Constitutional Terminology in Social Security Law

The article analyzes the constitutional terminology used in social security law. The concept of constitutional terminology is explained both broadly and narrowly. The specifics of the constitutional terminology creation and its’ influence on the terminology utilized in the particular branches of law are substantiated. In relation to the law of social security, the definitions of the constitutional terms such as social protection, social security, compulsory social insurance, and targeted social support are analyzed. Said terms form the basic definitions of social security law. Their content and correlation with each other, as well as their correlation with the other constitutional and subject matter terms, is significant in the context of the independence of the social security law, branch-wise. It is not always possible to define these terms with the necessary clarity based solely on the analysis of the definitive regulations of the industry-specific legislation. In addition, the social protection system is not static, its structure changes following the dynamics of social relations. Accordingly, the content of some constitutional terms is modified. As an example, the author analyzes the development of social support as one of the forms of social protection. It is concluded that the consolidation of the term ‘targeted social support’ in the text of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in 2020 reflects the current trend in the social protection system and sectoral legislation development. The mutual influence of the constitutional and branch-wise terminology draws increasing attention to the issue of doctrinal support of the process of formation and development of the conceptual apparatus within the social security law.