Verkhovna Rada#History

The name Rada ({{langx|uk|Рада}}) means "council". The institution originated in the time of Kievan Rus' and then represented a council of boyars and of the higher clergy.{{cite encyclopedia|last= Padokh|first= Y.|url= http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?AddButton=pages\B\O\BoyarCouncil.htm|title= Boyar Council|access-date= 13 October 2007|encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Ukraine}}{{original research inline|date=May 2024}} In the 17th and 18th centuries the Dnieper Cossacks used the term to refer to the meetings where major decisions were made; the Cossacks elected new councils by popular vote.{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkPath=pages\G\E\GeneralMilitaryCouncil.htm|title= General Military Council|access-date= 13 October 2007|encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Ukraine}} The Ukrainian People's Republic between 17 March 1917 and 29 April 1918 had a Central Rada.

{{cite encyclopedia

|last= Zhukovsky|first= A.

|url= http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?AddButton=pages\C\E\CentralRada.htm

|title= Central Rada|access-date= 13 October 2007|encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Ukraine

}}

The West Ukrainian People's Republic and the Ukrainian government-in-exile each had a UNRada (Ukrainian National Rada).

The current name of the parliament derives from the Soviet practice of calling the national parliament and parliaments of its constituent republics Supreme Soviets ({{langx|ru|Верховный совет|Verkhovnyy soviet}}). Like in many other Soviet republics, Verkhovna Rada is a localized version of this term used in the Ukrainian SSR. After Ukraine regained independence in 1991, the term Verkhovnaya Rada ({{langx|ru|Верховная Рада}}) had been in use in both Russian and Ukrainian-based russophone media as a loan translation of the Ukrainian term. Verkhovna, the feminine form of the adjective {{lang|uk|"верховний"}} meaning supreme, derives from the Ukrainian word {{lang|uk|"верх"}} meaning "top".

Another name, used less commonly, is the Parliament of Ukraine ({{langx|uk|Парламент України}}).

• Central Rada in 1917–18
• Ukrainian National Rada in 1918 (West Ukraine)
• Labour Congress of Ukraine in 1919 (along with West Ukrainian delegates)
• Rada of the Republic in 1921 (exiled in Tarnów, Poland){{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CO%5CGovernment6in6exileoftheUkrainianNationalRepublic.htm|title=Government-in-exile of the Ukrainian National Republic|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Ukraine|year=2008|access-date=8 September 2016}}

{{see also|Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR|Ukrainian National Council}}

The Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic replaced the All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets and was a type of legislative authority of Soviet Ukraine according to the 1937 Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR. The All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets had already been renamed the Supreme Council in 1927.Serhy Yekelchyk '"Ukraine: Birth of a Modern Nation, Oxford University Press (2007), {{ISBN|978-0-19-530546-3}}, page 89 The Congress of Soviets was initiated by its Central Executive Committee, which it elected and held accountable. The last chairman of the committee was Hryhoriy Petrovsky (also known as Grigoriy Petrovskiy in Russian transliteration).

The first elections to the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR took place on 26 June 1938. The first session of the parliament took place in Kyiv from 25 July through to 28 July 1938. The first chairman of the council was Mykhailo Burmystenko who later died during World War II. In 1938, a Presidium was elected by the council that was chaired by Leonid Korniyets. The Presidium represented the council whenever it was not in session.

During the war, the Presidium was evacuated to the city of Saratov in the Russian SFSR. On 29 June 1943, the Presidium issued an order postponing elections for the new convocation for one year while extending the first convocation. On 8 January 1944, the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR in agreement with the Communist Party decided to relocate the Presidium of the Supreme Council from Kharkiv to Kyiv. New elections were scheduled for 9 February 1947 for the Council.

File:Tymoshenko Appointment Feb04 2005.jpg is appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine in the Rada on 4 February 2005.]]

Until 24 August 1991, Verkhovna Rada kept the name Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR.

The first partially free elections to the Verkhovna Rada and local councils of people's deputies were held on 4 March 1990.{{Cite book|title=Ukraine: A History|author=Subtelny, Orest|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=2000|isbn=0-8020-8390-0|pages=s. 576–577|author-link=Orest Subtelny|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/ukrainehistory00subt_0}} Although the Communist Party still remained in control, a "Democratic Bloc" was formed by numerous parties, including People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh), Helsinki Watch Committee of Ukraine, Party of Greens of Ukraine, and many others.

The twelfth convocation of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR issued the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine on 16 July 1990, and declared Ukrainian independence on 24 August 1991, at approximately 6 p.m. local time.{{cite web|url=http://gska2.rada.gov.ua:7777/site/postanova_eng/Rres_Declaration_Independence_rev12.htm|title=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Resolution On Declaration of Independence of Ukraine|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Official website of the Verkhovna Rada|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203430/http://gska2.rada.gov.ua:7777/site/postanova_eng/Rres_Declaration_Independence_rev12.htm|archive-date=30 September 2007}} At the time, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada was Leonid Kravchuk. The Act of Ukrainian Independence was overwhelmingly supported in a national referendum held on 1 December 1991. On 12 September 1991, the parliament adopted the law "On the Legal Succession of Ukraine". Thus, the VR became the Supreme Council of Ukraine.

