Separation of powers in Ukraine: challenges and solutions from the administrative law perspective
Abstract
Separation of powers has been considered as one of the main pillars of any democratic state. There are different schools of thought regarding the content and the role of the separation of powers for the democratic government, from the “pure” traditional theory of the strict separation of powers to the flexible modern approach. In Ukraine, the principle of separation of powers is stipulated by the Constitution of Ukraine. Some professionals believe that only bodies of legislative, executive and judicial power can be established in Ukraine, whilst others argue the existence of independent bodies that do not belong to any branch of power. This paper aims to explore the challenges for the implementation of the principle of separation of powers in Ukraine in relation to the system of public administration and to outline the possible solutions for the enhancement of the legal status of the public administration entities.
Methods. The goal of the paper has been met due to use of modern methods of legal research, in particular, the method of logical analysis, system-structural, and structure-functional methods.
Results. It is suggested to distinct a branch of power and a branch of government, as functional and institutional elements of the principle of the separation of powers.
Conclusions. It is concluded that there are public authorities that formally do not belong to any branch of power, in particular, National Bank of Ukraine, national regulatory commissions, Central Election Commission, State Security Service, National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine. Despite the recent changes to the Constitution of Ukraine, the issue regarding the place in the system of public authorities of the public prosecutor’s office needs to be addressed. It is concluded that the National agency for quality assurance in higher education does not have a status of a public authority, despite the executing some functions of a body of executive power.
With regards to the national regulatory commissions and National anticorruption bureau of Ukraine it is necessary to amend the Constitution of Ukraine with the provisions regarding such authorities, in particular, with the powers of the President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in relation to these authorities.
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