UNIT ELEVEN. UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT

The sole body of legislative power in Ukraine shall be the parliament - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The constitutional membership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall comprise 450 people's deputies of Ukraine elected on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for the term of five years.

A citizen of Ukraine having attained to the age of twenty-one as of the day of elections, having the right to vote, and having resided in the territory of Ukraine for the past five years, may be elected people's deputy of Ukraine.

A citizen who has a criminal record of committing an intentional crime shall not be elected to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine if the record has not been nullified in compliance with a procedure established by law.

The powers of the people's deputies of Ukraine shall be determined by the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine.

Regular elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall be held on the last Sunday of October of the fifth year of the term of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Early elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall be appointed by the President of Ukraine and shall be held within sixty day period from the day of publication of the decision on the early termination of the powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The procedure for electing the people's deputies of Ukraine shall be established by law.

The people's deputies of Ukraine shall exercise their powers on a permanent basis.

The people's deputies of Ukraine shall not have another representative mandate

Requirements concerning the incompatibility of the mandate of the deputy with other types of activities shall be established by law.

Prior to assuming office, people's deputies of Ukraine shall take the following oath before the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:

“I swear allegiance to Ukraine. I commit myself with all my deeds to protect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, to provide for the good of the Motherland and for the welfare of the Ukrainian people.

“I swear to abide by the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine, to discharge my duties in the interests of all fellow-citizens.”

The oath shall be read by the oldest people's deputy of Ukraine before the opening of the first session of the newly elected Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, upon which the deputies shall affirm the oath with their signatures below the text of the oath.

A refusal to take the oath shall result in the loss of the deputy's mandate.

The powers of people's deputies of Ukraine shall commence immediately upon taking of the oath.

The people's deputies of Ukraine shall be guaranteed immunity of a deputy.

The people's deputies of Ukraine shall not be held legally liable for the results of voting or for statements made in the parliament and in its bodies, save as the liability for an insult or defamation.

The people's deputies of Ukraine shall not be held criminally liable, detained or arrested without the consent of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The powers of the people's deputies of Ukraine shall terminate simultaneously with the termination of the powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The powers of a people's deputy of Ukraine shall be subject to early termination in the event of:

1) resignation by virtue of a personal statement;

2) guilty verdict against him/her entering into legal force;

3) court declaring them legally incapable or missing;

4) termination of his citizenship or his departure from Ukraine for permanent residence abroad;

5) his/her death.

The decision about the pre-term termination of authority of a People's Deputy of Ukraine is adopted by the majority of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

In the event a requirement concerning incompatibility of the mandate of the deputy with other types of activity is not fulfilled, the authority of the People's Deputy of Ukraine terminates prior to the expiration of the term on the basis of the law pursuant to a court decision.

THE Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine works in sessions.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is competent on the condition that no limn two-thirds of its constitutional composition has been elected.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine assembles for its first session no later than thirtieth day after the official announcement of the election results. The meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is opened by the eldest People's Deputy of Ukraine.

Regular sessions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine commence on the first Tursday of February and on the first Tuesday of September each year.

Spйcial sessions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with the stipulation of their agenda, are convoked by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on the demand of no fewer People's Deputies of Ukraine than one-

ll.lMlnl the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, or Hh llic demand of the President of Ukraine.

In the event of the introduction of martial law or of a state of emergency In I Ik mine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine assembles within a period of two dnyn without convocation.

In the event that the term of authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Implies while martial law or a state of emergency is in effect, its authority is f Mended until the day of the first meeting of the first session of the Vtftkhovna Rada of Ukraine, elected after the cancellation of martial law or ni 11ic state of emergency.

Meetings of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are conducted openly. A closed meeting is conducted on the decision of the majority of the i i institutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Decisions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are adopted exclusively at lln pie nary meetings by voting.

Voting at the meetings of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is performed by ii People's Deputy of Ukraine in person.

The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine comprises:

1) introducing amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine within the I n nits and by the procedure envisaged by Chapter XIII of this Constitution;

2) designating an All-Ukrainian referendum on issues determined by Ankle 73 of this Constitution;

3) adopting laws;

4) upproving the State Budget of Ukraine unci introducing amendment» to it; controlling the implementation of the State Budget of Ukraine and adopting decisions in regard to the report on its implementation;

5) determining the principles of domestic and foreign policy;

6) approving national programmes of economic, scientific and technical, social, national and cultural development, and the protection of the environment;

7) designating elections of the President of Ukraine within the terms envisaged by this Constitution;

8) hearing annual and special messages of the President of Ukraine on the domestic and foreign situation of Ukraine;

9) declaring war upon the submission of the President of Ukraine and concluding peace, approving the decision of the President of Ukraine on the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations in the event of armed aggression against Ukraine;

