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In Ukraine, relations regarding the organization and activity of entities of local government are regulated by the Constitution of Ukraine, laws "About local self-governance in Ukraine" (1997) and "About local state administrations" (1999).[1]
Deputies in Ukrainian local councils work on a voluntary basis.[2][3]
Concept and structure
Two systems of local government:
a system of local self government as public government (like public sector) of territorial community (hromada) and formed by them municipal governing bodies (municipal authority)[1] (local councils)
The local state administrations are bodies (agents) of state executive power at local level that are subordinated to bodies of executive power of higher level, and also accountable to and under the control of the relevant representative bodies (local councils) in the field of the powers delegated to them.[1] Their functions have state nature (reflect the state interest), predetermined by tasks and problems of state significance and they are the embodiment of the policy of deconcentration.[1] At functional level the local state executive government does not have independent rights and powers distinct and separate from the rights and powers of bodies of the central state government.[1]
As for territorial communities, they are natural corporations of local residents who carry out self-government directly or through local self-governing authorities and exist on principles of self-organization and are not subordinated hierarchically to other government entities.[1]
The village, township, or city mayor is the chief executive of the local community at the village (or association of several villages), town or city level, elected by universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot every four years in the manner prescribed by law. The village or township mayor leads the executive committee of the respective village, township or city council, and presides at its meetings.
The deputies elected in local elections work on a voluntary basis.[2][3] Meaning that they work for free for 5 years in a row.[2][3]
Bodies subject to local self-government law may be separate arms of the executive. Executive bodies of villages, townships and city councils have jurisdiction in the following areas:
Placement of new facilities, considering the scope of environmental impact in accordance with current regulations
Territorial structure
Laws on land use, ensuring the quality of life
Creation of special free and other areas and changes in their status, on the initiative of the President or the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
The powers of executive bodies of village, township and city councils are autonomous or delegated. Delegated powers include:
Monitoring compliance with land and environmental legislation, land use and protection of natural resources at the national and local levels; reforestation
Defining territory for warehousing, storage or placement of industrial, household and other waste in accordance with law
Organization and implementation of land-management projects
Preparation and submission of targeted local programs to improve safety, working conditions and the environment, territorial employment programs and protection of different population groups from unemployment
Implementation of measures to improve housing and welfare for the disabled, war veterans, victims of political repression, military and former military personnel, families who lost breadwinners, the elderly and children without parental care
Granting benefits and assistance for the protection of motherhood and childhood; enforcing legislation on guardianship and custody
Representation of citizens who suffered from natural disasters
Compensation and benefits to citizens affected by the Chernobyl disaster, as stipulated by law
Monitoring of safety for employees in hazardous and dangerous jobs, providing employees benefits and compensation for work in hazardous conditions
Provision for free education and health services for all, training opportunities in public schools and in their native language, study of their native language in state educational establishments and through national cultural societies
Provision for education and health services, developing and improving the network of educational and medical institutions, physical culture and sport, identifying needs and contracting for training specialists to ensure conformity to legislation governing medicinal products and medical supplies
Support of orphans and children left without parental care in boarding schools and orphanages, vocational education and maintenance by the state of those with defects in physical or mental development who cannot study in ordinary schools (special education)
Protection of historical and cultural monuments, conservation and cultural heritage
Promotion of military and alternative (civilian) service, mobilization, preparing young people for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Organization and participation in activities related to civil defense
Upholding legislative requirements regarding applications, regardless of ownership
Upholding laws on the conduct of meetings, protests and demonstrations, sports, entertainment and other events
Crime prevention
Civil registration
Finances
The financial basis of local government consists of movable and immovable property, revenues, other funds, land, natural resources and common property, and is managed by district and regional councils. Territorial communities of villages, towns and cities may unite (on a contractual basis) objects of communal property and budget funds for implementation of joint projects, or to jointly finance (or maintain) communal enterprises, organizations and institutions. The state participates in the revenue of local budgets, financially supporting local self-government. Costs to local government arising from decisions of public authorities are compensated by the state.
Local governments can be legally-separate powers of the executive. The state finances the exercise of these powers in full from the state budget of Ukraine, or (by referring to the local budget, in the manner prescribed by law, certain national taxes) transfers to local governments appropriate objects of state property. Activities of local authorities aim to meet the social needs of citizens and (especially) to obtain essential services. Local budgets are the financial base of local governments; the resources accumulated in these budgets determine how effectively local authorities can carry out their mandate.
Elections
Under the Constitution of Ukraine, the term of office of the heads of villages and towns and the council members of these villages and towns is five years.[6][7][nb 1] The last nationwide local election was held in 2020.[9] Holding a local snap election will not cancel the next (October 2025) regular election in the place where the snap election will be held.[10]
Ukrainian citizens who belong to the relevant local community and are entitled to vote may do so in national (or Crimean), regional, district, city-district or local elections and fully participate in political life (including election campaigns and observing elections), as determined by the laws of Ukraine.
Composition of village, township, city, city-district, district and regional councils should be:
Under 1,000 population: 12–15 members
1,000–3,000: 16–26 members
3,000–5,000: 20–30 members
5,000–20,000: 30–36 members
20,000–50,000: 30–46 members
50,000–100,000: 36–50 members
100,000–250,000: 40–60 members
250,000–500,000: 50–76 members
500,000–1,000,000: 60–90 members
1,000,000–2,000,000: 76–120 members
Over 2,000,000: 76–150 members
The right to nominatecandidates is implemented through local voters of the parties (blocks) or by self, as provided by law.
