The article analyses the potential of self-government among Russia’s population that involves representations, cognitive opinions and behavioural models connected to citizens’ socio-political activity and their participation in local self-government. Empirical indicators of this potential are suggested. They are cognitive opinions of inhabitants of local self-government institute and system of legislative norms, considerable degree of trust of the population to local government, civil activity of the population, readiness of citizens to take part in solving questions of local import. Data for Tver are produced in empirical sociological survey in 2009–2013 using questionnaires. Groups of respondents with differing self-government potential are found. Reference groups of proactive and active citizens are ascertained. These groups are regarded as social base for developing local self-government.