10) removing the President of Ukraine from office in accordance with the special procedure (impeachment) established by Article 111 of this Constitution;

11) considering and adopting the decision in regard to the approval of the Programme of Activity of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine;

12) giving consent to the appointment of the Prime Minister of Ukraine by the President of Ukraine;

13) exercising control over the activity of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in accordance with this Constitution;

14) confirming decisions on granting loans and economic aid by Ukraine to foreign states and international organisations and also decisions on Ukraine receiving loans not envisaged by the State Budget of Ukraine from foreign states, banks and international financial organisations, exercising control over their use;

15) appointing or electing to office, dismissing from office, granting consent to the appointment to and the dismissal from office of persons in cases envisaged by this Constitution;

16) appointing to office and dismissing from office the Chairman and other members of the Chamber of Accounting;

17) appointing to office and dismissing from office the Authorised Human Rights Representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; hearing his or her annual reports on the situation of the observance and protection of lights and freedoms in Ukraine;

18) appointing to office and dismissing from office the Chairman of the liiiinl Bank of Ukraine on the submission of the President of Ukraine;

19) appointing and dismissing one-half of the composition of the fhtliin il of the National Bank of Ukraine;

20) appointing one-half of the composition of the National Council of HLi.il lie on Television and Radio Broadcasting;

21) appointing to office and terminating the authority of the members of (Vnlrul Electoral Commission on the submission of the President of l lit mint;

22) confirming the general structure and numerical strength, and defining III»* him lions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine Mini oilier military formations created in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, HIIII ill o the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine;

23) approving decisions on providing military assistance to other states, dll weiuling units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to another state, or on Hilmiltmg units of armed forces of other states on to the territory of Ukraine;

24) granting consent for the appointment to office and the dismissal |l * HI i office by the President of Ukraine of the Chairman of the Antimonopoly ('nmmlttee of Ukraine, the Chairman of the State Property Fund of Ukraine Mini the Chairman of the State Committee on Television and Radio Hi I mdeusting of Ukraine;

25) granting consent for the appointment to office by the President of I Ik i nine of the Procurator General of Ukraine; declaring no confidence in the I'lov urator General of Ukraine that has the result of his or her resignation in mi office;

26) appointing one-third of the composition of the Constitutional Court nl I Ikraine;

27) electing judges for permanent terms;

28) terminating prior to the expiration of the term of authority of the Veikhovnu Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, based on the o|iinion of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine that the Constitution of I Ik mine or the laws of Ukraine have been violated by the Verkhovna Rada of ilu- Autonomous Republic of Crimea; designating special elections to the Vet khovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

29) establishing and abolishing districts, establishing and altering the boundaries of districts and cities, assigning inhabited localities to the category of cities, naming and renaming inhabited localities and districts;

30) designating regular and special elections to bodies of local self- government;

31) confirming, within two days from the moment of the address by the President of Ukraine, decrees on the introduction of martial law or of a state of emergency in Ukraine or in its particular areas, on total or partial mobilisation, and on the announcement of particular areas as zones of an ecological emergency situation;

32) granting consent to the binding character of international treaties of Ukraine within the term established by law, and denouncing international treaties of Ukraine;

33) exercising parliamentary control within the limits determined by this Constitution;

34) adopting decisions on forwarding an inquiry to the President of Ukraine on the demand of a People's Deputy of Ukraine, a group of People's Deputies or a Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, previously supported by no less than one-third of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;

35) appointing to office and dismissing from office the Head of Staff of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; approving the budget of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the structure of its staff;

36) confirming the list of objects of the right of state property that are not subject to privatisation; determining the legal principles for the expropriation of objects of the right of private property. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine exercises other powers ascribed to its competence in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine.

At a session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, a People's Deputy of Ukraine has the right to present an inquiry to the bodies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, chief officers of other bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government, and also to the chief executives of enterprises, institutions and organisations located on the territory of Ukraine, irrespective of their subordination and forms of ownership.

Chief officers of bodies of state power and bodies of local self- government, chief executives of enterprises, institutions and organisations are obliged to notify a People's Deputy of Ukraine of the results of the nict ation of his or her inquiry.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on the proposal of no fewer People's 0tputicH of Ukraine than one-third of its constitutional composition, may the issue of responsibility of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and atlopi it resolution of no confidence in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine by (lit majority of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The issue of responsibility of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall Itiil he considered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine more than once during mu' legular session, and also within one year after the approval of the Plogrumme of Activity of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine confirms the list of Committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and elects Chairmen to these Committees.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, within the limits of its authority, may esteblish temporary special commissions for the preparation and the preliminary consideration of issues.

