Parliament of Kazakhstan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament of the Republic of KazakhstanҚазақстан Республикасының Парламенті (Kazakh) Парламент Республики Казахстан (Russian) |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate (upper) Mäjilis (lower) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Preceded by | Supreme Council of Kazakhstan |
| Leadership | |
|
Mäulen Äşimbaev, Amanat
|
|
|
Erlan Qoşanov, Amanat
|
|
| Structure | |
| Seats | Senate: 49 (34 elected and 15 appointment by the president) Mäjilis: 98 |
 |
|
|
Senate political groups
|
Government (49)
|
 |
|
|
Mäjilis political groups
|
Government (62)
Others (36)
|
| Elections | |
| Indirectly elected by regional legislatures Appointment by the President and Assembly of People of Kazakhstan |
|
| Mixed-member majoritarian representation | |
|
Mäjilis last election
|
19 March 2023 |
| Meeting place | |
 |
|
| House of the Parliament, Astana | |
The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is like the main law-making body in Kazakhstan. It has two parts, which is called a bicameral system. These two parts are the upper house, called the Senate, and the lower house, called the Mäjilis. Both of these groups meet in the Parliament House in the capital city of Astana to discuss and create laws.
Contents
The Parliament of Kazakhstan: How Laws Are Made
What is a Parliament?
A parliament is a group of people chosen by citizens to make laws for a country. They represent the people and work to improve life for everyone. Kazakhstan's Parliament helps shape the country's future.
The Two Houses: Senate and Mäjilis
Kazakhstan's Parliament is special because it has two main parts, or "houses." This system helps make sure that laws are carefully thought out. Each house has different jobs, but they work together.
The Mäjilis: The Lower House
The Mäjilis is the lower house and has 98 members. These members are chosen by the people in elections every five years. They use a special voting system that combines different ways of choosing representatives.
The Mäjilis has many important jobs:
- They create and pass new laws for the country.
- They approve the national budget, which is like the country's spending plan.
- They agree to international agreements with other countries.
- They check on the work of the government's executive branch.
- They also help confirm important government officials, like the Prime Minister.
The Senate: The Upper House
The Senate is the upper house and has 49 members. These members are chosen in different ways. Some are selected by local government groups, called mäslihats. Others are chosen by the President or the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan. Senators serve for six years.
The Senate's main jobs include:
- Reviewing and approving laws that the Mäjilis has already passed.
- Confirming people the President chooses for important jobs in the courts and government.
- Approving special orders from the President, especially about things like the military or emergencies.
- They also make sure that the different regions of Kazakhstan have their voices heard in national decisions.
A Look Back: How Kazakhstan's Parliament Started
Kazakhstan's Parliament was created in 1995. Before that, the country had a different kind of law-making body. The new system with two houses was a big change for Kazakhstan. It helped create a stronger system of checks and balances in the government.
From Old Councils to a New Parliament
Before the current Parliament, Kazakhstan had a single law-making body called the Supreme Soviet. This body was first set up in 1938. Over the years, it was elected 13 times.
In the early 1990s, there were some disagreements between the President at the time, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the members of the Supreme Soviet. Many of these members worked part-time. The President wanted a parliament where members worked full-time. There were also concerns about how money was being spent.
Eventually, the Supreme Soviet decided to dissolve itself in December 1993. This meant they gave all their powers to the President until new elections could be held. This decision paved the way for a new kind of parliament.
Big Changes in 1995
After the Supreme Soviet dissolved, President Nazarbayev introduced a new plan for the government. In 1995, people voted in a special referendum to approve a new Constitution of Kazakhstan. This new constitution created the bicameral parliament we know today, with the Mäjilis and the Senate.
This change happened after a legal challenge that led to the old Supreme Council being dissolved. The new Parliament held its first meeting on January 30, 1996. This was a big step in shaping Kazakhstan's political system.
Important Updates Over Time
Over the years, there have been some updates to how the Parliament works. In May 2007, some changes were made to the Constitution. These changes affected how members of the Mäjilis were elected. They also changed the President's term from seven years to five years. However, these changes also allowed President Nazarbayev to serve for more terms. The ruling party, Nur Otan, became very strong in the Mäjilis after the 2007 elections.
In May 2010, the Parliament gave Nursultan Nazarbayev the special title of "Elbasy," which means "Leader of the Nation." This title gave him special status and influence over important government decisions. It also provided him with legal protections.
Choosing Representatives: Elections in Kazakhstan
Elections are how citizens choose who will represent them in the Parliament. These elections are very important for the country's future.
How Senators Are Chosen
Senators are chosen in a special way. For example, in the elections held on October 1, 2014, people from regional legislatures voted for Senators. There were 80 candidates competing for 16 open Senate seats. International observers watched these elections.
How Mäjilis Members Are Chosen
Members of the Mäjilis are chosen by citizens through elections. The most recent elections for the Mäjilis were held on March 19, 2023.
In the elections on March 20, 2016, six political parties took part. Three parties received enough votes to have members in the Mäjilis:
- The Nur Otan Party (now called Amanat) won 82.20% of the votes.
- The Democratic Party of Kazakhstan “AK Zhol” won 7.18%.
- The Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan (CPPK) won 7.14%.
After these elections, the Mäjilis had 84 members from Nur Otan, 7 from AK Zhol, and 7 from CPPK. Nine members were also chosen by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan. About 60% of the members were new. The Mäjilis included 78 men and 29 women. The average age of members was 55. Many members had advanced degrees and came from different jobs like public service, business, and education. The members also represented many different ethnic groups in Kazakhstan.
The elections for the Mäjilis on January 10, 2021, saw five political parties submit their lists of candidates. These parties included Nur Otan, People’s Party, Ak Zhol, Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party, and Adal Party.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento de Kazajistán para niños
- List of Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
- Politics of Kazakhstan
- List of legislatures by country
- List of political parties in Kazakhstan
