Civil society participation in the legislative process

Purpose. The aim of the article is to analyze the participation of civil society in the legislative process. Method. The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis and generalization of available scientific and theoretical material and formulation of relevant conclusions. During the research, the methods of scientific cognition were used: comparative-legal, logical-semantic, functional, system-structural, and logical-normative. Results. In the course of the research, it was recognized that one of the key ways of interaction between the state and civil society is the participation of citizens in the legislative activity of the parliament. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as a representative body aimed at protecting the interests of citizens, can promote more active public involvement in its activities. The examples of the European Union countries show that there are many different forms and ways of such participation at different levels of interaction. The presented methods allow determining the general model of citizen participation in the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Forms of public participation in the activities of the parliament are revealed: informing, consulting and dialogue. Citizens' participation in decision-making is a complex and complex process that takes place under the influence of various factors. Due to the incomplete process of reforming the political system of the country, the system of forms and methods of citizen participation in the decision-making process are in the process of formation and constant transformation. Scientific novelty. The study found that the formation of a model of citizen participation and civil society institutions in the legislative process should reflect the institutional mechanisms of public participation and the integration of civil society structures in the main activities of parliament. Practical significance. The applied value of the research is determined by the fact that the scientific results create a basis for improving the legislation on the participation of civil society institutions in the legislative process.