Continuity of legal traditions of Ukrainian legislation (Constitutional projects by George Andruzsky)
Authors: Andrusyshyn B. I. 
Published: December 2023

The legislative process of the first half and middle of the 19th century is considered. in Ukraine, in particular, the constitutional projects of Cyril and Methodius. A historical and legal analysis of the constitutional drafts of the youngest member of the Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood, George Andrusky, entitled «Outlines of the Constitution of the Republic» was made. The influence on the preparation and content of the documents of the ideas of the «Book of the Being of the Ukrainian People» and the revolutionary ideas of Taras Shevchenko is emphasized. Against the historical background of the era, the reaction of the tsarist guard to the creation of St. Volodymyr’s Kyiv University and its role in modern Ukrainian nation-building, the formation of ideas of political resistance and free-thinking are highlighted. The work of Ukrainian lawyers, historians, philosophers who studied this problem was analyzed. The historical and legal features of Ukrainian constitutionalism, the influence of the Cyril-Methodist heritage on the germs of civil society ideas in Ukrainian political and legal thought are highlighted. The evolution of the constitutional concept of H. Andruzhsky from the ideas of the constitutional monarchy to the republican form of government is revealed. The ideas of equality before the law of the rights of citizens, the need to abolish serfdom and estate privileges, land reform in the context of giving peasants land, the introduction of political freedoms, a fair tax system for the population, the creation of an accessible general education system, the establishment of central and local press, military reform, defense of Ukrainians’ right to their language, literature, and culture in general. Considerable attention is paid to the structure of state power of the future state, especially local self-government, the community, which in the project is almost the main, basic link of the state. A solution to the problems of health care and social security is proposed. Worthy of attention in the project are the provisions that set out the requirements for candidates for management positions, in which the age, educational and residency qualifications, the absence of a criminal record and other punishments during the last three years, and the voting procedure were established. The order of coexistence with neighboring countries, first of all with Slavic countries, was envisaged. The statement that the basis of the state’s well-being is the agricultural sector is considered relevant. The essence of a citizen’s freedom, religious education at school, maintenance of the church at the expense of the community has been determined. It is emphasized that the thoughts and considerations expressed by H. Andruzky in the draft constitution were developed in the future in the process of development of Ukrainian constitutionalism and law-making.

Key words: Ukraine, Cyril and Methodius brotherhood, George Andrusky, Taras Shevchenko, «Outlines of the Constitution of the Republic», Mykola I, Kyiv University of St. Volodymyr, M. Kostomarov, Hetmanship, constitutional jurisdiction, state formation, Ukrainophiles, Slavophiles, autocracy, gendarmes.