Ukraine is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Constitution, a significant milestone in the nation’s legislative history. The Constitution was adopted by 315 members of the Verkhovna Rada around 9 a.m. on June 28, 1996, following a tumultuous night where lawmakers worked tirelessly to finalize its text.
On June 27, 1996, the Parliament spent the entire day and night assembling the final draft from various proposals, voting on each article individually. The process was complex, as representatives struggled to reach consensus on key issues such as the distribution of governmental powers, state symbols, private property rights, the status of Crimea, and the role of the Russian language.
The announcement of the Constitution’s adoption was made by the Speaker of the Parliament with the exclamation, “We have a Constitution!” The drafting process spanned six years, from 1990 to 1996, and included a total of 15 different proposals submitted by scholars, constitutional commissions, and political parties. International observers have praised Ukraine’s Constitution, citing it as one of the most democratic in the world.
