The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology
54
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
54-58
10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue04-10
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
26 February 2025
ACCEPTED
22 March 2025
PUBLISHED
25 April 2025
VOLUME
Vol.07 Issue04 2025
CITATION
Aymuratov Sultamurat Berdimurat uli. (2025). Development of public
administration and reform of the local government system of Uzbekistan:
based on democratic principles. The American Journal of Political Science
Law and Criminology, 7(04), 54
–
58.
https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue04-10
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Development of public
administration and reform
of the local government
system of Uzbekistan:
based on democratic
principles
Aymuratov Sultamurat Berdimurat uli
Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh, Nukus, Uzbekistan
Abstract:
This article is dedicated to the processes of
development and reform of the public administration
system in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The author
emphasizes the need for the organization of state
power in the country in accordance with the needs of its
citizens. The article presents the provisions of the
"Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy of Uzbekistan, signed on
September 11, 2023, concerning updates and reforms in
the public administration system. In particular,
instructions were given on the formation and effective
functioning of the local government system. The
interrelationships of representative and executive
bodies of state power on the ground and their place in
the general system were studied. The article also
analyzes the relationship between vertical and
horizontal government systems and their impact on
local governance.
Keywords:
Strategy of Uzbekistan-2030, public
administration, local government, representative
bodies, executive power, vertical and horizontal
relations.
Introduction:
Every state, in ensuring the interests of its
citizens, must establish a system of public
administration that meets their needs and interests.
This system operates in direct contact with the people,
and government bodies are formed directly by citizens.
Therefore, they act on the basis of a unified system,
possessing common powers, and strive to fulfill the
needs of the people while fully taking into account their
interests. Since the people are defined as the main
source of state power, the governance system should be
aimed at serving the interests of citizens.
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The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology
The reforms being implemented in the Republic of
Uzbekistan to improve the public administration
system, particularly new initiatives aimed at reforming
local government bodies, are focused on forming a
system operating on the principles of democratic
governance. Specifically, within the framework of the
"Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy, approved by Presidential
Decree No. PF-158 of September 11, 2023, the goal is
to improve the legal and institutional relationships
between local representative and executive bodies,
enhance their service to the interests of the people,
and strengthen transparency and public participation.
This article highlights the essence of these reforms,
their legal basis, analysis of vertical and horizontal
relations between local representative and executive
authorities, as well as the organization of the
governance system based on administrative-territorial
units.
Relevance of the topic
Today, the issue of improving the public administration
system in the Republic of Uzbekistan, particularly the
reform of local government bodies, is recognized as
one of the priority areas of state policy. The
fundamental reforms being carried out in this direction
are primarily aimed at establishing an effective
governance system that serves the interests of the
people. Notably, the "Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy,
approved by the Decree of the President of the
Republic of Uzbekistan No. UP-158 dated September
11, 2023, extensively addresses the issues of
enhancing the activities of local authorities based on
democratic principles. Paragraphs 75 and 76 of the
Strategy define the tasks of transforming local
representative bodies into the true "voice" of the
people, and revising the activities of local executive
authorities based on the principle of "serving the
interests of the population." This approach
necessitates involving the public in the activities of
local Kengashes, actively engaging civil society
institutions, defining clear boundaries of powers and
functions of territorial state bodies, and forming local
executive bodies on a democratic basis.
METHODS
The following methods and approaches were
employed in writing this scientific article:
Analytical method
The interactions among local government bodies, their
legal foundations, and institutional structures were
analyzed based on the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy.
Specifically, the current state of the existing system
was
examined
through
presidential
decrees,
constitutional amendments, and legislative acts.
Systematic approach
Government authorities were examined as components
of a unified management system in both vertical and
horizontal relationships. A systematic analysis was
conducted on the interdependence of representative
and executive bodies at the highest and local levels.
Comparative method
By comparing the relevant articles of the 1992 and 2023
Constitutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan, changes in
the formation of local Councils (Kengashes) were
identified, and their significance was elucidated.
