Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada
| Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Голова Верховної Ради України | |
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| Appointer | Parliament by secret ballot |
| Term length | Resignation, dismissal or new convocation of parliament. |
| Inaugural holder |
Mykhailo Burmystenko, January 30, 1937 |
| Formation | Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR of July 25, 1938 |
| Website | chairman.rada.gov.ua |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Ukraine |
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The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Голова Верховної Ради України, Holova Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny) is the presiding officer of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's unicameral parliament. The chairman presides over the parliament and its procedures. Chairmen are elected by open voting from the parliament's deputy ranks.[2]
Volodymyr Groysman is the current chairman since being confirmed on November 27, 2014.
History
The office of Chairman has existed since the ratification of the Constitution of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on January 30, 1937. Mykhailo Burmystenko, who was appointed on January 30, 1937, was the inaugural holder of the office. The post replaced the existing position of a chairman of Central Executive Committee (1917-37). Along with the chairman, from 1937 to 1990 Verkhovna Rada was also governed by the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada that consisted of about 20 members.
There have been 18 Chairmen of the Verkhovna Rada since 1927. Until Ukraine's independence in 1991, it was titled as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR.
Mission and authority
According to Article 88 of the Ukrainian Constitution, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is allowed to:[3]
- preside over meetings of parliament;
- organize work of the Verkhovna Rada and coordinate its activities;
- sign and promulgate acts adopted by the Verkhovna Rada;
- represent the parliament in relation with other bodies of state power of Ukraine and with the bodies of power of other states;
- organize the work of the staff of the parliament.
The chairman is also allowed to call special sessions of parliament,[4] enact bills vetoed by the president only when the Verkhovna Rada votes to overcome the veto by a two-thirds majority, and participate in meetings of the National Security and Defence Council.[5]
The chairman and his two assistants (deputy chairmen) cannot head factions of deputies.[6]
Head of state
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is designated as the first in the order of succession of the next head of state with limited authority (1992-1996, 2004-2010, and 2014-Present) while new presidential elections are conducted.[7] Actions not allowed to be performed by the acting president include:[7]
- disbanding the parliament;
- appointing or submitting candidates for parliamentary approval of government posts;
- granting military ranks or state orders;
- exercising the right of pardon.
No provisions for presidential succession are included in case both the president's and chairman's positions are vacant.
During the Soviet era, the chairman was the Ukrainian SSR's de jure head of state; the de facto head of state was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukraine.
List of chairmen
Special state privileges
All former chairmen of the Verkhovna Rada receive special state privileges. After the completion of their tenure, former chairmen are provided with cabinets in the parliament's building, an official government car and an adviser and an aide at state expense.[8]
The respective decree #296 was signed by Volodymyr Lytvyn as early as on June 7, 2006 – a month before he was dismissed from the post of Parliament's Speaker. After three years since its adoption, Verkhovna Rada officials kept silent about the law, after which it was made public by an article in the DELO newspaper in mid-May 2009.[8]
References
- ↑ Hroisman elected Rada speaker, Kyiv Post, November 27, 2014.
- ↑ Yanukovych signs law on open voting to elect parliamentary chairman, Kyiv Post (19 November 2012)
- ↑ "Article 88". Wikisource. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ↑ "Article 83". Wikisource. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ↑ "Article 107". Wikisource. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ↑ Rada amends regulations of its activities, Kyiv Post (October 8, 2010)
- 1 2 "Article 112". Wikisource. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- 1 2 Lytvyn makes himself well-provided till end of life, UNIAN (May 15, 2009)
External links
- "Official website of the Chairman". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
- Высшие органы государственной власти Украинской ССР (Supreme authorities of state power of the Ukrainian SSR)
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