Political System

Form of government: Constitutional Democracy
Head of State: President
Legislative power: Verkhovna Rada (Parliament)
Executive power: Cabinet of Ministers
Judicial power: Constitutional Court
Voting qualifications: 18 and older
Political Divisions: 24 oblasts (regions) and 1 autonomous republic (Crimea)

Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential republic. A nationally elected presidency was instituted on December 1, 1991. Ukrainian citizens elect their President for a five-year term. The President, according to the new edition of the Constitution, is deprived of the right to appoint and discharge all ministers. The candidate for the Prime Minister is offered by the majority of the parliament, instead of being appointed by the President. But the President has veto powers, the right to appoint the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, to choose the personnel of the Council for National Security and Defense, and one third of the judges of the Constitutional Court. He determines the appointment of the head of the State Security Service and General Prosecutor. The Head of State also decides on whether to declare a state of emergency. The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and head of Council for National Security and Defense. The President carries out representative functions as well. People's Deputies (members of the Verkhovna Rada) are elected for a five-year term according to proportional representation of party or electoral bloc lists. The Prime Minister possesses altogether greater prerogatives than the President, forms the Cabinet of Ministers, and has to have the support of the majority in parliament.