This article examines the lexical-semantic layers of Criminal Code texts as a prototypical legislative genre within the legal discourse system. The relevance of the research is determined by the need for precise linguistic interpretation of criminal legislation, since lexical choices directly influence legal qualification and judicial practice. The novelty of the study lies in the systematic classification of lexical - semantic strata in Criminal Code texts, including general literary vocabulary, general legal vocabulary, sectoral cri minal law terminology, evaluative -qualifying lexemes, and phraseological constructions with normative meaning.The research aims to identify the structural and semantic features of these layers and to analyze their functional load in shaping the communicati ve-pragmatic potential of criminal legislation. The methodological framework integrates descriptive, structural-semantic, comparative, and contextual analysis. The results demonstrate that the lexical organization of Criminal Code texts ensures terminologi cal precision, semantic unambiguity, and interpretative stability, while also containing evaluative elements that require doctrinal clarification. The study concludes that lexical - semantic stratification is a key factor in the coherence, authority, and regulatory effectiveness of criminal legislation and serves as a basis for its interpretation and translation. Criminal code text, legal discourse, lexical - semantic layer, legal terminology, evaluative lexeme, interpretation of law, legislative genre, normative semantics.