In the article investment activity and investment legal relations are distinguished from close relations in terms of content and on this basis, the doctrinal definition of an investment contract is formulated. The necessity of including the main provisions on investment agreements in part two of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation in a separate Chapter, divided into sections, including rules that characterize the features of the varieties of investment contracts. The adoption of these proposals will ensure that special rules on investment contained in a number of laws are aligned with the norms of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, and will create conditions for ensu-ring the unity of law enforcement, including court practice.