«Constitutional Values» as a Scientific Category: Problems of Definition, Formalization, Systematization

The paper is devoted to the issues that include academic research of constitutional values, namely, their doctrinal definition, establishment of legal forms (formal sources) and systematic generalization. The author provides arguments in favor of attributing constitutional values to the categories of the science of constitutional law. The paper consists of several blocks devoted to certain problems. In the first block, the author examines the problems of defining constitutional values, refers to various academic standings, and offers his own doctrinal definition. In the second block, using structural and logical analysis, the author comes to the conclusion that constitutional values are embodied (formed) in three types of sources: normative, normative-doctrinal, doctrinal. The third block examines the problems of classification and systematization of constitutional values, analyzes approaches to generalizing their diversity. In conclusion, the author elucidates the system of constitutional values based on axiological analysis of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.