The principles of the operation of the Ukrainian Parliament
The principles of the operation of the Ukrainian Parliament

Summary/Abstract: In the first part of the article, the author deals with the question of the functions which the Ukrainian Parliament performs. These include the constitutional, legislative, budgetary and financial, control and creative functions. Then, there are attempts to clarify the meanings of these functions. The author pays particular attention to the importance of the legislative function of the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council). The next part deals with the issues concerning the structure of the Parliament, including specific competences of its individual organs and their functioning. Next, the author makes references to the mode of operation of the Parliament, sessions, as well as meetings of committees and commissions. He pays special attention to the fact that the competences of the standing committees of the Ukrainian Parliament cover the entirety of the public life in this state. Parliamentary factions are also important from the point of view of the functioning of the Verkhovna Rada. Further in the article, the author analyzes the status of Members of Parliament, including the issues of formal and substantive immunity. Next, the subject of the consideration includes the duties and powers arising under the mandate of a people’s deputy. Another topic touches upon the incompatibility of the deputy’s mandate with performance of other public functions. The paper is concluded with general remarks, which imply that the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada relies on parliamentary principles in force elsewhere in Europe. However, what distinguishes the Verkhovna Rada is its unicameral structure and corruption-related problems connected with the functioning of a young democracy.

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