COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN THE USA AND IN UKRAINE

Introduction. The system of local self-government is a cornerstone of democratic governance and public administration in many countries around the world. It not only brings the decision-making process closer to the local population but also enhances the efficiency and appropriateness of governance to the direct needs and preferences of the communities. This comparative analysis delves into the details of local self-governance in two distinct political systems: the United States of America (USA) and Ukraine. Today, the system of local self-governance in Ukraine faces many challenges and problems, therefore, comparing the two legal systems in this sphere opens wide perspectives regarding the implementation of universal and unique elements of local self-governance, to improve and optimize our municipal legislation. Special attention in this work will be given to the analysis of structural organization, legislative base, mechanisms of interaction with the central government, and the role of civil society in the processes of local self-governance. Purpose: The aim of the research is to describe the system of local self-government bodies in the United States of America and also to identify the most successful practices of American legislation in the field of municipal management, which are appropriate to implement in the system of Ukrainian legislation and political culture. Materials and Methods: The research materials include: 1) normative legal acts of the United States of America in the field of local self-governance; 2) normative legal acts in the system of legislation of Ukraine regulating relations in the field of local self-governance; 3) works of domestic authors who conducted a detailed scientific organization of the system of municipal management in the USA and Ukraine. In the course of the research, the following scientific methods were used: analysis and comparison (for describing the legal regulation of the system of local self-governance in Ukraine and the USA), a systematic approach and classification (for a more detailed description of the peculiarities of municipal management in the USA), as well as the method of induction (for providing reasoned conclusions and evaluations regarding the comparison).