The Constitution of Ukraine{{cite web|url=http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=254%EA%2F96%2D%E2%F0|title=Constitution of Ukraine|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Official website of the Verkhovna Rada}} was adopted by the thirteenth convocation of the Verkhovna Rada on 28 June 1996, at approximately 9 a.m. local time. The parliament's fourteenth convocation officially changed the numbering of the convocations proclaiming itself the third (democratic and independent) convocation of the Verkhovna Rada.{{Cite Ukrainian law|type=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decree|number=1420-XIV|law=1420-14|name=Про визначення порядку обчислення скликань Верховної Ради України (On the calculation determination of the convocations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine)|date=1 February 2000}} After the Orange Revolution, constitutional amendments were adopted in December 2004,{{Cite Ukrainian law|type=Verkhovna Rada decree|number=2222-IV|law=2222-15|name=About the amendments to the 8 Constitution of Ukraine|date=8 December 2004}} by the fourth (fifteenth) convocation of the Verkhovna Rada. On 1 October 2010, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine overturned the 2004 Amendments, considering them unconstitutional.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/84619/ Update: Return to 1996 Constitution strengthens president, raises legal questions], Kyiv Post (1 October 2010){{cite news|url=http://www.finchannel.com/Main_News/Ukraine/72720_Rada_Approves_Cancellation_Of_Rule_That_Bans_Deputies_From_Switching_Factions_/|title=Rada Approves Cancellation Of Rule That Bans Deputies From Switching Factions|publisher=The Financial|date=8 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009194535/http://www.finchannel.com/Main_News/Ukraine/72720_Rada_Approves_Cancellation_Of_Rule_That_Bans_Deputies_From_Switching_Factions_/|archive-date=9 October 2010}} On 21 February 2014, parliament reinstated the December 2004 amendments to the constitution.[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191727.html Ukrainian parliament reinstates 2004 Constitution], Interfax-Ukraine (21 February 2014)

In 2017 and 2018, the website of the Verkhovna Rada was the most popular among all websites of the parliaments of UN member states.

{{Main|Verkhovna Rada building}}

The Verkhovna Rada meets in a neo-classical building within Constitution Square on Mykhaila Hrushevsky Street, Kyiv. The building adjoins Mariinskyi Park and the 18th century Mariinskyi Palace, the official residence of the President of Ukraine.

After the transfer of the capital of the Ukrainian SSR from Kharkiv to Kyiv in 1934, a several government buildings was planned for the city.{{cite news|first=Svitlana|last=Mefford|url=http://www.ukraine-observer.com/articles/184/106|title=The Building of Verkhovna Rada. History of the sitting place of Ukrainian Parliament|work=The Ukrainian Observer|issue=184|access-date=12 October 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235608/http://www.ukraine-observer.com/articles/184/106|archive-date=27 September 2007}} In 1936, a contest for the construction of the parliament building was won by architect Volodymyr Zabolotny.

The original building was constructed from 1936 to 1938. Destroyed in the Second World War, the building was reconstructed from 1945 to 1947. The rebuilt glass dome is one metre higher than the original.

• Palace Ukraina, site of President Leonid Kuchma's inauguration
• Ukrainian House (21 January 2000)
• Building of budget committee (6–8 vulytsia Bankova on 4 April 2013)

{{Politics of Ukraine}}

{{main|Legislation of Ukraine}}

The Verkhovna Rada is the sole body of legislative power in Ukraine. The parliament determines the principles of domestic and foreign policy, introduces amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, adopts laws, approves the state budget, designates elections for the President of Ukraine, impeaches the president, declares war and peace, appoints the Prime Minister of Ukraine, appoints or confirms certain officials, appoints one-third of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, ratifies and denounces international treaties, and exercises certain control functions.{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine#Article_85|title=Article 85|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Wikisource}} The constitution of Ukraine stipulates that the Verkhovna Rada is authorized to fulfill its functions under the condition that at least two-thirds of its constitutional composition (300 or more people's deputies) are elected.{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.chesno.org/post/5807/ A record number of people's deputies remained in the Council. What's next?], Civil movement "Chesno" (8 December 2023)

In Ukraine there are no requirements for the minimum number of signatures (of deputies) to register a bill. In general the parliament adopts about 200 bills per year.{{Cite web |trans-title=Legislative spam: why the Council does not reach the hands of really important initiatives |script-title=uk:Законодавчий спам: чому в Ради не доходять руки до справді важливих ініціатив |url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/experts/2019/04/17/7095011/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}} An average of five to six bills are registered daily in parliament. As a result of this in the spring of 2019 parliament had more than 10 thousand registered and under consideration bills it had yet to debate.

All procedural regulations are contained in the Law on Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.(Official document) [http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1861-17 Law of Ukraine on Regulations of the Supreme Council of Ukraine] The latest version of the document was adopted on 16 December 2012, in which through the initiative of the President of Ukraine amendments were made concerning registration and voting by parliamentarians.(Official document) [http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5520-17 Law of Ukraine on introducing changes to Regulations of the Supreme Council of Ukraine] 2012 became a year of numerous changes in regards to the document, among which were changes to the election of the chairman. Bills are usually considered following the procedure of three readings; the President of Ukraine must sign a law before it can be officially promulgated.[http://rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/News/71072.html The interns of the Program of Internship at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Central Executive Bodies for 2012–2013 learned the procedure of submission and passage of bills in the Verkhovna Rada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928133814/http://rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/News/71072.html |date=28 September 2013 }}, Verkhovna Rada (14 December 2012)
[https://books.google.com/books?id=p0aPIjwXDioC&dq=Verkhovna+Rada+%22three+readings%22&pg=PT129 Ukraine: Energy Policy Review 2006], International Energy Agency, 24 October 2006, {{ISBN|9264109919}} (page 130)

Until 2017 the parliament appointed and dismissed judges from their posts and permitted detention or arrest of judges (those powers were transferred to the High Council of Justice).[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/394662.html Poroshenko signs law on High Council of Justice], Interfax-Ukraine (3 January 2017)
[https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/2148490-president-signs-law-on-high-council-of-justice-mp-yemets.html President signs law on High Council of Justice – MP Yemets], Ukrinform (29 December 2016)
[http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=212fa5f8-4f4b-4b4d-9d5a-693579e0c95e Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine passed: Ukraine takes a major step towards a European System of Justice], Lexology (9 June 2016)

The Verkhovna Rada is a unicameral legislature with 450 people's deputies ({{langx|uk|народний депутат}}) elected on the basis of equal and direct universal suffrage through a secret ballot.