Historical-legal method
The history of the formation and development of local
government bodies was reviewed, and the evolution of
constitutional and regulatory legal acts was analyzed.
Normative-legal analysis method
The existing legal framework was studied based on the
Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Presidential
decrees, laws, including Decree No. PF-158 and the Law
"On Local State Authority."
Logical-structural approach
The interactions between representative and executive
bodies within the local government system were
analyzed in a logical sequence and within the framework
of intersystem connections.
RESULTS
An in-depth analysis of the reforms being implemented
in the Republic of Uzbekistan to reform the local
government system has revealed the following main
results:
The "Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy reinforces the
democratic principles of local governance.
Clauses 75 and 76 of Presidential Decree No. PF-158,
adopted on September 11, 2023, stipulate the
transformation of local representative bodies into the
"voice" of the people and the organization of the
executive branch based on the principle of "serving the
interests of the population." This, in turn, serves to
deepen the democratization of the local government
system.
The local government system is based on the principle
of unity, interconnected on both vertical and horizontal
levels.
The two-tiered structure of Uzbekistan's state system,
with representative and executive bodies operating in
parallel at each level (national and local), forms their
horizontal connections. At the same time, the direct
managerial influence of higher state bodies on lower
bodies constitutes a system of vertical relations.
For effective regulation of relations between local
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The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology
government bodies, it is necessary to consider both
vertical and horizontal interactions together.
According to research findings, it has been determined
that analyzing the existing relations between
representative and executive bodies in local
governance is more effective when based on their
close integration, rather than solely within a vertical or
horizontal framework.
State governance is formed on the basis of the
territorial principle, and this governance is determined
by national, economic, and proximity principles.
The territory of Uzbekistan is divided into
administrative-territorial units. Three main principles
play a key role in the formation of these units: national,
economic, and the principle of bringing state power
closer to the population. This approach ensures the
territorial stability of the local government system,
taking into account the specific characteristics of each
region.
Constitutional reforms have strengthened the role of
representative bodies at the regional level.
As a result of the 2017 constitutional amendments,
local Kengashes (representative bodies) were also
established in the districts of Tashkent city. This
expanded the possibilities for parliamentary oversight
of policies implemented by the executive branch
(khokims) and strengthened public participation
through local-level representation.
Within the framework of measures aimed at improving
public administration in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a
new initiative has been adopted, aimed, in particular,
at reforming local government. In particular, on
September 11, 2023, the Decree of the President of the
Republic of Uzbekistan No. UP-158 "On the Strategy
"Uzbekistan-2030" was signed. Paragraph 75 of this
decree
provides
for
the
transformation
of
representative bodies of state power in the localities
into the true "voice" of the people, while paragraph 76
aims to update the activities of local executive
authorities and develop territorial administration
based on the principle of "serving the interests of the
population" . Also, the following tasks have been
defined as the main indicators for measuring
effectiveness to achieve these goals: creating the
necessary conditions for ensuring public participation
in the activities of local Kengashes, actively involving
civil society institutions, defining clear boundaries of
tasks and functions of government bodies at the
regional and district (city) levels, as well as forming
local executive authorities based on democratic
principles.
At the same time, as noted in the paragraphs of the
above-mentioned Strategy, the bodies of state power
with general powers in the exercise of state power can
be divided into two types: first, representative bodies
directly elected by the people, and second, executive
bodies formed indirectly by representative bodies in the
order of democracy.