The investigate issues of public interest, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine t'iliiblishes temporary investigatory commissions, if no less than one-third of lln constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has voted In lavour thereof.

The conclusions and proposals of temporary investigatory commissions nu not decisive for investigation and court.

The organisation and operational procedure of Committees of the Veikhovna Rada of Ukraine, and also its temporary special and temporary Investigatory commissions, are established by law.

The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is terminated on the ilav of the opening of the first meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of n new convocation.

The President of Ukraine may terminate the authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine prior to the expiration of term, if within thirty days of a single regular session the plenary meetings fail to commence.

The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, that is elected at special elections conducted after the pre-term termination by the President of Ukraine of authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the previous convocation, shall not be terminated within one year from the day of its election.

The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall not be terminated prior to the expiration of term within the last six months of the term of authority of the President of Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopts laws, resolutions and other acts by the majority of its constitutional composition, except in cases envisaged by this Constitution.

The following are determined exclusively by the laws of Ukraine:

1) human and citizens' rights and freedoms, the guarantees of these rights and freedoms; the main duties of the citizen;

2) citizenship, the legal personality of citizens, the status of foreigners and stateless persons;

3) the rights of indigenous peoples and national minorities;

4) the procedure for the use of languages;

5) the principles of the use of natural resources, the exclusive (maritime) economic zone and the continental shelf, the exploration of outer space, the organisation and operation of power supply systems, transportation and communications;

6) the fundamentals of social protection, the forms and types of pension provision; the principles of the regulation of labour and employment, marriage, family, the protection of childhood, motherhood and fatherhood; upbringing, education, culture and health care; ecological safety;

7) the legal regime of property;

8) the legal principles and guarantees of entrepreneurship; the rules of competition and the norms of antimonopoly regulation;

9) the principles of foreign relations, foreign economic activity and customs;

10) the principles of the regulation of demographic and migration

processes;

11) the principles of the establishment and activity ol political parlies, lit i associations of citizens, and the mass media;

12) the organisation and activity of bodies of executive power, the foniliiincntals of civil service, the organisation of state statistics and Inlormatics;

13) the territorial structure of Ukraine;

14) the judicial system, judicial proceedings, the status of judges, the fltliu iples of judicial expertise, the organisation and operation of the plot ui.11 y, the bodies of inquiry and investigation, the notary, the bodies and m*lltutions for the execution of punishments; the fundamentals of the iii|i.inisation and activity of the advocacy;

15) the principles of local self-government;

16) the status of the capital of Ukraine; the special status of other cities;

17) the fundamentals of national security, the organisation of the Armed in ITS of Ukraine and ensuring public order;

18) the legal regime of the state border;

19) the legal regime of martial law and a state of emergency, zones of an ft illogical emergency situation;

20) the organisation and procedure for conducting elections and ii li'iendums;

21) the organisation and operational procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ustatus of People's Deputies of Ukraine;

22) the principles of civil legal liability; acts that are crimes, tui mini strati ve or disciplinary offences, and liability for them.

The following are established exclusively by the laws of Ukraine:

1) the State Budget of Ukraine and the budgetary system of Ukraine; the system of taxation, taxes and levies; the principles of the formation and operation of financial, monetary, credit and investment markets; the status of if national currency and also the status of foreign currencies on the territory nl I Jkraine; the procedure for the formation and payment of state domestic hi ul foreign debt; the procedure for the issuance and circulation of state securities, their types and forms;

2) the procedure for deploying units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to other states; the procedure for admitting and the terms for stationing units of armed forces of other states on the territory of Ukraine; 3) units of weight, measure and time; the procedure lor csiuhlishing state standards;

4) the procedure for the use and protection of state symbols;

5) state awards;

6) military ranks, diplomatic and other special ranks;

7) state holidays;

8) the procedure for the establishment and functioning of free and other special zones that have an economic and migration regime different from the general regime.

Amnesty is declared by the law of Ukraine.

The right of legislative initiative in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine belongs to the President of Ukraine, the People's Deputies of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine.

Draft laws defined by the President of Ukraine as not postponable, are considered out of turn by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine signs a law and forwards it without delay to the President of Ukraine.

Within fifteen days of the receipt of a law, the President of Ukraine signs it, accepting it for execution, and officially promulgates it, or returns it to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with substantiated and formulated proposals for repeat consideration.

In the event that the President of Ukraine has not returned a law for repeat consideration within the established term, the law is deemed to be approved by the President of Ukraine and shall be signed and officially promulgated.

If a law, during its repeat consideration, is again adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by no less than two-thirds of its constitutional composition, the President of Ukraine is obliged to sign and to officially promulgate it within ten days.

A law enters into force in ten days from the day of its official promulgation, unless otherwise envisaged by the law itself, but not prior to the day of its publication.