{{see also|Political parties in Ukraine|Parliamentary group}}

All members of parliament are grouped into parliamentary factions and groups. Members of parliament who were elected from a certain party list are not necessarily members of that party.{{cite web|title=People's deputy of Ukraine VIII convocation Mykola Tomenko|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/site2/p_deputat?d_id=5415&skl=9|website=Official portal|publisher=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|access-date=9 October 2016|language=uk}}
{{cite web|title=People's deputy of Ukraine VIII convocation Alena Koshelev|url=http://itd.rada.gov.ua/mps/info/page/18048|website=Official portal|publisher=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|access-date=9 October 2016|language=uk|archive-date=25 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025050133/http://itd.rada.gov.ua/mps/info/page/18048|url-status=dead}} Parties that break the 5% electoral threshold form factions in the parliament. The formation of official parliamentary factions is regulated by the Verkhovna Rada's rules and procedures.

Only 15 or more deputies may form a parliamentary faction and an MP may be a member of only one faction at a time. The chairman and his two vice-chairmen may not be the heads of factions.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/85569/ Rada amends regulations of its activities], Kyiv Post (8 October 2010) Under current parliamentary rules a faction of non-partisan politicians can not be smaller than the smallest faction of a political party.{{Cite web |trans-title="Will of the people" told when parliamentary group cease to exist |script-title=uk:У "Волі народу" розповіли, коли депутатська група припинить існування |url=http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7124811/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda|language=uk}}

Deputies who are expelled from factions or decide to leave them to become individual lawmakers; individual deputies are allowed to unite into parliamentary groups of people's deputies that again have at least 15 deputies. Several influential parties have been founded after originally being formed as a faction in the Verkhovna Rada, for example, the Party of Regions, All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland" and Labour Ukraine.[https://www.ualberta.ca/CIUS/stasiuk/st-pdf/Explaining%20State%20Capture.pdf Explaining State Capture and State Capture Modes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929204934/http://www.ualberta.ca/CIUS/stasiuk/st-pdf/Explaining%20State%20Capture.pdf|date=29 September 2012}} by Oleksiy Omelyanchuk, Central European University, 2001 (page 22)[http://pdc.ceu.hu/archive/00001231/01/6.pdf 2001 Political sketches: too early for summing up], Central European University (4 January 2002)[https://books.google.com/books?id=Jlja1Brj8HkC&dq=various+faction+members+left+Hromada+to+join+other+parliamentry+faction&pg=PA106 State Building in Ukraine: The Ukrainian Parliament, 1990–2003] by Sarah Whitmore, Routledge, 2004, {{ISBN|978-0-415-33195-1}}, page 106[https://books.google.com/books?id=X0PAQrsx-6YC&dq=yulia+tymoshenko+Hromada&pg=PA12 Revolution in Orange: The Origins of Ukraine's Democratic Breakthrough] by Anders Aslund and Michael A. McFaul, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-87003-221-9}}

Each parliamentary faction or group appoints a leader.

Since the Imperative mandate provisions of the Ukrainian constitution came into effect again in February 2014 a political party can withdraw a parliamentary mandate if one of their MPs leaves its parliamentary faction.{{Cite web |trans-title=Tomenko lost the court of its mandate and will complain to Europe |script-title=uk:Томенко програв суд за свій мандат і буде скаржитися в Європу |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/07/28/7116192/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}}
{{Cite web |title=BPP Congress moves to terminate powers of MPs Tomenko, Firsov |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/1300725-bpp-congress-moves-to-terminate-powers-of-mps-tomenko-firsov.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=UNIAN |date=25 March 2016 |language=en}}
{{cite web|title=People's deputy of Ukraine VIII convocation Mykola Tomenko|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/site2/p_deputat?d_id=5415&skl=9|website=Official portal|publisher=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|access-date=9 October 2016|language=uk}} MPs who defected from one faction to another were derided as "tushky" (carcass).[https://translate.google.com/#uk/en/тушки тушки], Google Translate The insult was applied to MPs allegedly bribed to switch factions."[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/young-people-show-yanukovych-red-card-123191.html Young people show Yanukovych 'red card']", Kyiv Post (27 February 2012)

Parliament is primarily male. Women accounted for 8.5% of MPs in 2010,[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/19/AR2010111901968.html Topless protesters gain fame in Ukraine]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Washington Post (19 November 2010) 10% after the 2012 parliamentary election[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/too-few-women-in-the-ukrainian-parliament-317670.html Too few women in the Ukrainian parliament], Kyiv Post (14 December 2012) and 11.1% after the 2014 parliamentary election, the highest in history.{{Cite web |trans-title=The new parliament greatest women in history |script-title=uk:У новій Верховній Раді найбільше жінок за всю історію - КВУ |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/11/12/7044034/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}} Conversely, female representation in national legislatures within the EU was 25% as of 2014. Female representation rose considerably after the 2019 elections, achieving a 21% female Rada.{{cite web|title=Who Is Who in the Ukrainian Parliament?|url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/79905|access-date=29 November 2021|website=Carnegie Europe|language=en}}

