Ukraine Unitary state

UKRAINE  /  STRUCTURES

Structures and competences

Local level :
10,885 municipal councils, among them 9,644 village councils (silska rada), 783 town councils (selyshchna rada), and 458 city councils (miska rada)

The municipal council (rada) is the local government’s deliberative assembly and is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a five year term. Council members exercise their power through council sessions or standing commissions.

The executive committee (vykonavchyy komitet) implements council decisions and is responsible for development programmes, the municipal budget and for the coordination of departments and services within the committee. The mayor puts forward a list of potential executive committee members, which is in turn approved by the municipal council.

The mayor (silskyy golova in villages, selychshnyy golova in towns and miskyy golova in cities) is the main executive body of the municipality and is elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of five years. He/she chairs municipal council meetings and represents the municipality vis-à-vis third parties.

The cities of Kiev and Sevastopol have a special status as their respective system of local self-government coexists with their system of state administration.

COMPETENCES

  • Maintenance of technical infrastructure
  • Urban development, planning and control
  • Energy
  • Transport
  • Water, heating and sewage
  • Waste management
  • Tourism
  • Environment
  • Promotion of local business and employment
  • Development programmes
  • Local budget
  • Education
  • Social welfare
  • Health care
  • Culture
  • Administrative Services

Intermediate level :
488 districts (rayony)

The district council (rayonna rada) is the district’s decision-making body. Its members are elected by direct universal suffrage for a five year mandate. The district council represents the common interests of the municipalities in its jurisdiction. It does not have a separate executive committee like municipalities, as its executive functions are performed by a district state administration created by the national government.

The head of the district council (golova rayonnoyi rady) is elected for five years by and from within the district council. He/she heads the council and delegates his executive powers to the state administration.

COMPETENCES

  • District planning
  • District development programmes
  • Distribution of state budget funds
  • Natural resources
  • Health
  • Education
  • Culture
  • Social welfare
  • Transport

Regional level :
24 regions (oblasti) and 1 autonomous republic (Crimea)

The regional council (oblasna rada) is the region’s decision-making body. Its members are councillors elected by direct universal suffrage for a fiveyear mandate. The regional council represents the common interests of its municipalities. It does not have a separate executive committee like municipalities, as its executive functions are performed by a regional state administration set up by the national government.

The head of the regional council (golova oblasnoyi rady) is elected by and from within the district council for a period of five years. He/she heads the regional council.

COMPETENCES

  • Regional development programmes
  • Health
  • Education
  • Culture
  • Social welfare
  • Distribution of state budget funds
  • Regional planning
  • Transport