there also other government sub-departments which were granted a special status. Among such sub-departments there are various government committees, government commissions, government funds, and other institutions. Sub-departments may be elevated to ministerial status by their reorganization and, vice versa, government ministries may degraded to sub-departments (e.g. Ministry of Emergencies was degraded to a sub-department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs). The Cabinet is responsible to the President of Ukraine and is under the control of, and is held accountable to, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament). The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister, the First Vice-Prime Minister, three Vice-Prime Ministers, and other Ministers, who head their assigned Ministries (departments). At one time, there also was an institute of "state ministries", this institute being abolished on 25 February 1992 by the Presidential Decree (#98). The Secretariat of Cabinet of Ministers (or Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers) supports the effective operation of the government. Structural part of the secretariat is also the office of the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Public relations Parts of Cabinet meetings are broadcast live on Ukrainian TV. Since August 2016, Ukrainians can sign and submit electronic petitions to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "to (assist with) the formation of the priorities of state policy and management decision-making". To be considered, the petition must get at least 25,000 votes three months from the date of publication. Reforms and "optimizations" According to Oleksandr Zapadynchuk, the process of establishing an administrative system in an already independent Ukraine started in the spring of 1991 when the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (in place of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR) was created, with new members of the government being appointed, as well as a new government office being formed. Until the adaptation of the Constitution of Ukraine in 1996, the government of Ukraine was ruled by the 1978 Constitution of Ukraine (the Ukrainian SSR). Also, the 1978 Constitution ruled that the President of Ukraine (an office created in 1991) is a head of state and a head of government (executive power) (Article 114-1). At the same time, the government headed by Prime Minister de facto remained independent and detached from the President, a state institution which had to function governed by its own programme. Duties and authority The duties of the Cabinet of Ministers are described in Article 116 of the Constitution of Ukraine. Members of the government (cabinet)