Objectives and tasks of public oversight in Latin American countries: a comparative legal analysis

This article presents a comprehensive comparative legal study of the goals and objectives of public oversight in twenty Latin American countries. The work analyzes constitutional and legislative approaches to securing public oversight institutions, identifying common patterns and national features in understanding the essence of this phenomenon. Special attention is paid to the conceptual distinction between goals as strategic benchmarks and objectives as tactical means to achieve them. Based on the analysis of the constitutions of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and other countries in the region, an authorial classification of the goals and objectives of public oversight is proposed. Theoretical and practical problems in the implementation of the oversight functions of civil society are examined, including the gap between constitutional declarations and the real effectiveness of institutions, the political instrumentalization of oversight mechanisms, and insufficient resource provision. The methodological basis of the research is a combination of general scientific and specially legal methods (in particular, dialectical; formal-legal; comparative-legal; historical-legal; statistical; and systemic-structural analysis methods). The article develops recommendations for optimizing the regulatory framework and practical mechanisms of public oversight in the region's countries. It substantiates the conclusion about the formation of a Latin American model of public oversight that combines European institutional borrowings with local traditions of participation and social activism. Statistical data from "Transparency International," "OECD," and "ACLED" for 2025–2026 are provided, confirming the low level of trust in institutions and the high degree of corruption in the region. This research confirmed the hypothesis of the existence of a particular Latin American model of public oversight. At the same time, the work identified the need for further research in the following areas: a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of various public oversight models in similar political regimes; studying the impact of digital technologies on the transformation of oversight mechanisms; and developing quantitative indicators for assessing the implementation of public oversight goals.