The Institute of Citizen Appeals as an Element of the Democratic Mechanism of Interaction Between Society and the State

Introduction: this article examines citizens' right to petition state and municipal authorities in the context of interactions between society and the state as one of the most important tools for public participation in public governance. It notes the relationship between the effectiveness of procedures for reviewing citizen petitions and public perception of government bodies. Materials and Methods: the research materials include federal legislation and bylaws governing the procedure for reviewing citizen appeals in Russia, as well as academic articles in the field under consideration. The author used methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, systems approach, formal legal, and comparative legal approaches. Results: based on current legislation, this article explores the legal nature, system, and functions of the petition system, and provides a classification of citizen petitions with a detailed description of individual types. Particular attention is given to the entities authorized to consider citizen petitions, and issues related to the unresolved nature of certain aspects of the petition system, requiring improvements to federal legislation, are identified. Discussion and Conclusions: an analysis of legislative provisions using a practice-oriented approach to the problem under consideration led to the conclusion that the institution of citizen appeals represents a complex system of legal and organizational mechanisms, in which classification plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of administrative procedures for reviewing appeals. The effectiveness of this institution directly impacts the public's level of trust in state and municipal authorities, as well as their overall perception of their performance. Further development of this institution is correlated with the improvement of legislation and feedback mechanisms.