IMPACT OF DECENTRALIZATION ON THE STATUS OF DISTRICT COUNCILS, THEIR PLACE AND ROLE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN UKRAINE

The scientific article is devoted to the issue of the status of district councils in the context of the implementation of the reform of power decentralization in Ukraine. In accordance with the purpose of the study, the optimal way of determining the role and importance of district councils is proposed, with appropriate legislative changes. The works of domestic scientists, whose positions were taken into account during the research, were also analyzed. In order to realize the set goal, a concise description of the stages of decentralization of power in Ukraine is given, and special attention is focused on the status of district councils. The article describes two main methods of determining the status of district councils, indicating the advantages of each of them. In the last chapter of the scientific work, relevant clear legislative changes are proposed. The main research material is divided into 4 blocks. The first block is devoted to the issue of the status of district councils in the context of the reform of power decentralization in Ukraine. It aims to describe the main stages of the decentralization process, within which the role and importance of district councils changed, which is also noted. In the second and third blocks, two actually opposite approaches to solving the issue of the status of district councils are substantiated. Thus, at first, arguments are given for the need to strengthen the role and importance of district councils as a way to determine their status. Next, another approach is proposed — the complete liquidation of district councils. In view of the fact that in the course of the study, the option of complete liquidation of district councils was recognized as a priority, the fourth block of work describes specific proposals for changes to the Constitution of Ukraine regarding the liquidation of district councils as an institution. In conclusion, this scientific article examines the important issue of the status of district councils in the context of the implementation of decentralization reforms in Ukraine. We believe that the decision to liquidate district councils should be made in the near future, in accordance with the current policy of reducing the role and importance of district councils in Ukraine.