The article analyzes the philosophical and legal foundations of judicial constitutional review in the context of reconciling constitutionalism with democratic self-governance. Three theoretical approaches to justifying constitutional review are examined – positivist, substantive, and discursive-procedural. The Russian model of constitutional justice and its evolution in light of the 2020 constitutional reform are studied. The ways of reconciling constitutionalism with the principle of popular sovereignty through procedural, substantive, and dialogic models are substantiated. It is concluded that constitutional review does not oppose democracy but ensures its quality, provided appropriate institutional and doctrinal frameworks are in place.