Adopted at the Fifth Session of the Verkhovna
Rada of Ukraine on 28 June 1996, as amended
by the Law
No. 2222-IV On Amendments to the Constitution
of Ukraine adopted on 8 December 2004
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on behalf of
the Ukrainian people - citizens of Ukraine of
all nationalities, expressing the sovereign
will of the people, based on the centuries-old
history of Ukrainian state-building and on the
right to self-determination realized by the
Ukrainian nation, all the Ukrainian people,
providing for the guarantee of human rights
and freedoms and of the worthy conditions of
human life, caring for the strengthening of
civil harmony on Ukrainian soil, striving to
develop and strengthen a democratic, social,
law-based state, aware of our responsibility
before God, our own conscience, past, present
and future generations, guided by the Act of
Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine of
24 August 1991, approved by the national vote
of 1 December 1991, adopts this Constitution
- the Fundamental Law of Ukraine.
Chapter I. General Principles
Article 1.
Ukraine is a sovereign and independent, democratic,
social, law-based state.
Article 2.
The sovereignty of Ukraine extends throughout
its entire territory.
Ukraine is a unitary state.
The territory of Ukraine within its present
border is indivisible and inviolable.
Article 3.
The human being, his or her life and health,
honour and dignity, inviolability and security
are recognized in Ukraine as the highest social
value.
Human rights and freedoms and their guarantees
determine the essence and orientation of the
activity of the State. The State is answerable
to the individual for its activity. To affirm
and ensure human rights and freedoms is the
main duty of the State.
Article 4.
There is single citizenship in Ukraine. The
grounds for the acquisition and termination
of Ukrainian citizenship are determined by law.
Article 5.
Ukraine is a republic.
The people are the bearers of sovereignty and
the only source of power in Ukraine. The people
exercise power directly and through bodies of
state power and bodies of local self-government.
The right to determine and change the constitutional
order in Ukraine belongs exclusively to the
people and shall not be usurped by the State,
its bodies or officials.
No one shall usurp state power.
Article 6.
State power in Ukraine is exercised on the principles
of its division into legislative, executive
and judicial power.
Bodies of legislative, executive and judicial
power exercise their authority within the limits
established by this Constitution and in accordance
with the laws of Ukraine.
Article 7.
In Ukraine, local self-government is recognized
and guaranteed.
Article 8.
In Ukraine, the principle of the rule of law
is recognized and effective.
The Constitution of Ukraine has the highest
legal force. Laws and other normative legal
acts are adopted on the basis of the Constitution
of Ukraine and shall conform to it.
The norms of the Constitution of Ukraine are
norms of direct effect. Appeals to the court
in defense of the constitutional rights and
freedoms of the individual and citizen directly
on the grounds of the Constitution of Ukraine
are guaranteed.
Article 9.
International treaties that are in force, agreed
to be binding by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,
are part of the national legislation of Ukraine.
The conclusion of international treaties that
contravene the Constitution of Ukraine is possible
only after introducing relevant amendments to
the Constitution of Ukraine.
Article 10.
The state language of Ukraine is the Ukrainian
language.
The State ensures the comprehensive development
and functioning of the Ukrainian language in
all spheres of social life throughout the entire
territory of Ukraine.
In Ukraine, the free development, use and protection
of Russian, and other languages of national
minorities of Ukraine, is guaranteed.
The State promotes the learning of languages
of international communication.
The use of languages in Ukraine is guaranteed
by the Constitution of Ukraine and is determined
by law.
Article 11.
The State promotes the consolidation and development
of the Ukrainian nation, of its historical consciousness,
traditions and culture, and also the development
of the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious
identity of all indigenous peoples and national
minorities of Ukraine.
Article 12.
Ukraine provides for the satisfaction of national
and cultural, and linguistic needs of Ukrainians
residing beyond the borders of the State.
Article 13.
The land, its mineral wealth, atmosphere, water
and other natural resources within the territory
of Ukraine, the natural resources of its continental
shelf, and the exclusive (maritime) economic
zone, are objects of the right of property of
the Ukrainian people. Ownership rights on behalf
of the Ukrainian people are exercised by bodies
of state power and bodies of local self-government
within the limits determined by this Constitution.
Every citizen has the right to utilize the natural
objects of the people's right of property in
accordance with the law.
Property entails responsibility. Property shall
not be used to the detriment of the person and
society.
The State ensures the protection of the rights
of all subjects of the right of property and
economic management, and the social orientation
of the economy. All subjects of the right of
property are equal before the law.
Article 14.
Land is the fundamental national wealth that
is under special state protection.
The right of property to land is guaranteed.
This right is acquired and realized by citizens,
legal persons and the State, exclusively in
accordance with the law.
Article 15.
Social life in Ukraine is based on the principles
of political, economic and ideological diversity.
No ideology shall be recognized by the State
as mandatory.
Censorship is prohibited.
The State guarantees freedom of political activity
not prohibited by the Constitution and the laws
of Ukraine.
Article 16.
To ensure ecological safety and to maintain
the ecological balance on the territory of Ukraine,
to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl
catastrophe - a catastrophe of global scale,
and to preserve the gene pool of the Ukrainian
people, is the duty of the State.
Article 17.
To protect the sovereignty and territorial indivisibility
of Ukraine, and to ensure its economic and informational
security are the most important functions of
the State and a matter of concern for all the
Ukrainian people.
The defense of Ukraine and the protection of
its sovereignty, territorial indivisibility
and inviolability, are entrusted to the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.
Ensuring state security and protecting the state
border of Ukraine are entrusted to the respective
military formations and law enforcement bodies
of the State, whose organization and operational
procedure are determined by law.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military
formations shall not be used by anyone to restrict
the rights and freedoms of citizens or with
the intent to overthrow the constitutional order,
subvert the bodies of power or obstruct their
activity.
The State ensures the social protection of citizens
of Ukraine who serve in the Armed Forces of
Ukraine and in other military formations as
well as of members of their families.
The creation and operation of any armed formations
not envisaged by law are prohibited on the territory
of Ukraine.
The location of foreign military bases shall
not be permitted on the territory of Ukraine.
Article 18.
The foreign political activity of Ukraine is
aimed at ensuring its national interests and
security by maintaining peaceful and mutually
beneficial co-operation with members of the
international community, according to generally
acknowledged principles and norms of international
law.
Article 19.
The legal order in Ukraine is based on the principles
according to which no one shall be forced to
do what is not envisaged by legislation.
Bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government
and their officials are obliged to act only
on the grounds, within the limits of authority,
and in the manner envisaged by the Constitution
and the laws of Ukraine.
Article 20.
The state symbols of Ukraine are the State Flag
of Ukraine, the State Coat of Arms of Ukraine
and the State Anthem of Ukraine.
The State Flag of Ukraine is a banner of two
equally-sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow.
The Great State Coat of Arms of Ukraine shall
be established with the consideration of the
Small State Coat of Arms of Ukraine and the
Coat of Arms of the Zaporozhian Host, by the
law adopted by no less than two-thirds of the
constitutional composition of the Verkhovna
Rada of Ukraine.
The main element of the Great State Coat of
Arms of Ukraine is the Emblem of the Royal State
of Volodymyr the Great (the Small State Coat
of Arms of Ukraine).
The State Anthem of Ukraine is the national
anthem set to the music of M. Verbytskyi, with
words that are confirmed by the law adopted
by no less than two-thirds of the constitutional
composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The description of the state symbols of Ukraine
and the procedure for their use shall be established
by the law adopted by no less than two-thirds
of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna
Rada of Ukraine.
The capital of Ukraine is the City of Kyiv.
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