Regional and district councils are local authorities which represent the common interests of villages and towns within the powers specified in the Constitution of Ukraine, other laws and powers transferred to them by rural, town and city councils. At plenary sessions of the district and regional councils, the following issues are decided:
Holding a referendum on issues affecting their common interests
Holding national referendums and national and local elections
Approval of socioeconomic and cultural development of the region, and hearing reports on their implementation
Approval of district and regional budgets and their amendments
Monitoring state-budget allocations
Management of common property
Administrative and territorial structure, within the procedure established by law
Electing (and dismissing) a chairman and deputy chairman
Approval of executive-council staff
The District Chairman is elected from among its members during the term of the council by secret ballot, and serves until a new chairman is elected. The chairman is accountable to the council; they may be dismissed from office by a two-thirds majority of the council in a secret ballot. Regional and district councils do not form their own executive bodies, since appropriate powers delegated by their regional and district state administrations.
The organizational, legal, informational, analytical and logistical activities of the council and its agencies provide staff for council members. It contributes interaction and relationships with local communities, local authorities, bodies and officials of local governments. The ex officio chairman heads the council.
Executive power in oblasts, districts and the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol is exercised by local administrations. The organization, powers and procedures of local public administrations is defined by the Law of Ukraine "On local state administrations" of 9 April 1999 № 586-XIV. The exercise of executive power in Kyiv and Sevastopol are determined by special laws. The composition of local state administrations is formed by the head of local state administrations, who are appointed and dismissed by the President of Ukraine upon submission to the Cabinet of Ministers.
State administrations ensure:
Implementation of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, acts of the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and other bodies of executive power
Law and order, the rights and freedoms of citizens
National and regional socioeconomic and cultural development, environmental protection programs and (in areas with indigenous peoples and national minorities) programs for national and cultural development
Preparation and implementation of regional and district budgets
Report on the implementation of budgets and programs
Cooperation with local governments
Cooperation with other states and their respective councils
The heads of local state administrations are accountable to the President of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. As part of the authority delegated to them by the relevant district or regional councils, local state administrations are accountable to and controlled by councils. Decisions by heads of local state administrations that contravene the Constitution and laws of Ukraine or other legislative acts of Ukraine may be revoked according to law by the President of Ukraine or a head of higher-level local administration. Regional or district councils may adopt a motion of no confidence in the head of the respective local state administration until the President of Ukraine takes decision and makes a reasoned response. If no confidence in the head of a district or regional state administration is expressed by two-thirds of the deputies to a council, the president of Ukraine decides whether or not to accept their resignation.
Election of members of district councils are by the proportional system: deputies elected from the electoral lists of political parties (or electoral blocs of political parties in the larger constituency). Election of deputies to regional councils and Kyiv and Sevastopol also use the proportional system.
The representative body of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC) is the Supreme Council. Parliament within its authority adopts decisions and resolutions which are binding in the ARC. The government of the ARC is the Council of Ministers. The chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed and dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC with the consent of the President of Ukraine. The powers, procedure and activities of the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers are determined by the constitution and laws of Ukraine and legal acts of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC.
The ARC regulates:
Agriculture and forestry
Reclamation and mining
Public works, crafts, trades and charity
Urban development and housing
Tourism, hotel business and fairs
Museums, libraries, theaters and other cultural institutions; historic and cultural reserves
Public transportation, roads and water supply
Hunting and fishing
Health and hospital services
Political activity regulated by the ARC includes:
Election of deputies to the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC and the approval of the election commission
Organizing and conducting local referendums
Managing property belonging to the ARC
Development, approval and execution of the ARC on the basis of the uniform tax and budget policy of Ukraine
Development, approval and implementation of ARC programs for socioeconomic and cultural development of environmental management and protection (according to national programs)
Recognition of the status of localities as resorts; establishment of resort sanitary-protection zones
Ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens and national harmony; promotion of order and public security
Maintenance and development of state and national languages and cultures in the ARC; protection and use of historical monuments
Participation in the development and implementation of state programs for the return of deported peoples
Initiating a state of emergency and establishing zones of emergency in the ARC
The laws of the ARC can also be delegated to the president of the Ukrainian delegation, whose status is determined by the law of Ukraine.
To ensure the implementation of common socioeconomic and cultural programs of local communities, the budgets of the ARC and the oblasts are derived from the following payments:
A 25-percent tax on personal income, paid in compliance with the Law of Ukraine "On income tax individuals on their respective territory"
A 25-percent tax on rents, paid in compliance with the Law of Ukraine "On income tax of individuals in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the corresponding region"
Fees for licenses to conduct certain types of business and certificates issued by the Council of Ministers of the ARC and regional state administrations
To ensure the implementation of common socioeconomic and cultural programs of local communities, district budgets are taken into account when determining the scope of intergovernmental transfers:
A 50-percent tax on personal income, transferred in compliance with the Law of Ukraine "On income tax of individuals" in villages, cities of regional importance and their associations
15 percent of payments for land, paid in villages, cities of regional importance and their associations
Fees for licenses to conduct certain types of business and certificates issued by district administrations
Payment for state registration of business entities, transferred in compliance with the Law of Ukraine "On income tax of individuals" to district administrations
Administrative fines imposed by district administrations
In addition, a base of regional and districts of the ARC is formed from transfers from the state budget and other government agencies.
^In the 2010 Ukrainian local elections four years was set for the office of the heads of villages and towns and the council members of these villages and towns.[6][8]