In turn, since the state structure of Uzbekistan is based
on a two-tiered system, it has two types of public
authorities with general authority according to the
vertical hierarchy. The first of these are the highest
bodies of state power, and the second are local bodies
of state power. The system of state authorities at the
highest level includes the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of
Uzbekistan as the highest representative div and the
Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan as the
highest executive div. The system of state authorities
at the local level includes the Councils of People's
Deputies of regions, districts, and cities (except for cities
of district subordination) as a representative div of
local authority with general powers, and the khokims of
regions, districts, and cities as local executive bodies. It
should be noted here that generally authorized state
bodies are understood to be state bodies established
within their territory with appropriate rights and
obligations to manage all economic, social, cultural, and
administrative-political spheres of public life. In turn, in
the system of state authorities of each level, within this
system, corresponding representative and executive
bodies are formed and operate simultaneously in a
horizontal order. Since these bodies are of the same
level, they are understood as bodies of state power in a
horizontal relationship. At the same time, since state
authorities at both vertical and horizontal levels are an
integral part of the unified system of state authorities,
they are in constant and continuous state power
relations with each other. An important conclusion
follows from this: when studying the interaction of local
government bodies, there is a need to consider their
vertical and horizontal interaction simultaneously. In
this case, vertical refers not only to the interaction of
local government with the highest bodies of state
power, but also to the interaction of existing regional,
district, and city bodies within the system of local
government bodies. This means that vertical interaction
should not be limited to the concept of interaction
between local and higher bodies. In this case, when
applying such a concept, it is more correct, complete,
and accurate to use the concept of the interaction of
lower organs with higher ones at the level of each
vertical level. This approach to concepts is due to the
fact that local representative and executive bodies
interacting horizontally at one of the vertical levels
(region, district, or city) can be influenced by higher
state authorities. Such a situation requires taking into
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account the fact that when perfectly regulating the
interaction of local representative and executive
bodies on a vertical basis, higher bodies exert their
managerial influence on lower bodies. In this regard,
E. Khojiev emphasizes: "It is in vertical legal relations
that the direct managerial influence of the subject of
management on a particular object is carried out".
In turn, the organization and determination of the
essence of the activities of local government bodies are
based on the factor of the country's division into
territorial units and are expressed in this. In particular,
the division of the country's territory into
administrative-territorial units creates opportunities
and conditions for taking into account the existing
features (national-cultural, economic, etc.), potential
and opportunities of each region, their development,
and the development of the whole country. This means
that the territory of the country is, first of all, divided
into territorial units on the basis of relevant principles,
and in these territorial units, to ensure their
management, appropriate local government bodies
are created. Therefore, they are called not only
territorial units, but also administrative-territorial
units. The addition of the term "administrative" here
means that state bodies have been established in this
territory, and these territories are managed by the
state, or mainly by the state. In turn, three principles
are taken into account when dividing the territory of
the country into territorial units. These are, firstly, the
national principle, secondly, the economic principle,
and thirdly, the principle of bringing state power closer
to the population.
The national principle, when defining territorial unity
and its scope, is based primarily on taking into account
the cultural characteristics of the population
historically living in this territory. Here, cultural identity
refers to the historically formed lifestyle of the
population, customs, traditions, spiritual and religious
characteristics, language (dialects), clothing, art,
cuisine, architecture, patterns, decorations, and other
naturally formed historical rarities. The economic
principle provides for taking into account the specifics
related to the economy of the respective territory
when determining the territorial unity and its scope.
Such features are primarily aimed at taking into
account factors related to nature and climate,
geographical location, economic and cultural
development, and the possibility of development. The
principle of bringing state power closer to the
population aims to create organizational conditions for
ensuring the participation of the population in state
governance through close interaction between the
state and the population. Although there is no need to
take into account national and economic principles
when applying this principle, it is possible to achieve full
access to public services in the territory where the
population lives by further streamlining territories with
a large territory and population. An example of this is
the constitutional reform in Uzbekistan in 2017. In
particular, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On
Elections to District Councils of People's Deputies of the
City of Tashkent" of August 29, 2017, excludes the
words "as well as from districts that are part of the city"
from Article 99 of the 1992 Constitution. As a result, if
Article 99 of the 1992 Constitution stated that "Councils
of People's Deputies in regions, districts and cities
(except for cities of district subordination, as well as
districts that are part of a city) are representative bodies
of power," then now Article 120 of the new version of
the 2023 Constitution applies the wording " (except for
cities of district subordination)." Thus, it was established
that local Councils should also be established in the
districts that are part of the city. The purpose of the
adoption of the aforementioned law is to "further
strengthen the democratic foundations of state power,
the role and significance of representative bodies in
implementing socio-economic and socio-political
changes." Accordingly, local Councils of People's
Deputies are being established in all districts within
cities, such as the city of Tashkent. Previously, since the
formation of local Kengashes in the districts of Tashkent
was not stipulated at the constitutional level, only the
executive branch, headed by khokims, was headed in
these districts. At the same time, the representative
function for the population of the districts of the city of
Tashkent was carried out centrally by the Tashkent City
Council of People's Deputies. Under these conditions,
the Tashkent City Councils of People's Deputies,
consisting of 60 deputies, represented the interests of
the 3 million residents of Tashkent (per 1 deputy there
are 50 thousand people).
