Verkhovna Rada

Verkhovna Rada. The Verkhovna Rada is the unicameral parliament and sole legislative body of Ukraine. It traces its origins to the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic but was reconstituted upon the restoration of Ukraine's independence. The parliament is a central institution in the political system, responsible for enacting laws, approving the Prime Minister, and overseeing the Cabinet of Ministers.

History

The institution's predecessor, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR, was established under the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR following the incorporation of Ukraine into the Soviet Union. A pivotal moment occurred on 16 July 1990 when the Supreme Soviet adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine. Following the 1991 Ukrainian independence referendum, the body was renamed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Key historical sessions include the adoption of the Act of Independence on 24 August 1991 and the ratification of the Constitution of Ukraine on 28 June 1996. The parliament played a critical role during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, with significant constitutional changes enacted through the 2004 Ukrainian constitutional amendments and the 2014 Ukrainian revolution.

Powers and functions

The Verkhovna Rada's authority is derived from the Constitution of Ukraine. Its primary power is legislative initiative, involving the introduction, deliberation, and adoption of laws and the State Budget of Ukraine. The parliament appoints and dismisses key officials, including the Prime Minister of Ukraine upon submission by the President of Ukraine, and members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine. It also approves the appointment of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The Rada ratifies international treaties, such as the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, and holds the exclusive power to declare war, approve the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and authorize the deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory.

Composition and elections

The Verkhovna Rada is composed of 450 People's Deputies elected for a five-year term. Elections are governed by the Law of Ukraine on Elections of People's Deputies. Since the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election, a mixed electoral system has been used: 225 deputies are elected by Party-list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with a 5% electoral threshold, while the other 225 are elected from single-member districts using First-past-the-post voting. Notable elections include the 2006 Ukrainian parliamentary election, which was the first held under a fully proportional system, and the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election, which resulted in a majority for Servant of the People. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine oversees the electoral process.

Structure and leadership

The organizational structure is defined by the Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The presiding officer is the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, assisted by a First Deputy Chairman and a Deputy Chairman. The current chairman is Dmytro Razumkov. The work of the parliament is organized into permanent committees, such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Interparliamentary Cooperation and the Committee on Legal Policy. Legislative sessions are managed by the Conciliation Board of Factions and the Council of Factions. The Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine provides administrative and analytical support to the deputies and the leadership.

Political parties and factions

Political organization within the Rada is based on parliamentary factions, which must consist of at least 25 deputies. The current convocation is dominated by the pro-presidential faction Servant of the People, which holds an absolute majority. Major opposition factions include the pro-Russian Opposition Platform — For Life, the center-right European Solidarity led by Petro Poroshenko, and the nationalist Batkivshchyna led by Yulia Tymoshenko. Other significant groups are the liberal Voice and the agrarian For the Future. The formation and activities of factions are crucial for building coalitions, as seen historically in the Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc and the Party of Regions.

Building and symbols

The parliament convenes in a distinctive building located at 5 Hrushevskoho Street in the Pechersk district of Kyiv, near the Mariinskyi Park and the Administration of the President of Ukraine. The Neoclassical structure, designed by architects Volodymyr Zabolotny and Pavlo Alyoshyn, was completed in 1939. It was severely damaged during the Second World War and later reconstructed. The building's main session hall is a prominent feature. 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