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1918. This document proclaimed the independence of Western
Ukraine from the power of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The approval of Soviet power in Ukraine opened the way for the
creation of new legislative acts. On March 10, 1919, the Constitution

of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic was adopted. This
document outlined the course for building socialism in Ukraine. On
May 15, 1929, the Second Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR was

approved – because of formation of the USSR in 1922 and adoption of
the First Union Constitution in 1924. In 1937 the third Constitution of
Soviet Ukraine was adopted. It was developed in full accordance with
the all-union, so-called Stalin's Constitution of 1936. It was about the

creation of the foundations of socialism in Ukraine and its final
victory. Some democratization of the electoral system was carried out,
and the state apparatus was rebuilt.

The Fourth Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR of April 20, 1978,
was proclaimed as a manifesto of the communist society. Ukraine is
recognized as a sovereign nationwide state within the USSR. This

document also declared the construction of "developed socialism" in
the country.
All Ukrainian Soviet constitutions were analogues of the All-

Union constitutions, were developed and taken under the close
supervision of the Union "Center" and consolidated a number of
democratic principles and norms, which, however, were of a
propagandistic nature, were formal (declarative), were not almost

fulfilled. In addition, they affirmed the priority of the state and
collective entities over a personality, as well as the leading and
steering role in the social and public lives of the leading party – the

communist. At the same time, these documents contained rather clear
legal formulation, and also consolidated broad social and economic
rights and their guarantees.
While adopting the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the

USSR on July 16, 1990, and subsequently the Act of Declaration of
Independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of
Ukraine initiated the modern period of existing the independent

Ukrainian state. The Constitution of Ukraine of June 28, 1996, is the
main legal monument of this period.

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