On 20 March 2022, the activities of the main opposition party, Opposition Platform — For Life were suspended by the National Security and Defense Council for the period of martial law due to allegations of having ties to Russia made by the Council during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web |title=Зеленский: РНБО призупиняє діяльність ОПЗЖ, Партії Шарія та інших |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/03/20/7332907/ |access-date=20 March 2022 |website=Українська правда |language=uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60802572|title=As it happened: Ukraine war latest: Resilience making Russia assess reality, negotiator says|website=BBC News}}

• 1990–1994 Communist Party of Ukraine (After the failed 1991 August Putsch in Moscow it was simply called as Group of 239)
• 1994–2002 Communist Party of Ukraine
• 2002–2006 Viktor Yushchenko Bloc "Our Ukraine"
• 2006–2014 Party of Regions
• 2014 All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland"
• 2014–2019 Petro Poroshenko Bloc "Solidarity"
• 2019–present Servant of the People

{{main|People's Deputy of Ukraine}}

{{for|all political issues in the parliament such as party switching and piano voting|People's Deputy of Ukraine}}

Members of the Verkhovna Rada are known officially as "People's Deputies of Ukraine" (PDs). According to the "Law on elections of national deputies of Ukraine",{{cite web|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/1665-15|title=Про вибори народних депутатів України|website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України}} a citizen of Ukraine may become a People's Deputy if he or she has, on the day of the election, a) reached 21 years of age; b) political franchise; c) resided in Ukraine for the last five years.

Deputies have the right to free transportation, free use of the hall of official delegations, free housing, free medical services and free vacations at health spas.[http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/49402 Future generations in debt], Kyiv Post (24 September 2009) Each deputy is allowed to have up to 31 assistant-consultants, four of which may be admitted into the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada.{{cite web|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/379/95-%D0%B2%D1%80|title=Про затвердження Положення про помічника-консультанта народного депутата України|website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України}} Until 2019, the Ukrainian President, Prime Minister, members of the government and deputies all had parliamentary immunity[http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1078189.html Official Immunity Turns Into Campaign Issue In Ukraine], Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (16 August 2007) and agents of law enforcement were prohibited from searching their homes or following them.[http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/45039 Case of fugitive ex-deputy, a murder suspect, heats up immunity debate], Kyiv Post (9 July 2009) During the Orange Revolution and the campaign for the 2007 parliamentary election Party of Regions, OU-PSD and BYuT all promised to strip lawmakers of parliamentary immunity. In June 2008 the parliament failed to adopt the Bill on restriction of privileges for deputies and introduction of imperative mandate. 192 of 436 PDs registered in the plenary hall voted in favor of the bill. The factions of the opposition Party of Regions, as well as the CPU and the Lytvyn Bloc, voted against it. The OU-PSD faction voted partially in favor, while the bill's sponsor, the BYUT, voted unanimously. A proposal to send the bill for first reading a second time also failed.[http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=68658 Verkhovna Rada failed to adopt bill on restriction of privileges for deputies and introduction of imperative mandate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220142108/http://nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=68658 |date=20 February 2011 }}, National Radio Company of Ukraine (18 June 2008) In May 2009 the second Tymoshenko Government approved a bill amending the Law on the status of a people's deputy of Ukraine, which reduced the privileges of incumbent and former deputies.[http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/42267 Government suggests canceling certain privileges for Memebres of the Parliament], Kyiv Post (27 May 2009) The parliament canceled some benefits and payments to lawmakers in December 2011.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/119640/ Lawmakers cancel some benefits], Kyiv Post (26 December 2011)

A PD's absence from the Rada may be punished by withholding their salary.[https://economics.unian.info/m/10331709-ukrainian-lawmakers-fall-short-of-half-a-million-dollars-in-salaries-in-jan-sept-for-being-absent.html Ukrainian lawmakers fall short of half a million dollars in salaries in Jan–Sept for being absent], Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (9 November 2018)

In December 2019, PDs lost most aspects of parliamentary immunity, with the exception of statements and votes conducted in parliament or its bodies .{{cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10799630-bill-stripping-ukrainian-lawmakers-of-immunity-passes-its-second-reading.html|title=Bill stripping Ukrainian lawmakers of immunity passes its second reading|website=UNIAN|date=18 December 2019 }}

Several local millionaires have been members of the Rada.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93030/ #50 Richest: Tariel Vasadze, 63], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93042/ #40 Richest: Serhiy and Oleksandr Buryak, 44 and 40], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93039/ #43 Richest: Oleksandr Feldman, 50], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93056/ #26 Richest: Yevhen Sihal, 55], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[https://web.archive.org/web/20121008131310/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=36312818&ticker=FXPO:LN&previousCapId=873721&previousTitle=AFRICAN%20RAINBOW%20MINERALS%20LTD Kostyantin Valentynovych Zhevago], Bloomberg L.P. (2009)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93071/ #11 Richest: Andriy Verevsky, 36], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93077/ #5 Richest: Kostyantyn Zhevago, 36], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93063/ #19 Richest: Mykola Yankovsky, 66], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93058/ #24 Richest: Heorhiy Skudar, 68], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93053/ #29 Richest: Oleksandr Slobodyan, 54], Kyiv Post (17 December 2010)

In early 2020, the Servant of the People party announced plans to reduce the number of deputies from 450 to 300.{{cite web|title=Почему "Слуга народа" хочет уменьшить количество народных депутатов в Раде|url=https://24tv.ua/ru/pochemu_sluga_naroda_hochet_umenshit_kolichestvo_narodnyh_deputatov_v_rade_n1275246|access-date=25 November 2021|website=24 Канал|date=4 February 2020 |language=ru}} A vote garnered 236 votes in favor, 40 against, and 86 abstentions.

