Constitution Day in Ukraine: History and Significance
On June 28, Ukraine celebrates Constitution Day.
This is a state holiday enshrined in the Constitution, celebrated under martial law due to the aggression from the Russian Federation, reports Ukrinform.
The Constitution was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on June 28, 1996, at 9:18 AM after extensive deliberations.
The adoption of the Constitution marked a significant step in establishing the legal foundations of independent Ukraine, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and it helped enhance the international standing of the country.
The constitutional process began immediately after the Declaration of State Sovereignty was passed on July 16, 1990. A Constitutional Commission was formed in October, which developed several drafts of the Constitution from 1991 to 1996.
The most contentious issues revolved around the distribution of power, state symbols, the status of the Russian language, and Crimea. Leftist forces favored diminishing presidential authority and granting equal status to both Ukrainian and Russian languages, while rightist factions advocated for a strong presidential system and the primacy of the Ukrainian language.
On the night of June 27-28, 1996, the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted with the support of 315 deputies. It defined strong presidential powers, guaranteed private property rights, established new state symbols, and recognized Crimea as an autonomous republic within Ukraine.
Since its adoption, the Constitution has undergone several amendments. Changing the Constitution requires a vote of 2/3 to 3/4 of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada. Changes that restrict human rights or threaten the country's territorial integrity cannot be made at all.
