Structure
The structure of local government includes:
- Local communities
- Village, township and city councils
- Village mayors
- District and regional councils representing the common interests of villages and cities
In cities with district divisions, decisions of the local community or the city council may be made at the district level. City-district councils form an executive body; the elected council chairman is chairman of its executive committee. Village, township and city councils are local authorities which represent their respective communities, and carry out on their behalf the functions of local government established by the Constitution of Ukraine.
Executive bodies of villages, townships, city and city-district councils have their executive committees and departments established by the council's executive bodies. The executive bodies of village, township, city and city-district councils are controlled and accountable to the relevant councils. The implementation of delegated executive powers is also under the control of the relevant executive bodies.
The village, township, or city mayor is the chief executive of the local community at the village (or association of several villages), town or city level, elected by universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot every four years in the manner prescribed by law. The village or township mayor leads the executive committee of the respective village, township or city council, and presides at its meetings.
Bypassing the local governments is an age-old practice in Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Ministers and Presidents are frequently asked by individual citizens for help in solving their personal problems (sometimes successfully). In 2012 Prime Minister Mykola Azarov received dozens of personal pleas daily on his Facebook page, while President Viktor Yanukovych received about 10,000 to 12,000 letters with such pleas every month.
Read more about this topic: Local Elections In Ukraine
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