Before assuming office, deputies must take the following oath before the leadership of the Rada and fellow deputies on the first day of a new session of the Rada.

In the original Ukrainian:

{{cquote|Присягаю на вірність Україні. Зобов'язуюсь усіма своїми діями боронити суверенітет і незалежність України, дбати про благо Вітчизни і добробут Українського народу.
Присягаю додержуватися Конституції України та законів України, виконувати свої обов'язки в інтересах усіх співвітчизників.{{cite web|url=http://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/Конституція_України#Стаття_79|title=Стаття 79|access-date=2007-10-11|work=Ukrainian Wikisource}}}}

English translation:

{{cquote|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 carry out my duties in the interests of all compatriots.{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine#Article_79|title=Article 79|access-date=2007-10-11|work=Wikisource}}}}

File:«С. Р. А. председатель Верховной рады.png».png]]

{{Main|Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada}}

The Verkhovna Rada elects from among its ranks a Chairman (Speaker; {{langx|uk|Голова Верховної Ради}}), a First Deputy Chairman, and a Second Deputy Chairman.[http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/site/eng/kerivnytstvo.htm Leaders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine], Official website of the Verkhovna Rada.

Before the Chairman of a newly convoked Rada is elected, parliamentary sessions are presided over by members of a temporary presidium of the first session ({{langx|uk|тимчасова президія першої сесії}}). The temporary presidium is composed of five deputies, representing the four largest parliamentary factions plus the chairman of a preparatory deputy group of the first parliamentary session. However, the Rada may deviate from this composition.

Chairman duties include presiding over parliamentary sessions, signing bills and parliamentary acts before sending them to the President for promulgation, and organising staff work.{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine#Article_88|title=Article 88|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Wikisource}} The chairman is empowered to call special sessions of parliament,{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine#Article_83|title=Article 83|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Wikisource}} enact bills vetoed by the President should the Rada vote to overturn the veto by a two-thirds majority, and participate in meetings of the National Security and Defence Council.{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine#Article_107|title=Article 107|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Wikisource}}

Should the office of President of Ukraine become vacant, the chairman becomes the acting head of state, though with limited authority.{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine#Article_112|title=Article 112|access-date=11 October 2007|work=Wikisource}} As head of state, the chairman may dissolve parliament, appoint candidates to critical posts or submit such candidates for parliamentary approval, grant military ranks, create state orders, and exercise the right of pardon. There are no codified constitutional or legal instructions for succession if there is simultaneously no President or chairman.

{{main|Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada}}

The Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada is a collective name adapted for the chairman and their deputies out of tradition. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was an official office elected at the first session of each convocation of the Supreme Soviet. Originally it consisted of a chairman, their two deputies, a secretary, and 19 additional members. The Presidium was regulated by Section 106 of the 1978 Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR, which granted Presidium almost all of the Rada's powers wherever the latter was not in session, on the condition that any decrees be laid at the next parliamentary session for approval.{{cite web|url=https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%83%D1%86%D1%96%D1%8F_(%D0%9E%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD)_%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%97_%D0%A0%D0%B0%D0%B4%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%97_%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%86%D1%96%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%97_%D0%A0%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%BA%D0%B8_(1978.04.20) |title=Конституція (Основний Закон) Української Радянської Соціалістичної Республіки (1978.04.20) — Вікіджерела |language=uk |publisher=Uk.wikisource.org |date= |accessdate=2022-08-29}} Since the adoption of the Ukrainian Constitution, the Presidium has been abolished. However, Rada leadership including the current chairman, their deputies and potentially faction leaders are sometimes called the Presidium.

Article 18 of the Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada require the first session of every newly elected parliament be headed by a temporary presidium of six MPs.

The first session of each newly elected parliament is highly important. A "Preparation" deputy group is tasked with planning the first session, with support from the Rada's Office. The Preparation group is composed of newly elected PDs under the authority of the previous session's chairman or their personal deputies. This is required by Article 13 of the Regulations. The Preparation group elects its own chairperson, the chairperson's deputies deputy and a secretary. The group is also responsible for establishing committees.

Before the opening of the first session, all newly elected PDs gather for the oath ceremony. This is required by Article 14 of the Regulations. Invitations to take the oath are given by the chairman of the previous convocation. The chairman grants the leading word to the oldest PD, and asks PDs stand and recite the oath aloud. PDs sign a copy of the oath as well, which is then stored in the Rada's archives.

Plenary meetings of the first session review the following matters: formation of the provisional presidium, establishment and registration of the factions, pending legislation and the elections of the Counting Commission, the chairman, and the chairman's deputies. They also conduct hearings on extraordinary messages on domestic and foreign affairs from the President, hearings regarding the Preparation group report and parliamentary committees. They also address the Conciliation board of deputy factions in the media coverage of Rada activities and sessions.

File:Logo of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.svg

The Office of the Verkhovna Rada is a support department providing organizational, legal, social, analytical and other assistance to parliament, other departments with parliament, and PDs. The Office is officially non-partisan, existing mainly to provide secretarial help.

