The First Ukrainian Constitution known as the Pylyp Orlyk Constitution, 1710, was ahead of the times.

It was adopted at the time when other European lawmakers had just only begun to identify the humanistic ideas and civic principles.

The Pylyp Orlyk Constitution concentrated creative and scientific achievements of political and legislative thoughts of Europe of that time.

The eternal idea of aspiration of Ukrainians to have their own state had been reflected in the Pylyp Orlyk Constitution. The centerline of the Constitution was the idea of its authors on natural right of even nation for self-identification. The eternity and inviolability of borders of Ukraine were proclaimed, as well as main principles of a republican form of government were the basis of the document.

The Pylyp Orlyk Constitution had been given in two languages Ukrainian and Latin. Its means that its content and basic provisions became known and available for the European community.

This year Ukraine celebrates the 20th anniversary of adoption the Constitution by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (June 28, 1996). The constitution enshrined rights and freedoms of citizens, social order and political system, state power, main principles of interaction between the powers, basis of regulation of the most important social relations.

Now Ukraine is being tested today dramatically for the whole period of its independence by the test for unity and territorial integrity.

While retaining its key principles and provisions the Constitution has to provide an appropriate response to global changes and challenges of time in modern dynamic historical circumstances.

For the purpose of generating the agreed proposals of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine with the involvement of representatives of different political formations, the public, national and international expert community, and to promote the social and political consensus on improving the constitutional regulation of social relations in Ukraine, in accordance with the Presidential Decree N119/2015 dated March 3, 2015, the Constitutional Commission as a special subsidiary body to the President of Ukraine was established.

At the first meeting of the Constitutional Commission, President Petro Poroshenko named three priorities in preparing the amendments to the Constitution: decentralization, improvement of the constitutional principles of justice, improvement of the constitutional regulation of human and civil rights, freedoms and duties.

On June 2, 2016, President Petro Poroshenko urged members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to support amendments to the Constitution in terms of judicial reform.   The President emphasized on the importance of the professional assessment of the draft of law provided by the head of the Venice Commission, Gianni Buquicchio, along with the positive conclusions of international institutions and organizations.   The law of the amendments to the Constitution was adopted by 335 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The Constitutional reform is an objective necessity, intended to guarantee further development of our country, consolidate our society, enhance the authorities’ credibility and contribute to strengthening the authority of Ukraine in the international arena and its full integration into the European community.