Legislative power of the Republic of Kazakhstan Printable version
Last update: 13.04.2023Pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted at the republican referendum as of August 30, 1995, the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the highest representative body of the Republic exercising legislative power. The composition and activities of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and legal status of its deputies are determined by the Constitution, the Constitutional Law "On the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Status of its Deputies" and other legislative acts.
Composition and structure of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The Parliament consists of two Chambers: Senate and Mazhilis, which act on a permanent basis.
Based on the procedure established by the constitutional law, the Senate is formed by deputies representing two people from each region, city of republican significance and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Half of the elected deputies of the Senate are re-elected every three years.
Ten deputies of the Senate are appointed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, five of whom are appointed on the proposal of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
The Mazhilis consists of ninety-eight deputies elected under the procedure established by the constitutional law.
Sixty–nine deputies are elected from political parties on party lists in a single nationwide electoral district, twenty-nine are elected in single-mandate territorial electoral districts on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
The Parliament deputy cannot be a member of both Chambers at the same time.
The procedure for electing deputies to the Senate and the Mazhilis is established by constitutional law.
Term of office of the Parliament of the Republic
The term of office of the deputies of the Senate is six years and the term of office of the deputies of the Mazhilis is five years. The powers of the Parliament of the next convocation begin with the opening of its first session and end with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the next convocation. Thus, the order of convocation of the Parliament is determined by the order of convocation of the Mazhilis. The term of office of the Parliament is determined by the term of office of the deputies of the Mazhilis of the next convocation.
The powers of the Parliament and the Mazhilis of the Parliament may be terminated prior to the end of term based on the procedure provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.