Before the first session of each new parliament, the Office provides PDs various documents, including the Constitution of Ukraine, the Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada, election results from the Central Election Commission, the Law of Ukraine on the Status of People's Deputies, and others. This is required by Article 12 of the Regulations.

The Office of the Ombudsman was established in 1998 and led by Nina Karpachova until 2012. The Office of the Ombudsman has its own secretariat and advisory council. The current Ombudsman is Lyudmyla Denisova, who replaced Valeriya Lutkovska in 2017.

{{main|Committees of the Verkhovna Rada}}

The Rada establishes parliamentary committees.[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/rada-approves-composition-of-all-committees-318139.html Rada approves composition of all committees], Kyiv Post (25 December 2012) On 4 December 2014, parliament formed 27 committees and 2 special control commissions.[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/238036.html Rada sets up 27 committees, 2 special control commissions], Interfax-Ukraine (4 December 2014) The previous parliament (2012–2014) had 29 committees and an ad hoc supervisory board. The sixth session of the Rada (2007–2012) had 28 committees, including the Budget Committee, the Special Control Commission of the Verkhovna Rada on Privatization, and the Committee on Transportation and Communications. There are no permanent or standing committees, though committees from previous convocations may be re-formed. Among the most important is the Budget Committee.

PDs may create temporary investigative commissions. Creating such a commission requires one-third of the constitutionally enumerated seats (i.e. 150/450 members). Before a bill for creating such a commission may be schedule for voting, it must be approved by the Committee on Regulations.

• Holos Ukrainy
• Rada TV

{{See also|Button pusher}}{{Update section|date=February 2024|reason=No coverage since 2013}}

Brawls are not unusual in the Rada.[http://photo.unian.net/search/?word=words&search_text=Verkhovna+Rada+fight&date_type=all_period&df=1&mf=1&yf=1950&dt=1&mt=1&yt=1950&orient=0&order_by=desc&lang=3 Verkhovna Rada fight], UNIAN photo-service
[http://photo.unian.net/eng/keywords/457?fp=752 Keywords: fight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203046/https://photo.unian.net/eng/keywords/457?fp=752 |date=5 August 2018 }}, UNIAN photo-service
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5169068.stm Ukraine coalition born in chaos], BBC News (11 July 2006)
{{in lang|uk}} [http://5.ua/newsline/229/0/71304/ Рейтинг бійок у Верховній Раді [репортаж, відео]] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103091011/http://5.ua/newsline/229/0/71304/ |date=3 January 2011 }}, 5 Kanal (20 December 2010)
[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-436630.html Lyashko fought with Martynyuk in VRU (video)], UNIAN (19 May 2011)
[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/video-of-first-brawl-in-verkhovna-rada-becomes-a-youtube-hit-374217.html Video of first brawl in Verkhovna Rada becomes a YouTube hit], Kyiv Post (5 December 2014){{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-12019273|title=Ukraine MPs hurt in parliament brawl|date=17 December 2010|access-date=16 January 2019|language=en-GB}}{{in lang|uk}} [https://vybory.pravda.com.ua/files/graph/verkhovna-rada-2018/ 2018 WHAT THEY HAVE BUILT], Civil movement "Chesno" (29 December 2018){{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/12/20/yet-again-fistfight-breaks-out-ukraines-parliament/|title=Yet again, a fistfight breaks out in Ukraine's parliament|last=Mellen|first=Ruby|date=20 December 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post}} On several occasions work in parliament is blocked by sit-ins by various parties (usually for a couple of days; but in 2008 from 18 January till 6 March{{in lang|uk}} [http://tyzhden.ua/News/72698 Рекорд з блокування Ради становить 29 днів The record for blocking the Rada is 29 days], The Ukrainian Week (19 February 2013) and in February 2013 for 17 days{{Cite web |trans-title=Interview of Rybak by the parliamentary television |script-title=uk:РИБАК СКАЗАВ, ЩО РАДА ЗАПРАЦЮЄ 19 ЛЮТОГО |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/02/6/6983000/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}}
{{Cite web |last=Interfax-Ukraine |date=2013-02-06 |title=Klitschko: Opposition won't unblock parliamentary rostrum until its demands are satisfied |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/klitschko-opposition-wont-unblock-parliamentary-rostrum-until-its-demands-are-satisfied-319931.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Kyiv Post}}
{{Cite web |last=Interfax-Ukraine |date=2013-02-06 |title=UDAR MPs spend night at parliament, still blocking presidium and rostrum |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/udar-mps-spend-night-at-parliament-still-blocking-presidium-and-rostrum-319928.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Kyiv Post}}
{{Cite web |last=Interfax-Ukraine |date=2013-02-05 |title=Oppositionists block work of parliament, demand individual voting |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/oppositionists-block-work-of-parliament-demand-individual-voting-319833.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Kyiv Post}}
{{Cite web |last=Tuchynska |first=Svitlana |date=2013-02-22 |title=Parliament unblocked after Yanukovych televised claim (UPDATED) |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/parliament-unblocked-after-yanukovych-televised-claim-320789.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Kyiv Post}}
{{Cite web |title=THE SECOND SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION HAS OPENED |url=https://www.rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/News%202/73173.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Verkhovna Rada}}).[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12019273Ukraine MPs hurt in parliament brawl]{{Dead link|date=September 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}, BBC News (17 December 2010){{cite news |date=22 October 2008 |title=BYuT faction blocks parliament's presidium and rostrum |url=http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-279953.html |agency=Ukrainian Independent Information Agency}}
{{cite news |date=22 October 2008 |title=Rada Closes meeting |url=http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/157406.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024063920/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/157406.html |archive-date=24 October 2008 |agency=Ukrainian News Agency}}
{{cite news |date=24 October 2008 |title=BYT Unblocks Rada |url=http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/158160.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026223538/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/158160.html |archive-date=26 October 2008 |agency=Ukrainian News Agency}}
{{cite news |date=29 June 2006 |title=Sit-in disrupts Ukraine assembly |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5127414.stm |access-date=26 August 2006 |work=BBC News}}
[http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1329_1200307242_ukraine-bulletin-100806.pdf ELECTION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT], European Country of Origin Information Network (August 2006)
[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/118516/ Regions Party deputies block parliament's rostrum and presidium], Kyiv Post (9 December 2011)
[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/123111/ Ukrainian lawmakers fail to hold parliament meeting on 24 February], Kyiv Post (24 February 2012)
[http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/batkivschyna-again-blocks-parliaments-work-2/ Batkivschyna again blocks parliament's work], Interfax-Ukraine (5 March 2013) In 2000 and on 4 April 2013 the parliament split into two and held two sessions on two different premises.[http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130404/ukraine-parliament-moves-building-amid-opposition-blockade-1 Ukraine parliament moves building amid opposition blockade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503012631/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130404/ukraine-parliament-moves-building-amid-opposition-blockade-1 |date=3 May 2013 }}, GlobalPost (4 April 2013)

