On some problems of legitimizing power and powerful decisions in contemporary Russia

The article discloses the meaning of the terms: «legality», «legitimacy» and «legitimization» and analyzes legal and non-legal forms of legitimization of state authorities and legislation, identifies the negative consequences of the lack of legitimacy while enacting laws and other legal or regulatory instruments and establishing political institutions. The paper identifies and researches the problems of legitimization of the Russian constitutional legislation, with paying special attention to the issues of increasing legitimization of the current constitutions and charters of the Russian Federation’s entities. Purpose: to analyze the legitimization of public authority in terms of its essence and specific manifestations in the current conditions of state and public life. Methods: theoretical methods of formal and dialectical logic; methods of comparison, axiological (value) methodology, revealing motivational component of legal legitimization of public authority. Results: in modern conditions, state power especially needs legitimization. In order to ensure support for power decisions by the population, authorities must be open and there should be serious explanatory work, which fully applies to lawmaking, and first of all to improve the constitutional legislation that protects citizens rights, freedoms and interests.