The social state in Russia and Belarus as a complex constitutional principle

In the modern period, the Russian and Belarusian states have observed the development of social relations related to the implementation of the constitutional principle of a social state, as well as the consolidation of processes aimed at interaction and searching for a balance of interests and responsibilities in the social and economic spheres. The relevance of the topic is determined by the discussion on issues related to the definition of the concept and essence of a social state, the constitutional content of such principles and requirements of a social state as social justice, social equality, a decent standard of living, free development, mutual social responsibility, assessment of the influence of the practice of the constitutional courts of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus for the development and implementation of the principle of a social state in the countries under consideration. It is concluded that the concept of a social state acts as a multidimensional characteristic of the state, reflecting, firstly, the conceptual focus of state policy on ensuring social protection of citizens based on the principles of social equality, social justice, ensuring a decent life, free development, as well as other principles and requirements, reflecting the social orientation of public authority, and, secondly, a model of relations between the state and the individual, functioning on the basis of mutual social and legal responsibility. The principle of a social state is a complex basic constitutional principle – a legal narrative that contains specific principles and requirements for the social nature of the state system and predetermines the system of social human rights and their guarantees, as well as the social responsibility of subjects of public legal relations.