Section I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section II THE INDIVIDUAL AND CITIZEN
Section III THE PRESIDENT
Section IV PARLIAMENT
Section V GOVERNMENT
Section VI THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL
Section VII COURT AND JUSTICE
Section VIII LOCAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SELF-ADMINISTRATION
Section IX CONCLUDING AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
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The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan
We, the people of Kazakhstan, united by a common historic fate, creating a state on the indigenous Kazakh land, considering ourselves a peaceloving and civil society, dedicated to the ideals of freedom, equality and concord, wishing to take a worthy place in the world community, realizing our high responsibility before the present and future generations, proceeding from our sovereign right, accept this Constitution.
1. The Republic of Kazakhstan
proclaims itself a democratic, secular, legal and social state whose highest
values are an individual, his life, rights and freedoms.
2. The fundamental principles
of the activity of the Republic are public concord and political stability;
economic development for the benefit of all the nation; Kazakhstan patriotism
and resolution of the most important issues of the affairs of state by
democratic methods including voting at an all-nation referendum or in the
Parliament
Article 2
1. The Republic of Kazakhstan
is a unitary state with a presidential form of government.
2. The sovereignty of the
Republic extends to its entire territory. The state ensures the integrity,
inviolability and inalienability of its territory.
3. The administrative-territorial
division of the Republic of Kazakhstan, location and status of its capital
are determined by law.
4. The names "Republic of
Kazakhstan" and "Kazakhstan" have the same meaning.
Article 3
1. The people shall be the
only source of state power.
2. The people shall exercise
power directly through an all-nation referendum and free elections as well
as delegate the execution of their power to state institutions.
3. Nobody shall have the
right to appropriate power in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Appropriation
of power shall be persecuted by law.
The right to act on behalf
of the people and the state shall belong to the President as well as to
Parliament of the Republic within the limits of the constitutional powers.
The government and other state bodies shall act on behalf of the state
only within the limits of their delegated authorities.
4. The state power in the
Republic of Kazakhstan is unified and executed on the basis of the Constitution
and laws in accordance with the principle of its division into the legislative,
executive and judicial branches and a system of checks and balances that
governs their interaction.
Article 4
1. The provisions of the
Constitution, the laws corresponding to it, other regulatory legal acts,
international treaty and other commitments of the Republic as well as regulatory
resolutions of Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court of the Republic
shall be the functioning law in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. The Constitution shall
have the highest juridical force and direct effect on the entire territory
of the Republic.
3. International treaties
ratified by the Republic shall have priority over its laws and be directly
implemented except in cases when the application of an international treaty
shall require the promulgation of a law.
4. All laws, international
treaties of which the Republic is a party shall be published. Official
publication of regulatory legal acts dealing
with the rights, freedoms
and responsibilities of citizens shall be a necessary condition for their
application.
Article 5
1. The Republic of Kazakhstan
shall recognize ideological and political diversity. The merging of public
and state institutions, and the formation of political party organizations
in state bodies shall not be permitted.
2. Public associations shall
be equal before the law. Illegal interference of the state in the affairs
of public associations and of public associations in the affairs of the
state, imposing the functions of state institutions on public associations,
and financing of public associations by the state shall not be permitted.
3. Formation and functioning
of public associations pursuing the goals or actions directed toward a
violent change of the constitutional system, violation of the integrity
of the Republic, undermining the security of the state, inciting social,
racial, national, religious, class and tribal enmity, as well as formation
of unauthorized paramilitary units shall be prohibited.
4. Activities of political
parties and trade unions of other states, religious parties as well as
financing political parties and trade unions by foreign legal entities
and citizens, foreign states and international organizations shall not
be permitted in the Republic.
5. Activities of foreign
religious associations on the territory of the Republic as well as appointment
of heads of religious associations in the Republic by foreign religious
centers shall be carried out in coordination with the respective state
institutions of the Republic.
Article 6
1. The Republic of Kazakhstan
shall recognize and by the same token protect state and private property.
2. Property shall impose
obligations, and its use must simultaneously benefit the society. Subjects
and objects of ownership, the scope and limits of the rights of proprietors,
and guarantees of their protection shall be determined by law.
3. The land and underground
resources, waters, flora and fauna, other natural resources shall be owned
by the state. The land may also be privately owned on terms, conditions
and within the limits established by legislation.
Article 7
1. The state language of
the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be the Kazak language.
2. In state institutions
and local self-administrative bodies the Russian language shall be officially
used on equal grounds along with the Kazak language.
3. The state shall promote
conditions for the study and development of the languages of the people
of Kazakhstan.
Article 8
The Republic of Kazakhstan shall respect principles and norms of international law, pursue the policy of cooperation and good-neighborly relations between states, their equality and non-interference in each other's domestic affairs, peaceful settlement of international disputes and renounce the first use of the military force.
Article 9
The Republic of Kazakhstan shall have its state symbols - the flag, emblem and anthem. Their description and order of official use shall be established by the constitutional law.
Article 10
1. Citizenship of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall be acquired and terminated as prescribed by law, shall
be indivisible and equal regardless of the grounds of its acquisition.
2. A citizen of the Republic
of Kazakhstan under no circumstances may be deprived of citizenship of
the right to change his citizenship, and may not be exiled from the territory
of Kazakhstan.
3. Foreign citizenship of
a citizen of the Republic shall not be recognized.
Article 11
1. A citizen of the Republic
of Kazakhstan may not be extradicted to a foreign state unless otherwise
stipulated by international treaties of the Republic.
2. The Republic shall guarantee
its citizens protection and patronage outside its boundaries.
Article 12
1. Human rights and freedoms
in the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be recognized and guaranteed in accordance
with this Constitution.
