people, while the Senate acts as their
strategic support.
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Measures to
Improve the Efficiency of the Activities of Local State Authorities,” adopted on
February 2, 2024 (PF–28), became a truly historic document [4]. This decree
laid the legal foundation of a new model aimed at renewing the activities of local
state authorities on the principle of “Strong Council — accountable and
proactive khokim.” On this basis, 33 important powers were transferred to the
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representatives of the people in the regions — local councils. These powers have
significantly strengthened the capacity of the councils as institutions directly
expressing the will of the people in addressing decisive issues of society and
state life.
The Senate of the Oliy Majlis has also actively participated in this process,
adopting more than 20 resolutions to strengthen the activities of local councils,
revising more than 700 legislative acts, and optimizing over 300 functions. In
addition, the “E-Kengash” information system was introduced, creating
opportunities for openness and electronic communication between local
representative bodies and citizens [5].
At the same time, it is no secret that there remain a number of pressing
problems in the process of transforming local councils into fully effective and
influential institutions. In particular, the lack of precise legal definition of the
councils’ status hinders the full implementation of the principle of separation of
powers. It is necessary to strengthen the influence of councils in budgetary,
investment, and development programs, as well as to reinforce oversight
mechanisms over the district and city levels.
Furthermore, to increase the effectiveness of local councils, it is essential to
further improve cooperation with the Senate, to establish mechanisms for
conveying regional problems to the government level through the Senate, and to
ensure their systematic resolution.
In addition, it is crystal clear that defining and implementing guarantees
and social protection mechanisms for the activities of local council deputies is of
critical importance. Effective organization of deputies’ work requires measures
aimed at providing guarantees, social protection, training, and exchange of
experience, as well as strengthening the material-technical base and human
resources capacity.
In Uzbekistan, strengthening local state authority involves not only
executive but also oversight functions, which are acquiring priority importance.
Above all, in order to enhance the oversight capacity of the councils, the
institution of the “Council Hour” is being introduced. Through it, heads of
executive bodies will report to deputies and the public on key social issues. This
will be a major step in increasing the accountability of state bodies [6].
Moreover, candidates for the position of deputy khokim must be discussed
on the basis of conclusions by standing committees of the council and are
required to present their regional development program in their respective
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areas. This procedure increases the preparedness and responsibility of
candidates for their duties.
Now, as a result of oversight activities conducted by local councils, specific
measures of influence will be applied to khokims and heads of executive bodies.
At the same time, the public will be provided with complete and
transparent information on how and where local budget funds are spent. Strict
control will be established over the targeted and efficient use of allocations from
the republican budget and state targeted funds. This, in turn, will allow the
population to monitor whether every sum reaches its destination and produces
practical results. Undoubtedly, this will strengthen the accountability and
responsibility of public authorities.
In addition, involving deputies in the process of forming local budgets and
supporting their initiatives will create the foundation for adopting decisions
aimed at improving the well-being of the population. In order to strengthen local
financial independence, the possibility of allocating certain duties, payments,
and fines to district (city) budgets is being considered.
Defining clear procedures for oversight activities is one of the important
tasks, and in this regard, mechanisms for exercising the oversight powers of
councils will be developed. The reporting system of executive div heads will be
revised, and new approaches will be introduced regarding its frequency and
format.
These measures serve to consolidate local councils not only as advisory
bodies but also as practical representatives of the people, supervisors, and
proactive political forces. Indeed, a strong council is a guarantee of public trust
and fair governance at the local level.
To resolve public problems and regional interests on the ground, and to
bring them to the republican level for systematic solutions, it is planned to
introduce a new format based on the principle of “mahalla seven – district/city
council – regional council – Senate” [7].
At the same time, local council chairpersons will lead regional councils on
combating corruption, and strong legal foundations will be created to ensure
their active participation in promoting openness and accountability in the
activities of executive bodies. Most importantly, an institutional mechanism will
be introduced to guarantee the effective participation of deputies and
representatives of the “mahalla seven” in the development and implementation
of socio-economic development programs. This will be an important step
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toward building a stable, consistent, and effective system that ensures real local
problems are heard and resolved at the state level.
Today, it is increasingly required to enhance the substance and
effectiveness of decisions through the active involvement of the public. To this
end, an institutional mechanism will be created to engage civil society
institutions and the scientific community in the process of drafting decisions of
local representative authorities. This will ensure that decisions are both
practical and targeted.
In addition, to ensure transparency in the activities of local councils, a
mechanism will be introduced that allows citizens to directly observe the
process of council sessions. Furthermore, similar to the legislative initiative,
citizens will be granted the right to submit electronic petitions: at least 1,000
voters to district (city) councils and at least 5,000 voters to regional and
Tashkent city councils. Through this, issues affecting the lives of the population
will be placed on the council’s agenda on the basis of the people’s will, thereby
creating a legal foundation for participatory governance.
