Constitutional Symbolism, Modernization of the Constitution and the Information Society (between Constituent and Information Constitutionalism for Russia)

Abstract

The article discusses constitutional symbolism in the theory and practice of Russian constitutionalism, the problem of constitutional modernization in the context of the Russian state and legal tradition, the nature and legal forms of the constituent power, the constitutional status and the generative possibilities of the constituent power as constituents. The paper examines scientific approaches to understanding constitutional modernization in contemporary Russian jurisprudence, the meaning of constitutional symbolism and constitution as legal, political and moral communication in modern society. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the relationship between the constitutional process and the constitutional power from the standpoint of cognitive constitutionalism and historical rationality. The author has determined the problem zones of legal registration and implemetation of powers of the constituent power in the context of the Russian constitutional development. The study has been carried out on the basis of formal-legal, concrete historical and comparative legal methods of analysis, the method of constitutional design and legal hermeneutics. The author suggests the following conclusions: 1) It is necessary to rethink the range of subjects of the right to amend and revise the Constitution in the Russian constitutional law that reflects the constitutional tradition (in comparative and historical contexts) outlined in 18th-19th centuries rather than modern capabilities of the information society and e-government (e-ruling); 2) The importance and efficiency of democratic involvement increases and requires revision of the thesis that the head of state (in the history of Russia — the monarch, emperor, president) is the only authoritative and constitutionally significant “guardian” of the Constitution rigidity and the main political and legal route of its transformation and change; 3) Legal formalization and use of legal procedures of the constitutional will and expression of the will of citizens of the country in the process of elaboration, discussion, adoption and introduction of amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation (current), and in the future amount to the development and adoption of the draft new Constitution of the country; 4) In the context of Russia’s intent to join the 4th Industrial Revolution and the development of institutions of information society (including in the field of electoral procedures and the formation of information and digital constitutionalism), it is necessary to create a constitutional sector of the Internet supported by the State at the federal and regional levels for the use of information technologies and institutions of digital constitutionalism in the process of determining citizens’ opinion on opportunities, prospects, content of amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, their nation-wide discussion in the Internat.