Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
Cabinet name	Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
Border	executive
Caption	Coat of arms of Ukraine
Date formed	18 September 1991
Jurisdiction	Ukraine
Government head title	Prime Minister of Ukraine
Government head	Denys Shmyhal
Current number	20
Political party	Servant of the People, People's Front, Petro Poroshenko Bloc, Self Reliance, Radical Party of Oleh Liashko, All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", People's Party, Party of Regions, Communist Party of Ukraine
Legislature status	Coalition government
Opposition party	European Solidarity, Batkivshchyna, Holos
Election	1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2019
Last election	2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election
Budget	State Budget of Ukraine
Meeting place	Cabinet Building, Kyiv
Predecessor	Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR

Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the highest body of the executive branch in the Government of Ukraine. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Ukraine and oversees the implementation of laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada, managing the work of ministries and other central bodies of executive power. The Cabinet is responsible for the State Budget of Ukraine, foreign policy, and national security, operating within the framework established by the Constitution of Ukraine and other legislation.

History and formation

The Cabinet traces its origins to the General Secretariat of Ukraine established after the February Revolution and the Ukrainian People's Republic. Following the Soviet period, where the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR functioned, the modern Cabinet was formed after the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine and the 1991 Ukrainian independence referendum. Key early figures included the first Prime Minister Vitold Fokin under President Leonid Kravchuk. The constitutional framework was solidified with the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine in 1996, which defined its powers and relationship with the President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada. Significant reforms occurred after events like the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, which altered the balance of power between these institutions.

Structure and composition

The Cabinet's core consists of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the First Vice Prime Minister, Vice Prime Ministers, and ministers who lead specific portfolios such as the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Internal Affairs. The composition also includes the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, who coordinates its administrative apparatus. The total number of members is determined by law, and the structure may include ministers without portfolio and heads of central executive bodies like the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine, though the latter operates independently.

Powers and responsibilities

The Cabinet's primary powers are outlined in Article 116 of the Constitution of Ukraine. It ensures state sovereignty, implements the domestic and foreign policy of the state, and executes the State Budget of Ukraine. It submits draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada and adopts resolutions and ordinances that are binding nationwide. The Cabinet directs the work of ministries, oversees regional state administrations, and is responsible for measures regarding national security and defense, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.

Appointment and dismissal process

The Prime Minister of Ukraine is nominated by the President of Ukraine following consultations with coalition factions in the Verkhovna Rada and must be approved by a majority of its constitutional composition. The Prime Minister then proposes candidates for ministerial positions, which are appointed by the Verkhovna Rada upon the President's submission. The Cabinet is collectively accountable to the Verkhovna Rada, which may pass a vote of no confidence, leading to its resignation. Individual ministers can be dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada upon the proposal of the Prime Minister of Ukraine or the President of Ukraine.

List of cabinets

Since independence, Ukraine has had numerous cabinets reflecting its political evolution. Early governments included those of Vitold Fokin and Leonid Kuchma. The first cabinet formed under the 1996 Constitution was led by Pavlo Lazarenko. Notable tenures include the reformist government of Viktor Yushchenko with Yulia Tymoshenko after the Orange Revolution, and the cabinets of Mykola Azarov under President Viktor Yanukovych. Following the Revolution of Dignity, the government of Arseniy Yatsenyuk was formed. The current cabinet is led by Denys Shmyhal, appointed in March 2020.

Relationship with other government bodies

The Cabinet operates within a semi-presidential system, interacting closely with the President of Ukraine, who is the Head of state and guarantees State sovereignty. The Cabinet is accountable to and controlled by the Verkhovna Rada, which legislates and approves its program. The judicial branch, including the Supreme Court of Ukraine and the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, reviews the legality of the Cabinet's acts. The Cabinet also coordinates with independent bodies like the National Bank of Ukraine and law enforcement agencies such as the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine.

Category:Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Category:Government of Ukraine Ukraine