A noticeable incident was the disorder of 27 April 2010, after the parliament ratified a treaty that extended the Russian Black Sea Fleet lease in the Crimean port of Sevastopol until 2042, when Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn had to be shielded with umbrellas as he was pelted with eggs, while smoke bombs exploded and politicians brawled.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8645847.stm|title=Parliamentary chaos as Ukraine ratifies fleet deal|publisher=BBC|date=27 April 2010|access-date=1 September 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429204714/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8645847.stm|archive-date=29 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article411316.ece|title=Protests in Kyiv as Ukraine parliament approves Russia fleet treaty. The Hindu. Kyiv, 27 April 2010.|website=The Hindu |date=27 April 2010 |last1=Radyuhin |first1=Vladimir }} Another major incident occurred on 16 December 2010 when several Rada members were admitted to hospital after Party of Regions politicians stormed the parliament podium, which was occupied by the Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko faction.[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE_PARLIAMENT_SCUFFLE?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Fierce fight in Ukraine parliament injures 6], Associated Press (17 December 2010)[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93114/ Ukraine opposition mourns democracy after MP brawl], Kyiv Post (18 December 2010)

On 12 December 2012, an all-out scuffle broke out in Parliament, as Batkivshchyna party members attempted to prevent the swearing in of two members who had left the party during the body's first session following the October 2012 election.[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/fear-and-loathing-in-ukraines-new-parliament-317544.html "Fear and loathing in Ukraine's new parliament"], Kyiv Post (12 December 2012)
[http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/video/2012/12/13/une-session-parlementaire-ukrainienne-tourne-a-la-bagarre-generale_1805499_3214.html Video of the December 2012 brawl in Parliament], Le Monde
[https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/12/world/europe/ukraine-parliament-fight/index.html?hpt=ieu_c2 New Ukraine parliament packs punches – literally – in first session], CNN (13 December 2012) The same day members of the All-Ukrainian Union "Svoboda" removed the fence around the Verkhovna Rada{{Cite web |trans-title=Svoboda sawed the fence around Verkhovna Rada down |script-title=uk:“Свобода” розпиляла паркан навколо Верховної Ради |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/12/12/6979373/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}} that was installed early October 2012.{{Cite news |date=2012-12-22 |title=Svoboda: The rise of Ukraine's ultra-nationalists |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20824693 |access-date=2023-07-06}}{{Cite web |trans-title=The fence around the Council reinforce with concrete |script-title=uk:Паркан біля Ради укріплюють бетоном |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/11/12/6750577/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}} The speaker of the parliament Volodymyr Rybak promised to review the incident of the fence removal.{{Cite web |trans-title=Rybak is promising to solve the issue of a fence |script-title=uk:Рибак обіцяє розібратися з парканом |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/12/14/6979791/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}} The fence is not accounted as the property of parliament nor the city of Kyiv. Rybak noted that the matter might require a review within a special designated committee.

From the parliamentary election of 28 October 2012 till the first months of 2013 parliamentary work was virtually paralyzed because the opposition (UDAR, Fatherland, Svoboda, others) blocked the podium and chairman's seat on various days.[http://azdailysun.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-parliament-session-seized-by-ruling-party/article_fc6d7911-ed30-5b80-9ef8-eab9322f1af3.html Ukraine parliament session seized by ruling party]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Arizona Daily Sun (4 April 2013)
[http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/study-mps-off-for-53-days-in-first-hundred-days-of-current-parliament/ Study: MPs off for 53 days in first hundred days of current parliament], Interfax-Ukraine (22 March 2013)
[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/145166.html Opposition stops blocking parliament, plenary sitting begins], Interfax-Ukraine (19 March 2013)
[http://photo.ukrinform.ua/eng/current/photo.php?id=531226 Opposition blocks speaker's rostrum, puts forward three demands], Ukrinform (3 April 2013)
[http://www.unian.info/news/563473-opposition-lawmakers-block-rostrum-and-presidium-of-vru.html Opposition lawmakers block rostrum and presidium of VRU], UNIAN (3 April 2013)

• Inter-Parliamentary Union (Geneva)
• Parliamentary dimension of the Central European Initiative (Trieste)
• Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (PA OSCE, Copenhagen)
• European Parliament (Brussels)
• Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (Brussels)
• NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA, Brussels)
• Interparliamentary Assembly of member nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Moscow){{cite web |url=http://www.iacis.ru/eng/parliaments/ |title=Member Nations of the CIS |access-date=14 March 2015 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126043815/http://iacis.ru/eng/parliaments/ |url-status=dead }}
• Interparliamentary Assembly of the Eurasian Economic Community (Saint Petersburg){{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
• GUAM Parliamentary Assembly (Kyiv)
• Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (Athens)
• Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PA BSEC, Istanbul)

Ukraine was accepted as a full member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in 1995.

