THE FUNCTIONAL STATUS OF LOCAL COUNCILS IN TERRITORIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

The constitutional redesign of subnational government in Uzbekistan has separated the chairmanship of elected local Councils (Kengashes) from the office of the khokim and has assigned Councils a central role in territorial programmes, local budgets, executive appointments, and oversight. Yet constitutional competence alone does not establish an institution capable of shaping development outcomes. This article develops a functional account of Council status and asks when a representative mandate becomes effective influence over territorial socio-economic development. It combines doctrinal legal analysis, institutional-functional analysis, and comparative benchmarking. The article identifies three interdependent dimensions of status: representative articulation, programme-and-budget decision-making, and executive accountability. It then proposes a five-link model - competence, resources, oversight, public participation, and results - for evaluating the gap between formal authority and institutional capacity. Uzbekistan's 2023-2025 reforms created a stronger constitutional foundation, but functional consolidation still requires detailed procedures, independent analytical support, timely information, and enforceable oversight. The next reform phase should therefore connect programmes, budgets, monitoring, participation, and accountability within a single legal decision cycle.