The author researches the peculiarities of the legal status and activities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, its interconnection with other bodies of the central powering in the conditions of independence on the basis of the detailed analysis of the various sources. In the article the author states that in the first half of the nineties in the 20^th century, especially till the Constitution of 1996 was adopted, the powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine became limited as there was a gradual transition from the parliamentary republic to the presidential and parliamentary republic.

In particular, it was emphasized that the only body of legislative power in Ukraine is the Parliament – the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In order to transform Ukraine into a Parliamentary and Presidential Republic, it was necessary to create such a majority in the parliament, which would be able to make appropriate amendments to the Constitution, that is, to realize this political task. On February 1, 2000, such a parliamentary majority was created, but the contradictions between the factions and the low level of political culture led to the failure of the majority at the beginning of 2001 to support the bill on amendments to the Constitution, following the results of the referendum and the collapse of the majority.

Key words: Parliament, President, presidential and parliamentary republic, the Constitution of Ukraine, the Constitutional treaty.

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