Article 117. Citizens shall exercise local government and self-government through local councils of deputies, executive and administrative bodies, bodies of public territorial self-government, local referenda, assemblies and other forms of direct participation in state and public affairs.

Article 118. Local councils of deputies shall be elected by the citizens of the corresponding administrative and territorial units for a four-year term.

Article 119. The heads of local executive and administrative bodies shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic of Belarus or under the procedure determined by him, and their appointment shall be subject to approval of the local councils of deputies.

Article 120. Local councils of deputies and executive and administrative bodies shall, within their competence, resolve issues of local significance, proceeding from national interests and interests of the people who reside in the corresponding territory, and implement decisions of higher state bodies.

Article 121. The following shall fall within the exclusive competence of the local councils of deputies:

approval of programmes of economic and social development, and local budgets and reports on their implementation;

setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with law;

determination, within the limits specified by law, of the procedure regulating management and disposal of municipal property;

calling of local referenda.

Article 122. Local councils of deputies, executive and administrative bodies shall, on the basis of the existing laws, adopt decisions that have binding force in the corresponding territory.

Decisions of local councils of deputies that are contrary to the legislation shall be reversed by higher representative bodies.

Decisions of local executive and administrative bodies that are contrary to the legislation shall be reversed by the corresponding councils of deputies, superior executive and administrative bodies and the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Decisions of local councils of deputies, executive and administrative bodies that restrict or violate civil rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of citizens as well as in other instances specified by law, may be appealed in court.

Article 123. If a local council of deputies systematically or flagrantly violates the requirements of the legislation, it may be dissolved by the Council of the Republic. Other grounds for premature termination of powers of local councils of deputies shall be determined by law.

Article 124. The competence and the procedure of the formation and operation of bodies of local government and self-government shall be determined by the legislation.