Venice Commission - Report on Bicameralism

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Ukraine

1.Has the country ever had a bicameral parliamentary (or congressional) system in the past? If so, in which period? Why was it decided to change into a unicameral system? Is there a public debate about changing to a bicameral system? What are the terms of the debate?

No, Ukraine has never had a bicameral system in the past. There is no public debate about changing to a bicameral system.

2.What is the population of the country? What is its size?

Population – estimated now – 28-32 mln (before the war – 40 mln). The size of the country is 603 700 km2.

3.What form of state and form of government has the country? Please provide details with reference to relevant constitutional provisions. a) Unitarian or federal/regional/other form of decentralization; b) Parliamentary, presidential, semi-presidential or mixed

a) the form of state: unitarian (Article 2.2 of the Constitution: “ Ukraine is a unitarian state”) b) the for, of the government: mixed (parliamentary-presidential).

4.How many members are in the lower house?

There are 450 members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (unicameral parliament).