The stronger the legal guarantees for deputies who protect the interests of
the people and actively participate in addressing local socio-economic problems,
the stronger will be the trust of the people in them. To this end, it is planned to
strengthen administrative liability for violations of deputies’ guarantees, protect
their rights at their main place of employment, and explicitly regulate the
prohibition of obstacles to their participation in council meetings. In addition,
legal conditions will be created to ensure deputies have unhindered access to
state institutions in their constituencies, free participation in sessions and
committees, and constant communication with voters.
Most importantly, concrete mechanisms will be developed to prevent
conflicts of interest in the activities of deputies, to strengthen ethical standards,
and to ensure the full implementation of existing legal norms in practice. All of
this will serve to transform local representative bodies into more active,
effective institutions that work in the interests of the people.
The effective organization of the activities of local councils and the
strengthening of their institutional foundations are among the most important
and urgent directions of today’s democratic reforms. To this end, it is necessary,
first of all, to increase the effectiveness of local representative bodies by
ensuring consistency in electoral processes and in the activities of political
parties. Taking into account the interests of political parties and the results of
elections in the formation of standing committees will help establish sustainable
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political balance in local councils. This will create a foundation for the full
expression of the interests of the people and regions, the expansion of political
participation, and the strengthening of responsibility.
In addition, the clear distribution of powers between regional and district
(city) councils will prevent duplication of functions and tasks. One of the most
important innovations is the introduction of the institution of the council
presidium to promptly resolve important and pressing issues arising between
sessions, with its scope of powers clearly defined. At the same time, the
formation of the institution of the deputy chairperson of the council on a public
basis will make the system of local governance more effective, flexible, and
closer to the people.
In order to ensure ethics and responsibility in the activities of councils, it is
planned to strengthen oversight of compliance with parliamentary ethics and
regulations, as well as to transfer to standing committees the authority to
monitor the observance of ethical rules by officials. At the same time, special
attention will be paid to increasing the political activity of youth and supporting
their initiative through the establishment of Youth Councils under local councils
[8].
To increase effectiveness, an independent financial accounting system will
be introduced for council secretariats, and measures will be expanded to
materially and morally encourage employees. In addition, training courses and
internships aimed at continuously improving the qualifications of deputies and
secretariat specialists will contribute to fully realizing the potential of local
councils. These measures will help shape local councils into proactive and
influential people’s institutions that justify public trust.
Today, the complete digitalization of the activities of local councils and the
effective use of information technologies to ensure transparency, accountability,
and efficiency have become urgent tasks. To this end, the capabilities of the “E-
Kengash” electronic platform are being gradually expanded, including processes
such as voting in sessions, working with documents, delivering decisions to
executors, and monitoring their implementation.
Within the framework of the platform, opportunities will be created for
online broadcasting of council sessions, automatic transcription and preparation
of minutes using artificial intelligence, and the introduction of an electronic
rating system evaluating the performance of each council. This will ensure open
and transparent monitoring of deputies’ work, which, in turn, will not only
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increase public trust in representative bodies but also strengthen the
responsibility and activity of deputies [9].
Another important aspect is providing citizens and the media with free
access to information through “E-Kengash.” This platform will strengthen
communication between local councils and the people, ensure public oversight
in the decision-making process, and thereby transform the digital council model
into a fundamental basis of modern governance, paving the way for councils that
make decisions based on the voice of the people.
CONCLUSION
Today, under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, large-scale reforms aimed at enhancing human dignity,
ensuring public welfare, and establishing the supremacy of justice in society
have become the main direction in building New Uzbekistan. Within this
process, the fundamental improvement of the activities of local councils holds
decisive importance in shaping a completely new legal space in state–society
relations, as enshrined in the renewed Constitution.
A strong council means a strong community, an honest deputy, and a citizen
with a voice. Modern governance does not begin at the center but from the
mahalla and the local council. The development of local councils as close-to-the-
people, active, responsible, and transparent institutions is the natural
continuation of the President’s firm political will and practical efforts to further
strengthen trust between the state and the people.
In this context, the responsibility of every deputy, the orientation of every
decision toward serving the interests of the people, and the practical relevance
of every initiative must remain the highest criteria. Local councils should no
longer be perceived merely as decision-making bodies, but as the closest, most
influential, and open platform where people’s grievances are heard, their
problems resolved, and their proposals considered. Indeed, at the heart of all
reforms in New Uzbekistan lies one great idea — the idea of elevating human
dignity..
References:
1.
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-158 of
September 11, 2023, “On the Strategy Uzbekistan — 2030”.
https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-6600413
2.
Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2023). National Database of
Legislative
Information,
May
1,
2023,
No.
03/23/837/0241.
https://lex.uz/docs/6451070
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3.
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