THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY AS A FOUNDATION OF MODERN CIVIL SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION Constitutional reform had profound political and legal consequences for Ukraine as a country trying to construct law-based state and to establish rule of law. Such state should declare the separation of state authority, the legal character of government, the legal protection of citizens from violations of their rights by state power, compensation for damage caused to them by state bodies. The establishment of legal statehood and the practical implementation of the principle of the rule of law require the strict observance of the constitution and laws, first of all by public authorities and their officials. This is especially significant to the executive authority. The rule of law provides the basis for control over governmental actions, demanding from them to comply with the requirements of good governance. The experience of these bodies functioning demonstrates a constant tendency to increase power. Moreover, the examples of violations of the rules of the Basic Law by the power institutions have demonstrated the inability of some constitutional and legal institutions to effective regulation of public relations. That is why the issue of legal means, protecting constitutional legality, is of current importance. In order ensure the rule of law and law-based state, there must be institutions that provide a restrictive connection between public authorities. Such restrictive institutions ensure the functioning of state authorities based on the division of power and constitutional legality. This is of significant importance for ensuring human and civil rights, as well as the implementation of the restrictive function of the constitution. Moreover, such institutions improve legal culture of officials, making a great impact on the development of civil society in general, because such society needs cooperation between citizens, non-government organizations and law-based and effective government.