Abstract
The discrepancy between scientists’ opinions about the essence of self-
-government makes it notably difficult to define it. Thus, it has not been
specified in an unambiguous, commonly acceptable and comprehensive way
so far. As a result of this deficiency, it is assumed that any institution that
has been given the name of self-government by the legislator is one. Based
on that, there are attempts to define its essence and effectiveness of the civic
culture in the development of contemporary democracy.
The article is a certain attempt to balance the contemporary social self-
-government’s sociological foundation against the legal one. It is aimed at
proving that in the face of the present-day reality both foundations are to be
alternative. They must complement one another and support in the creation
of positive values that are important for the development of a civic society.