Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine
On June 28, 1996 the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has adopted the Constitution of
our state. This important event - a result of a long, intensive and multi-faceted constitutional
process - can undoubtedly be considered as one of the most important turn-points in the modern
history of Ukraine.
Adoption of the New Constitution at the year of the 5th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence
marked a completion of an important phase in the development of society and state, in formation
of the national legal system, in creation of the legal basis of the truly sovereign and independent
Ukraine.
The Constitution of Ukraine has taken into account the latest trends in domestic and international
science and constitutional practice and thus has become an incarnation of the national idea and
reflection of the Ukrainian mentality. It proves the ability of the Ukrainian nation - as a political and
ethnic community - to the building of the state. It has also become a program of further political,
economical, social, cultural development of the country, its pass to enter the European and world
community.
The Constitution of Ukraine comprises not only the juridical norms but the political ones as well.
They are stipulated and interconnected and in its system form the common basis for regulation of
the most important social relations, providing of the rights and freedoms of a man and worthy
conditions for his life, further progress of the country.
On June 28, 1996 the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has adopted the Constitution of
our state. This important event - a result of a long, intensive and multi-faceted constitutional
process - can undoubtedly be considered as one of the most important turn-points in the modern
history of Ukraine.
Adoption of the New Constitution at the year of the 5th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence
marked a completion of an important phase in the development of society and state, in formation
of the national legal system, in creation of the legal basis of the truly sovereign and independent
Ukraine.
The Constitution of Ukraine has taken into account the latest trends in domestic and international
science and constitutional practice and thus has become an incarnation of the national idea and
reflection of the Ukrainian mentality. It proves the ability of the Ukrainian nation - as a political and
ethnic community - to the building of the state. It has also become a program of further political,
economical, social, cultural development of the country, its pass to enter the European and world
community.
The Constitution of Ukraine comprises not only the juridical norms but the political ones as well.
They are stipulated and interconnected and in its system form the common basis for regulation of
the most important social relations, providing of the rights and freedoms of a man and worthy
conditions for his life, further progress of the country.
Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Singapore
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The Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk
(to the 300th Anniversary of the Constitution)
Pylyp Orlyk was one of the Ukrainian Getmans of XVIII century – faithful companion-in-arms and
fellow-fighter of Ivan Mazepa – predecessor of Pylyp Orlyk. He was the only Getman in exile and
finished his life in Yassy (present-day Romania).
His Constitution of 1710 – is an outstanding document depicting the ideals of Ukrainian nation of
those days. It reflects the contradictions between the European tradition and new for those days
ideals. At the beginning of XVIII these contradictions split Europe to irreconcilable hostile
camps. Ukraine as well lived with those contradictions. It is the territory of Ukraine has been
crossed by invisible border between Ukrainians ancestors’ strive for freedom and independence
and their neighbours intentions to enslave them, as well as borders between christianity and
muslims.
The authors of the Constitution, P.Orlyk and cosak foremen, aimed at binding as a whole the
fragments of their past and circle the model of such a society which would contain all the main
gains of the nation. The ideas expressed are sequents of the almost 1000 year political
development of Ukraine, evidence of the high level of self-consciousness of the nation, the level
of its political culture and creative potential. Constitution has become the idea of the Ukrainian
state – Getmanshchina and at the same time as the thoroughness for those days understanding
of the state essence.
Constitution consisits of introduction and articles united into 16 sections. Its main idea – is
complete independence of Ukraine from Poland and Russia and the borders with Poland were
marked on the Sluch River as made by Bohdan Khmelnitsky – the Ukrainian Getman. Besides
determining the territory of Ukraine the document determined the rights of all groups of Ukrainian
population, independent position of Zaporizka Sich from Poland and Russia.
The distinctive feature of the Orlyk Constitution were the points limiting the Getman’s power in
favor of the Foremen Council – a kind of Cozak Parliament which should consist of not only
general foremen and colonels but the representatives of Zaporizhzhya and regiments – one
honourable representative from each. This feature makes the Constitution one of the most
democratic among all other state decrees of those days.
