Since 2010 a number of measures has been taken to improve the management of public institutions. A suffi cient amount of work has been done after the approval of Federal Law of 8 May 2010 No 83-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation to Improve the Legal Status of Governmental (Municipal) Institutions”, a number of subordinate acts (on institution activities, planning, monitoring, state orders etc.) was developed. Still, some approved and implemented by-laws and acts have drawbacks which may cast doubt on the eff ectiveness of the reform. Some drawbacks, such as lack of clear terminology, unclear status of non-governmental services, discrepancy between planning and reporting forms, state orders isolation from other planning tools, are described in this article, and suggestions on how they may be solved are made.