The article evaluates the theoretical and practical possibilities of the discipline "History" in the formation of civic consciousness as a high level of social, political, and moral maturity of a person. History is rich in examples of civil de-socialization, which the history teacher honestly demonstrates to students. Due to the revealed consistent pattern of the influence of civil de-socialization of the ruling elite representatives (reduction of their level of civic maturity and, as a result, deformation of their civic dignity as a complex social and moral qualities and values) on deepening the alienation of power from society, the author raises the question of the ability of citizens to form the conditions of synthesis of the society and state through forms of civic expression, or civic consciousness (positive social activity). Special importance of such form of civic consciousness manifestation as public control over the ruling elite is noted. Proper mutual control of society and the state has an educational impact on citizens in the system of political relations, no less than the organized activities of educational institutions. The author substantiates the idea that students ’ assimilation of the world’s historical experience in organizing public control of the state as an integral addition to state control and the development of students ’ critical attitude to the "unpopular " initiatives of the ruling elite, which represents the state, reveals the possibility of normalizing the responsible relationships between the state and society.