Local government in Ukraine


Local government in Ukraine consists of two systems based on the administrative divisions of Ukraine. There are 24 oblasts, one autonomous republic, and two cities with special status, with each region further divided into raions and then hromadas.
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" and "About local state administrations".
Deputies in Ukrainian local councils work on a voluntary basis.

Concept and structure

Two systems of local government:
  1. a system of local self government as public government of territorial community and formed by them municipal governing bodies
  2. a system of local bodies of state executive power that is represented by local state administrations
The local state administrations are bodies 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 in the field of the powers delegated to them. Their functions have state nature, predetermined by tasks and problems of state significance and they are the embodiment of the policy of deconcentration. 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.
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.
The village, township, or city mayor is the chief executive of the local community at the village, 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. Meaning that they work for free for 5 years in a row.
In 2015 a new administrative unit amalgamated hromada was created meaning settlement councils, rural councils and a city of district significance can create a new administrative unit. This new administrative unit was created to help the financial and administrate power and independence of rural Ukraine. According to December 2019 draft constitutional changes submitted to the Verkhovna Rada by President Volodymyr Zelensky the amalgamated hromadas were planned to replace the raions of Ukraine.

Powers

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:
At meetings of the village, township and city council, the following issues are decided:
  • Makeup of the body's executive committee
  • Local referendums
  • Transfer of funds, logistical and other resources necessary
  • Association with other local bodies
  • Approval of socioeconomic and cultural development, target programs and other issues of local government
  • Approval of local budgets and amendments
  • Approving performance budgeting report
  • Local taxes and duties within the limits set by law
  • Issuance of municipal bonds
  • Providing benefits from local taxes and fees
  • Exclusions from the law of public property, approval of local privatization programs and a list of public utilities not subject to privatization
  • 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
  • Registration of land ownership, land-use lease contracts documenting ownership and right to use land
  • Disaster relief in accordance with law; public notification
  • 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
  • Preventing child neglect
  • 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
  • Protection of historical and cultural monuments, conservation and cultural heritage
  • Promotion of military and alternative 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 objects of communal property and budget funds for implementation of joint projects, or to jointly finance 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 transfers to local governments appropriate objects of state property. Activities of local authorities aim to meet the social needs of citizens and 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. The last nationwide local election was held in 2020. Holding a local snap election will not cancel the next regular election in the place where the snap election will be held.
Ukrainian citizens who belong to the relevant local community and are entitled to vote may do so in national, regional, district, urban district or local elections and fully participate in political life, as determined by the laws of Ukraine.
Composition of village, settlement, city, urban 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 nominate candidates is implemented through local voters of the parties or by self, as provided by law.
In the relatively free local elections in Ukraine's recent history are the local elections of 1990, when Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union.