Usurpation of power under current conditions: political and legal concept

The purpose of the research was to determine the approaches to understand the emergence of the concept of “usurpation of power”. Accordingly, its political and legal nature as a phenomenon is analyzed and the investigation of its influence on the branches of public power is carried out. In addition, the current discussion is examined and the views of some scientists on this issue are criticized and, at the same time, relevant proposals are made. The methodological basis of the research was constituted by the comparative-legal and systemic analysis, the formal-legal method, the hermeneutic method and the methods of analysis and synthesis. As a conclusion it has been established that the development of the rule of law and civil society in Ukraine requires, first of all, ontological integration of the modern and current concept of the rule of law in public institutions and society, along with the observance of legal norms in all spheres of public life and; especially, it demands the prevention of conditions that determine the usurpation of power by civil society, judicial and law enforcement bodies to prevent signs of usurpation of power in public authorities.