Government of Ukraine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cabinet of Ministers |
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| Overview | |
| Established | 28 June 1917 (originally) 18 April 1991 (current form) |
| State | Ukraine |
| Leader | Prime Minister |
| Appointed by | Verkhovna Rada |
| Main organ | Cabinet of Ministers |
| Ministries | 17 |
| Responsible to | President and the Verkhovna Rada |
| Headquarters | Government Building Hrushevsky Street, Kyiv |
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Кабінет Міністрів України, romanized: Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy), often called the Government of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Уряд України, Uriad Ukrainy), is the main group that runs the country. It is the highest part of the government that carries out laws and manages daily affairs in Ukraine. It was first created in its current form on April 18, 1991. Vitold Fokin was the first Prime Minister of Ukraine.
The Cabinet is like a team. It includes the Prime Minister, their vice prime ministers, and other ministers. These ministers lead different parts of the government. They all meet to discuss and vote on important decisions for the country. The Prime Minister is in charge of these meetings. The Cabinet's daily work is supported by the Secretariat of Cabinet of Ministers.
The government has many different departments. These departments handle specific jobs, like education, health, or defense. Some of these departments are called services, agencies, or inspections. They help the government do its work and serve the people of Ukraine.
The current Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the Shmyhal Government. It was formed on March 4, 2020, and is led by Denys Shmyhal.
Contents
What the Government Does
The number of government departments, called ministries, can change over time. Some ministries might be closed, or combined with others. Each ministry is responsible for many smaller government groups. These groups are often called "central offices of executive authority," and they can be services, agencies, or inspections.
The Cabinet of Ministers works for the President of Ukraine. It is also watched by and answers to the Verkhovna Rada, which is Ukraine's parliament. The Cabinet includes the Prime Minister, several Vice-Prime Ministers, and other Ministers. Each Minister leads their own department. The Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers helps the government run smoothly.
Talking to the Public
Parts of the Cabinet's meetings are shown live on Ukrainian TV. This lets people see what their government is doing.
Since 2016, people in Ukraine can send electronic petitions to the Cabinet of Ministers. These petitions help the government understand what people care about. For a petition to be considered, it needs at least 25,000 votes within three months.
How the Government Changed Over Time
Ukraine started building its own government system after it became independent in 1991. The Cabinet of Ministers was created then. Before 1996, Ukraine's government followed an older constitution. Later, a new Constitution of Ukraine was adopted. This new constitution helped define how the President and the Cabinet of Ministers work together.
Duties and Powers
The jobs of the Cabinet of Ministers are explained in Article 116 of Ukraine's Constitution. To be a member of the government, a person must be a Ukrainian citizen, have the right to vote, have a college education, and speak the Ukrainian language.
Members of the government cannot have a criminal record. They also cannot have other jobs that make money, except for teaching or creative work outside of their official hours. If a member of parliament is chosen to join the Cabinet, they must leave their job as a parliament member.
The President of Ukraine, or someone they choose, can attend Cabinet meetings. During parliament sessions, members of the Verkhovna Rada can ask questions to the entire Cabinet. This is called the Time of questions to the Government.
- Powers
The Cabinet makes decisions and orders that everyone must follow. These rules must be officially registered to be valid. (See Article 117). The Cabinet can also suggest new laws to the Verkhovna Rada. Members of the Cabinet can attend parliament sessions and join discussions. Every year, by September 15, the Cabinet must give the Verkhovna Rada a plan for the country's budget.
Cabinet meetings are official if more than half of the members are there. If a minister cannot attend, a deputy can take their place to listen and give advice. The Prime Minister leads these meetings. If the Prime Minister is not there, the First Vice Prime Minister takes over.
Decisions are made when most of the Cabinet members vote for them. If there is a tie, the Prime Minister's vote counts as the deciding one.
The President of Ukraine chooses the leaders of regional governments. They do this based on suggestions from the Cabinet of Ministers.
Choosing and Removing Members
The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) has five days to approve the Prime Minister after the President suggests a person. A vote in parliament is needed to approve or remove any government minister. The President or one-third of parliament members can ask for a vote to remove the government, but only once in a parliament session.
If the Prime Minister resigns, the entire Cabinet must also resign. However, the Cabinet cannot be removed within one year of its program being approved. This means the government has at least one year to work without being dismissed.
The President can ask the Cabinet to keep working for up to 60 days until a new Cabinet is formed.
The parliament decides who will be in the Cabinet, based on what the Prime Minister suggests. However, the President suggests the candidates for the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Changes to the Constitution in 2004
In 2004, some important changes were made to Ukraine's Constitution. These changes affected how the government works. For example, they said that a ruling group in parliament, called a "coalition," needed to be formed by political groups, not just by individual members.
Later, in 2010, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine said that the 2004 changes were not legal. This meant the rule about coalitions was removed. But in 2014, the parliament passed a law that brought back the 2004 changes to the constitution.
Other Important Government Agencies
Besides the ministries, there are other important government groups that help run the country.
Agencies Working with the President
- Anti-Monopoly Committee (makes sure businesses compete fairly)
- State Property Fund (manages government property)
- State Committee for Television and Radio-broadcasting (oversees TV and radio)
- State Space Agency (handles space programs)
- National Agency in Prevention of Corruption (fights corruption)
Other Central Agencies
- Central Election Commission (manages elections)
- National Bank (manages the country's money)
National Commissions (Regulatory Agencies)
These commissions set rules for different areas:
- National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (for energy and public services)
- National Commission for State Regulation of Communication and Informatization (for communication and internet)
- National Commission for State Regulation of Financial Services Markets (for financial services)
Advisory Bodies
- Reform Delivery Office (helps with government reforms)
Government News Media
- Uryadovy Kuryer (Government Courier) - a newspaper
- Ukrinform - a news agency
Past Governments of Ukraine
Ukraine has had different types of governments throughout its history:
- General Secretariat (1917–18)
- Council of People's Ministers (1918–21)
- Council of People's Commissars (1919–46)
- Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR (1946–91)
Some Original Ministries
When the government was first formed, it had ministries like:
- Ministry of Internal Affairs (for police and safety)
- Ministry of Finance (for money and taxes)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for relations with other countries)
- Ministry of Agrarian Affairs (for farming and food)
- Ministry of Education (for schools and learning)
- Ministry of Justice (for laws and courts)
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de Ministros de Ucrania para niños