Its important peculiarity distingushing Orlyk Constitution from ordinary Getman articles and
making it similar to the subsequent European constitutions is that it was signed not between
Getman and sovereign (protector of Ukrainian state) but between Getman and cozaks acting on
behalf of Ukrainian people.
Pylyp Orlyk Constitution contained a lot of interesting and progressive ideas and was up to
standards of the best achievements of judicial thought of those days. It significantly passes
ahead of the time and testifies the deep democratic basis of Pylyp Orlyk’s Cabinet and the
brightness of his own figure in the history.
It was one of the first constitutional statements in the history of Europe, which proves the ability of
existense of parliamentary democratic republic.
Ukrainian Constitution was recognized by the governments of Sweden and Turkey immediately
upon its adoption. Even today it amazes by its relevancy and the high legal level.
Scientists and politicians now substantialy consider that having entitled the ideas of its inspirer
Ivan Mazepa Orlyk Constitution as the state legislation of republic direction 80 years passed
ahead of the ХVІІІ century French revolution ideas.
(to the 300th Anniversary of the Constitution)
Pylyp Orlyk was one of the Ukrainian Getmans of XVIII century – faithful companion-in-arms and
fellow-fighter of Ivan Mazepa – predecessor of Pylyp Orlyk. He was the only Getman in exile and
finished his life in Yassy (present-day Romania).
His Constitution of 1710 – is an outstanding document depicting the ideals of Ukrainian nation of
those days. It reflects the contradictions between the European tradition and new for those days
ideals. At the beginning of XVIII these contradictions split Europe to irreconcilable hostile
camps. Ukraine as well lived with those contradictions. It is the territory of Ukraine has been
crossed by invisible border between Ukrainians ancestors’ strive for freedom and independence
and their neighbours intentions to enslave them, as well as borders between christianity and
muslims.
The authors of the Constitution, P.Orlyk and cosak foremen, aimed at binding as a whole the
fragments of their past and circle the model of such a society which would contain all the main
gains of the nation. The ideas expressed are sequents of the almost 1000 year political
development of Ukraine, evidence of the high level of self-consciousness of the nation, the level
of its political culture and creative potential. Constitution has become the idea of the Ukrainian
state – Getmanshchina and at the same time as the thoroughness for those days understanding
of the state essence.
Constitution consisits of introduction and articles united into 16 sections. Its main idea – is
complete independence of Ukraine from Poland and Russia and the borders with Poland were
marked on the Sluch River as made by Bohdan Khmelnitsky – the Ukrainian Getman. Besides
determining the territory of Ukraine the document determined the rights of all groups of Ukrainian
population, independent position of Zaporizka Sich from Poland and Russia.
The distinctive feature of the Orlyk Constitution were the points limiting the Getman’s power in
favor of the Foremen Council – a kind of Cozak Parliament which should consist of not only
general foremen and colonels but the representatives of Zaporizhzhya and regiments – one
honourable representative from each. This feature makes the Constitution one of the most
democratic among all other state decrees of those days.
Its important peculiarity distingushing Orlyk Constitution from ordinary Getman articles and
making it similar to the subsequent European constitutions is that it was signed not between
Getman and sovereign (protector of Ukrainian state) but between Getman and cozaks acting on
behalf of Ukrainian people.
Pylyp Orlyk Constitution contained a lot of interesting and progressive ideas and was up to
standards of the best achievements of judicial thought of those days. It significantly passes
ahead of the time and testifies the deep democratic basis of Pylyp Orlyk’s Cabinet and the
brightness of his own figure in the history.
It was one of the first constitutional statements in the history of Europe, which proves the ability of
existense of parliamentary democratic republic.
Ukrainian Constitution was recognized by the governments of Sweden and Turkey immediately
upon its adoption. Even today it amazes by its relevancy and the high legal level.
Scientists and politicians now substantialy consider that having entitled the ideas of its inspirer
Ivan Mazepa Orlyk Constitution as the state legislation of republic direction 80 years passed
ahead of the ХVІІІ century French revolution ideas.