Ukraine is a democracy under a semi-presidential system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The president nominates the prime minister, who must be confirmed by parliament. The 450-member parliament (Verkhovna Rada) initiates legislation, ratifies international agreements, and approves the budget.

Country summary info

Country name
conventional long and short form: Ukraine
local long and short form: Україна
former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Country codes
ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2: UA; ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3: UKR; ISO 3166-1 Numeric: 804; ITU: UP
Dialing code: 380

Government type: republic

Capital: Kyiv (more commonly known as Kiev)

Administrative divisions: Subdivisions of Ukraine

Independence: December 1, 1991 (from the Soviet Union, by voter approval)

National holiday: Independence Day, August 24, (1991)

Constitution: the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted 28 June 1996

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

State symbols

The State Flag of Ukraine.

According to the Constitution, the state symbols of Ukraine are the State Flag of Ukraine, the State Coat of Arms of Ukraine and the State Anthem of Ukraine.

The State Flag of Ukraine is a banner of two equally-sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow.

The Great State Coat of Arms of Ukraine will be established with the consideration of the Small State Coat of Arms of Ukraine as its main element and the Coat of Arms of the Zaporozhian Host.

The Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine is the Emblem of the Royal State of Volodymyr the Great (the trident).

The State Anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem set to the music by M. Verbytskyi with the words by Pavlo Chubynskyi.

Head of state

Main article: the President of Ukraine

head of state: President Viktor Yushchenko (since January 23, 2005, 12:25pm local time)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
election results: See: Ukrainian presidential election, 2004

Legislative branch

Main article: the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

Unicameral parliament (450 seats) amends the Constitution of Ukraine, drafts laws, ratifies international treaties, appoints a number of officials, and elects judges.

Elections were last held on March 31 2002 (next to be in March 2006).

Executive branch

Main article: the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

head of the Cabinet: Prime Minister is appointed by the President with assent of the parliament
current appointee: Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko (since February 4, 2004, 2:54pm local time)
cabinet: de jure appointed by the President on submission of the Prime Minister, de facto appointed by the President upon negotiations with major political parties and parliamentary factions

Judicial branch

Main article: Judicial system of Ukraine

constitutional jurisdiction:
- the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
general jurisdiction:
- the Supreme Court of Ukraine;
- high specialized courts: the High Arbitration Court of Ukraine , the High Administrative Court of Ukraine ;
- regional courts of appeal, military courts of appeal, specialized courts of appeal, the Court of Appeals of Ukraine (in project);
- local district courts, military garrison courts.

Other bodies

• The Central Election Commission of Ukraine
• National Security and Defense Council (NSDC)

NSDC was originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but significantly revamped and strengthened under President Kuchma. The NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president.

See also

• Constitution of Ukraine
• Politics of Ukraine

References