Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada
Encyclopedia
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is the speaker
of the Verkhovna Rada
, Ukraine
's unicameral parliament. The speaker presides over the parliament and its procedures. They are elected by secret ballot
from the parliament's deputy ranks. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is the first in order of succession
for the office of President of Ukraine
pending the president's inability to govern or impeachment from office.
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. There have been 18 Chairmen of the Verkhovna Rada since then. Volodymyr Lytvyn
is the current chairman since being confirmed on December 9, 2008 after the dismissal of Arseniy Yatsenyuk
on November 12, 2008.
, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is allowed to:
The chairman is also allowed to call special session
s of parliament, enact bills veto
ed 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.
The chairman and his two assistants (deputy chairmen) cannot head factions of deputies.
, becoming the next head of state
with limited authority while new presidential elections are conducted. Actions not allowed to be performed by the acting president include:
No provisions for presidential succession are included in case both the president's and chairman's positions are vacant.
of Ukrainian SSR
(1938–1991):
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.
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Verkhovna Rada
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is Ukraine's parliament. The Verkhovna Rada is a unicameral parliament composed of 450 deputies, which is presided over by a chairman...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
's unicameral parliament. The speaker presides over the parliament and its procedures. They are elected by secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
from the parliament's deputy ranks. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is the first in order of succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
for the office of President of Ukraine
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
pending the president's inability to govern or impeachment from office.
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. There have been 18 Chairmen of the Verkhovna Rada since then. Volodymyr Lytvyn
Volodymyr Lytvyn
Volodymyr Mykhailovych Lytvyn is a Ukrainian politician and the current Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. Having previously served in that position from 2002 until 2006, he was re-elected in December 2008 after his party agreed to join the former coalition of Yulia...
is the current chairman since being confirmed on December 9, 2008 after the dismissal of Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Arseniy Petrovych Yatsenyuk is a Ukrainian politician, economist and lawyer. Yatsenyuk served in the government of Ukraine as Minister of Economy from 2005 to 2006; subsequently he was Foreign Minister of Ukraine in 2007 and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada from 2007 to 2008.-Early life:Arseniy...
on November 12, 2008.
Mission and authority
According to Article 88 of the Ukrainian ConstitutionConstitution of Ukraine
The Constitution of Ukraine is the nation's fundamental law. The constitution was adopted and ratified at the 5th session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 28 June 1996. The constitution was passed with 315 ayes out of 450 votes possible .Other laws and other normative legal acts of Ukraine...
, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is allowed to:
- preside over meetings of parliament;
- organize work of the Verkhovna Rada and coordinate its activities;
- sign and promulgatePromulgationPromulgation is the act of formally proclaiming or declaring a new statutory or administrative law after its enactment. In some jurisdictions this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect....
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 session
Special session
In a legislature, a special session is a period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session. This most frequently occurs in order to complete unfinished tasks for the year , such as outlining the government's budget for the next fiscal year, biennium, or other period...
s of parliament, enact bills veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed by the president
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
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.
The chairman and his two assistants (deputy chairmen) cannot head factions of deputies.
Head of state
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is the first in the order of successionOrder of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
, becoming the next head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
with limited authority while new presidential elections are conducted. Actions not allowed to be performed by the acting president include:
- disbanding the parliament;
- appointing or submitting candidates for parliamentary approval of government posts;
- granting military ranks or state orders;
- exercising the right of pardonPardonClemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
.
No provisions for presidential succession are included in case both the president's and chairman's positions are vacant.
List of chairmen
The following table includes the Chairmen of Verkhovna Rada (since 1991), the Chairmen of Supreme SovietSupreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
of Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
(1938–1991):
| Name | Party/Bloc | Date Elected | Date Resigned | Convocation | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volodymyr Lytvyn Volodymyr Lytvyn Volodymyr Mykhailovych Lytvyn is a Ukrainian politician and the current Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. Having previously served in that position from 2002 until 2006, he was re-elected in December 2008 after his party agreed to join the former coalition of Yulia... |
Lytvyn Bloc | December 9, 2008 | Incumbent | 6 (17) | Replaced (acting Acting (law) In law, when someone is said to be acting in a position it can mean one of three things.*The position has not yet been formally created.*The person is only occupying the position temporarily, to ensure continuity.*The person does not have a mandate.... ) chairman Oleksandr Lavrynovych Oleksandr Lavrynovych Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Lavrynovych is a Ukrainian politician and deputy in the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.... (acting since November 12, 2008) |
| Arseniy Yatsenyuk Arseniy Yatsenyuk Arseniy Petrovych Yatsenyuk is a Ukrainian politician, economist and lawyer. Yatsenyuk served in the government of Ukraine as Minister of Economy from 2005 to 2006; subsequently he was Foreign Minister of Ukraine in 2007 and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada from 2007 to 2008.-Early life:Arseniy... |
Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Bloc | December 4, 2007 | November 12, 2008 | Resignation announced September 17. Dismissed Nov. 12. | |
| Oleksandr Moroz Oleksandr Moroz Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Moroz is a Ukrainian statesman and politician. He was the Speaker of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine twice: July 2006 to September 2007, and previously in 1994 through 1998. Moroz is one of the founders and leader of the Socialist Party of Ukraine, which was an influential... |
Socialist Socialist Party of Ukraine The Socialist Party of Ukraine is a Socialist political party in Ukraine and part of the Verkhovna Rada from 1994 to 2007.It is one of the oldest parties and was created by the former members of the Communist Party of Ukraine in late 1991 when the Communist Party was banned... |
July 6, 2006 | 2007 | 5 (16) | |
| Volodymyr Lytvyn Volodymyr Lytvyn Volodymyr Mykhailovych Lytvyn is a Ukrainian politician and the current Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. Having previously served in that position from 2002 until 2006, he was re-elected in December 2008 after his party agreed to join the former coalition of Yulia... |
For United Ukraine For United Ukraine For United Ukraine was a political alliance and an electoral bloc in Ukraine founded in December 2001 to participate in the parliamentary election in held on March 30, 2002.-2002 parliamentary election:... |
May 28, 2002 | May 25, 2006 | 4 (15) | |
| Ivan Plyushch Ivan Plyushch Ivan Stepanovych Plyushch is a Ukrainian politician. He thrice served as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada , from July 9, through July 23, 1990 , from December 5, 1991 through May 11, 1994 and from February 1, 2000 through May 14, 2002.-Biography:Ivan Plyushch was born on September 11, 1941 in... |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
February 1, 2000 | May 14, 2002 | 3 (14) | |
| Oleksandr Tkachenko | Communist Communist Party of Ukraine The Communist Party of Ukraine is a political party in Ukraine, currently led by Petro Symonenko.The party fights the Ukrainian national self-determination by identifying any Ukrainian national parties as the National-Fascist ones The Communist Party of Ukraine is a political party in Ukraine,... |
July 7, 1998 | January 21, 2000 | Dismissed for violating parliamentary regulations. | |
| Oleksandr Moroz Oleksandr Moroz Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Moroz is a Ukrainian statesman and politician. He was the Speaker of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine twice: July 2006 to September 2007, and previously in 1994 through 1998. Moroz is one of the founders and leader of the Socialist Party of Ukraine, which was an influential... |
Socialist Socialist Party of Ukraine The Socialist Party of Ukraine is a Socialist political party in Ukraine and part of the Verkhovna Rada from 1994 to 2007.It is one of the oldest parties and was created by the former members of the Communist Party of Ukraine in late 1991 when the Communist Party was banned... |
May 18, 1994 | May 12, 1998 | 2 (13) | |
| Ivan Plyushch Ivan Plyushch Ivan Stepanovych Plyushch is a Ukrainian politician. He thrice served as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada , from July 9, through July 23, 1990 , from December 5, 1991 through May 11, 1994 and from February 1, 2000 through May 14, 2002.-Biography:Ivan Plyushch was born on September 11, 1941 in... |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
December 5, 1991 | May 11, 1994 | 1 (12) | |
| Leonid Kravchuk Leonid Kravchuk Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk is a Ukrainian politician, the first President of Ukraine serving from December 5, 1991 until his resignation on July 19, 1994, a former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and People's Deputy of Ukraine serving in the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine faction.After a... |
Communist (Bolsheviks) | July 23, 1990 | December 5, 1991 | Resigned as a result of election Ukrainian presidential election, 1991 The Ukrainian presidential election, 1991 was the first presidential election held in Ukraine following independence from the Soviet Union. The election was contested on December 1, 1991, with all six candidates campaigning in support of Ukrainian independence... as President President of Ukraine Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the... . |
|
| Volodymyr Ivashko Vladimir Ivashko Vladimir Antonovich Ivashko , was briefly the acting General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the period from 24 August 1991 to 29 August 1991. On 24 August Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, and on 29 August the CPSU was suspended by the Supreme Soviet... |
June 4, 1990 | July 9, 1990 | Resigned as when elected to the Politburo Politburo Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:... of the CPSU Communist Party of the Soviet Union The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world... . |
||
| Platon Kostiuk | 1985 | June 4, 1990 | 11 | ||
| Kostiantyn Sytnyk | 1980 | 1985 | 10 | ||
| Mykhailo Bilyi | 1972 | 1980 | 8-9 | ||
| Oleksandr Korniychuk | 1959 | 1972 | 4-7 | ||
| Pavlo Tychyna Pavlo Tychyna Pavlo Tychyna was a major Ukrainian poet, interpreter, publicist, public activist, academician, and statesman.-Life:Born in Pisky in 1891, he was baptized on January 27 that mistakenly was considered his birth date until recently. His father, Hryhoriy Timofiyovych Tychyna, was a village deacon and... |
1953 | 1959 | 3 | ||
| Oleksandr Korniychuk | 1947 | 1953 | 2 | ||
| Mykhailo Burmystenko | July 25, 1938 | September 9, 1941 | 1 (suspended due to Second World War) | ||
Special state privileges
All former speakers of the Verkhovna Rada received special state privileges. After the completion of their tenure, former speakers are provided with cabinets in the parliament's building, an official government car and an adviser and an aide at the state expense.The respective decree #296 was signed by Volodymyr Lytvyn
Volodymyr Lytvyn
Volodymyr Mykhailovych Lytvyn is a Ukrainian politician and the current Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. Having previously served in that position from 2002 until 2006, he was re-elected in December 2008 after his party agreed to join the former coalition of Yulia...
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
DELO
Delo is a young daily business newspaper in Ukraine, belonging to Ekonomika, a joint-venture of Handelsblatt Publishing Group, Germany, one Czech and two young Ukrainian publishers. The newspaper started in October 2005 as the first independent business daily of Ukraine...
newspaper in mid-May 2009.