Constitution

The present independent state of Ukraine came into being on 24 August 1991 when the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council/Assembly, or Parliament) of the then Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) overwhelmingly adopted a declaration on the independence of Ukraine. This followed a previous declaration of the state sovereignty of Ukraine, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on 16 July 1990. On 1 December 1991 a national referendum was held in which 90% of voters endorsed the independence declaration.

The declaration of independence stated that, thenceforth, on the territory of Ukraine only the Constitution and laws of Ukraine have validity. Although the drafting of a new Constitution had begun after the declaration of sovereignty, this process was not complete when independence was declared. The Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR, therefore, remained in force, though with a large number of amendments. The new Constitution was finally adopted by Parliament on 28 June 1996.

In December 2004, during the 'Orange Revolution', Parliament adopted a number of amendments to the Constitution designed to alter the balance of power between the President, Parliament and Cabinet of Ministers. These came into effect in 2006.