It is represented there by the parliamentary delegation of the Verkhovna Rada consisting of 12 representatives including a chairperson of the delegation, a vice-chairperson and their 12 substitutes; in total, 24 members. The Ukrainian delegation also has its own permanent secretariat of four members that assist in the inter-parliamentary relationships between the PACE and the Verkhovna Rada. For the full list of members, refer to the PACE main website at assembly.coe.int.

• 2002–2006 Borys Oliynyk (CPU), Anatoliy Rakhansky (LB)
• 2006–2007 Serhiy Holovaty (OU), Hryhoriy Nemyria (BYuT)
• 2007–2012 Ivan Popescu (PR), Olha Herasymiyuk (OU)
• 2012–present Ivan Popescu (PR), Serhiy Sobolyev (Ba)

{{see also|Elections in Ukraine}}

File:Выборы на Украине 2007 (2).jpg during 2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election]]

The parliamentary electoral system has repeatedly changed. Each convocation of the Rada has been elected under different sets of laws which have evolved from the purely majoritarian system of the Soviet era to the purely proportional scheme effective from 2006 until 2010. The next election{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.chesno.org/post/3402/ Early to rejoice? Regular parliamentary elections may take place under Yanukovych's law], Civil movement "Chesno" (11 July 2019) will be held under such a proportional scheme.

In the 1990 and 1994 elections, all 450 MPs were elected in single-member districts. Ukraine was therefore divided into 450 electoral districts, each contributing one MP. To win a seat, a candidate needed more than 50% of the votes. If no candidate had 50%, then the two leading candidates participated in a run-off vote.

In the 1998 and 2002 elections, 225 MPs were elected in single-member districts as earlier (with the exception that the candidate needed only a simple majority to win). The remaining 225 MPs were elected on a proportional basis. These seats were divided between parties who passed a 4% electoral threshold.

Unlike previous elections, the 2006 and 2007 elections were exclusively proportional; all 450 seats were determined through the proportional electoral system. Seats were divided between parties who passed a 3% electoral threshold. For the 2007 election, the threshold percentage was not changed, but some amendments to the election process were made. In the 2012, 2014 and 2019 elections[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/95986/ Parliament mulls 3 Feb vote to amend Constitution], Kyiv Post (31 January 2011)
[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/96077/ Parliament sets parliamentary elections for October 2012, presidential elections for March 2015], Kyiv Post (1 February 2011)
[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/96081/ Ukraine sets parliamentary vote for October 2012], Kyiv Post (1 February 2011)
[http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20100125/157671733.html Early parliamentary elections may take place in May – Ukraine's Yanukovych] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505182455/http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20100125/157671733.html |date=5 May 2013 }}, RIA Novosti (25 January 2010) a mixed voting system was again used (50% under party lists and 50% under simple-majority constituencies) with a 5% election threshold.

Ordinarily, elections would have occurred in 2023.{{cite news|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/218366.html|title=Rada fails to put on today's agenda three bills on elections of MPs|agency=Interfax-Ukraine|date=14 August 2014|access-date=1 September 2019}} The imposition of martial law in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has indefinitely postponed elections, as the Ukrainian constitution prohibits holding elections while under martial law.{{Cite web |title=Виборчий кодекс України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/396-20 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}} The newest version of the electoral code, which took effect on 1 January 2020, specifies the next election will have no single-member constituencies. Instead, MPs will only be elected on a party list in one nationwide constituency with a 5% election threshold with open regional lists of candidates.[https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/633561.html Electoral Code becomes effective in Ukraine], Interfax-Ukraine (1 January 2010)

{{Main|2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election}}

• Central Council of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets, Central Executive Committee of Ukraine
• Rada TV, the official TV channel of the Verkhovna Rada
• Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
• {{Ill|Ukrainian Center for EU Civil Service Standards|uk|Центр адаптації державної служби до стандартів Європейського Союзу}}, public institution established to facilitate administrative reform to European Union standards.

{{notelist|40em}}

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{{Wikibooks|Ukraine Constitution and Government}}

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• {{cite web|url=http://www.rada.gov.ua|title=Official website|work=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|language=uk, ru, en}}
• {{cite web|url=http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/radac_gs09/karta_frack|title=Scheme of seats in the session hall|work=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|language=uk}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.golos.com.ua/|title=Holos Ukrayiny Newspaper|work=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|language=uk, ru}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.viche.info/|title=Viche Magazine|work=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|language=uk, en}}
• {{cite web|url=http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1861-17|title=Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada|work=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine|language=uk}}
• {{cite web|url=https://pace.coe.int/en/members?page=1&q=&countryId=45&year= |title=List of all PACE members from Ukraine|website=pace.coe.int}}
• {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ua_parliament |title=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Ukrainian Parliament|work=Official twitter account}}

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