Such a situation did not allow for full consideration of
the interests of the district's population and the
specifics of the district when approving socio-economic
programs aimed at the development of each district, the
district budget, and the khokim. Now the local
Kengashes of People's Deputies, created in these
districts, have the powers established by Article 123 of
the Constitution, in particular, the consideration and
adoption of relevant local budgets, the implementation
of control over their execution, the approval of
programs for the socio-economic development of
territories and social protection of the population, the
approval of the khokim and the hearing of reports on his
activities, as well as other powers provided for by the
Constitution and laws. This will further develop the
establishment of more effective feedback between the
state and the population. It should be particularly noted
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here that in developed democratic states, the principle
of population reduction is widely applied when
dividing the country's territory into local territories,
thereby creating a multi-level territorial system
(Germany, France, Italy, Spain, USA, etc.)
Analysis of the research results
The ongoing measures to reform the local government
system in the Republic of Uzbekistan, particularly
based on the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy, necessitate
a review of the interactions between representative
and executive bodies. Clauses 75 and 76 of the Strategy
envision the renewal of local Kengashes' role as the
"voice of the people" and the executive branch based
on the principle of "serving the interests of the
people."
Analysis indicates that within the framework of the
two-tier structure of state power (supreme and local),
representative and executive bodies operate with
horizontal and vertical interconnections. This requires
a systematic and comprehensive approach to
regulating their interactions.
Furthermore, as a result of constitutional reforms, the
principles
of
democratic
governance
were
strengthened, especially through the establishment of
local representative bodies in the districts of Tashkent
city. Concurrently, the stability of territorial
administration is being ensured based on national,
economic, and proximity-to-population principles.
Overall, the research findings substantiate the
necessity for legal and organizational improvements in
the relationships between local government bodies.
CONCLUSION
Improving the system of local government in the
Republic of Uzbekistan and reorganizing it based on
democratic principles is one of the important
directions of the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy. This
strategy aims to strengthen the openness and
participation in public administration by transforming
representative bodies into the true "voice" of the
people and basing the activities of local executive
authorities on the principle of serving the interests of
the population.
The study revealed that Uzbekistan's public
administration system has a two-tiered structure, in
which representative and executive bodies operate in
horizontal and vertical relationships. This requires the
effective organization of coordination and control
mechanisms. Additionally, when regulating the
activities of local authorities and determining their
legal status, it is crucial to consider the country's
administrative-territorial division, as well as national,
economic, and proximity-to-population principles.
As a result of the constitutional reforms in 2017 and
2023, the establishment of local Councils in the districts
of
Tashkent
strengthened
the
activities
of
representative bodies at the territorial level. District
Councils are now authorized to adopt local budgets,
approve socio-economic development programs, and
discuss and approve the activities of hokims. This plays
an important role in forming an effective mechanism for
communication and accountability between the
government and the population.
In conclusion, it can be said that the reforms aimed at
clarifying the powers of local government bodies in
Uzbekistan, coordinating their vertical and horizontal
relationships, as well as bringing public administration
closer to the population, will contribute to the
formation of a more stable, democratic, and effective
public administration system. This approach, based on
the experience of developed democratic states and
adapted to the national context, is one of the main
factors in expressing the interests of the people in real
life.
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Ю.В.
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