Abstract: The subject of this article is the model of educational-pedagogical activity in political-legal sphere, which takes into consideration the research data on optimization of educational process in this field. The author outlines the parameters that impact the effectiveness of implementation of the model of educational-pedagogical activity in political-legal sphere. It is substantiated by the fact that the content of education gives knowledge and experience, which promote civic and social activism. The researchers widely acknowledge that education serves as the engine of economic growth due to accumulation of human capital; education is also closely related with the increase of social capital as a result of the advancement of education. The author comes to the conclusion that the formation of students’ attitude towards political-legal sphere is based on the logical interrelatedness of the indicated components. It is worth noting that each structural component, which affects the formation of attitude towards political-legal sphere, depends on the particular activity of the subjects involved, including the peculiarities of organization of educational space and competence of pedagogues. The author underlines that engagement in extracurricular activities has a positive impact upon all aspects of the organization of educational process in political-legal sphere, except for the intention to participate in civic activity, which is assessed by attending organizational meetings.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the conceptualization of political education in educational science. Political education functions as a privileged point of intersection of various political discourses. It is claimed that different versions of political education comply with different ontological and epistemological assumptions, normative approaches towards democracy, and concepts of correlation between education, humanistic knowledge, and politics. It is noted that in majority of historical and philosophical concepts of democracy, there is a tacit link between politics and education. Recommendations for educational practice contain the definition of pedagogy within the framework of the theory of political education, as well as specific pedagogical methodologies with consideration of humanistic knowledge. The author describes the versions of political education that emerged as a result of analysis of the material. The corresponding political discourse and its philosophical principles, educational consequences for politics and practice, as well as debates and criticism, are viewed for each version. Thus, the elitarian version of political education and political pedagogy is associated with the elitarian democratic discourse. The supporters of liberal political education need education for political, epistemological, and moral reasons. Political equality can be guaranteed only in the society of informed and rational citizens; therefore, democracy requires the universalization of education. Neoliberals, in turn, recommend substituting public education with practice of competitive market, while debating pedagogues understand the education of democratic civic consciousness as cultivation of skills and values for the public discussion.

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This article gives special attention to examination of the existing approaches towards the category of “constitutionalism”. Absence of the universal definition of this category became the result of such multiplicity. The author expresses an opinion that despite the dominance of natural law in establishment of the concept of constitutionalism, which allowed the legal experts speak of the exclusiveness of constitutionalism as a legal category, the moment of considering the philosophical and political prerequisites of its establishment and development remains necessary. Thus, particular attention is focused on the review of this category from the positions of political science. The author highlights the necessity of development of the category of constitutionalism in politological discourse based on its perception as a sociopolitical phenomenon, the purpose of which consists in existence of the demand of society in the rational development of modern state. Such demand can be satisfied due to the development of the current political mechanism of political power relations based on the theory of constitutionalism.