2. Human rights and freedoms
shall belong to everyone by virtue of birth, be recognized as absolute
and inalienable, and define the contents and implementation of laws and
other regulatory legal acts.
3. Every citizen of the
Republic shall have rights and bear responsibilities owing to his citizenship.
4. Foreigners and stateless
persons in the Republic shall enjoy rights and freedoms as well as bear
responsibilities established for the citizens unless otherwise stipulated
by the Constitution, laws and international treaties.
5. Exercise of a citizen's
human rights and freedoms must not violate rights and freedoms of other
persons, infringe on the constitutional system and public morals.
Article 13
I. Everyone shall have the
right to be recognized as subject of the law and protect his rights and
freedoms with all means not contradicting the law including self-defense.
2. Everyone shall have the
right to judicial defense of his rights and freedoms.
3. Everyone shall have the
right to qualified legal assistance. In cases stipulated by law, legal
assistance shall be provided free of charge.
Article 14
1. Everyone shall be equal
before the law and court.
2. No one shall be subject
to any discrimination for reasons of origin, social, property status, occupation,
sex, race, nationality, language, attitude towards religion, convictions,
place of residence or any other circumstances.
Article 15
1. Everyone shall have the
right to life.
2. No one shall have the
right to arbitrarily deprive a person of life. The law shall establish
the death penalty as an extraordinary measure of punishment for especially
grave crimes and grant the sentenced person the right to appeal for pardon.
Article 16
1. Everyone shall have the
right to personal freedom.
2. Arrest and detention
shall be allowed only in cases stipulated by law and only with the sanction
of a court or prosecutor of law. The detained person shall be provided
with the right to appeal. Without the sanction of a procurator, a person
may be detained for a period no more than seventy-two hours.
3. Every person detained,
arrested and accused of committing a crime shall have the right to the
assistance of a defense lawyer (defender) from the moment of detention,
arrest or accusation.
Article 17
1. A person's dignity shall
be inviolable.
2. No one must be subject
to torture, violence or other treatment and punishment that is cruel or
humiliating to human dignity.
Article 18
I. Everyone shall have the
right to inviolability of private life, personal or family secrets, protection
of honor and dignity.
2. Everyone shall have the
right to confidentiality of personal deposits and savings, correspondence,
telephone conversations, postal, telegraph and other messages. Limitation
of this right shall be permitted only in the cases and according to the
procedure directly established by law.
3. State bodies, public
associations, officials, and the mass media must provide every citizen
with the possibility to obtain access to documents, decisions and other
sources of information concerning his rights and interests.
Article 19
1. Everyone shall have the
right to determine and indicate or not to indicate his national, party
and religious affiliation.
2. Everyone shall have the
right to use his native language and culture, to freely choose the language
of communication, education, instruction and creative activities.
Article 20
1. The freedom of speech
and creative activities shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be prohibited.
2. Everyone shall have the
right to freely receive and disseminate information by any means not prohibited
by law. The list of items constituting state secrets of the Republic of
Kazakhstan shall be determined by law.
3. Propaganda of or agitation
for the forcible change of the constitutional system, violation of the
integrity of the Republic, undermining of state security, and advocating
war, social, racial, national, religious, class and clannish superiority
as well as the cult of cruelty and violence shall not be allowed.
Article 21
1. Everyone who has a legal
right to stay on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall have
the right to freely move about its territory and freely choose a place
of residence except in cases stipulated by law.
2. Everyone shall have the
right to leave the territory of the Republic. Citizens of the Republic
shall have the right to freely return to the Republic .
Article 22
1. Everyone shall have the
right to freedom of conscience.
2. The right to freedom
of conscience must not specify or limit universal human and civil rights
and responsibilities before the state.
Article 23
1. Citizens of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall have the right to freedom of forming associations.
The activities of public associations shall be regulated by law.
2. The military, employees
of national security, law-enforcement bodies and judges must abstain from
membership in political parties, trade unions, and actions in support of
any political party.
Article 24
1. Everyone shall have the
right to freedom of labor, and the free choice of occupation and profession.
Involuntary labor shall be permitted only on a sentence of court or in
the conditions of a state of emergency or martial law.
2. Everyone shall have the
right to safe and hygienic working conditions, to just remuneration for
labor without discrimination, as well as to social protection against unemployment.
3. The right to individual
and collective labor disputes with the use of methods for resolving them,
stipulated by law including the right to strike, shall be recognized.
4. Everyone shall have the
right to rest. Working labor agreements stipulating the length of working
time, days-off and holidays, and paid annual leave shall be guaranteed
by law.
Article 25
1. Housing shall be inviolable.
Deprivation of housing shall not be permitted unless otherwise stipulated
by a court decision. Penetration into housing, its inspection and search
shall be permitted only in cases and according to the procedure stipulated
by law.
2. Conditions shall be created
in the Republic of Kazakhstan to provide citizens with housing. Citizens
in need of housing shall be categorized in a manner to be prescribed by
law and provided with housing at an affordable price from the state housing
funds in accordance with the norms stipulated by law.
Article 26
1. Citizens of the Republic
of Kazakhstan may privately own any legally acquired property.
2. Property, including the
right of inheritance, shall be guaranteed by law.
3. No one may be deprived
of his property unless otherwise stipulated by a court decision. Forcible
alienation of property for the public use in extraordinary cases stipulated
by law may be exercised on condition of its equivalent compensation.
4. Everyone shall have the
right to freedom of entrepreneurial activity, and free use of his property
for any legal entrepreneurial activity. Monopolistic activity shall be
regulated and limited by law. Unfair competition shall be prohibited.
Article 27
1. Marriage and family, motherhood,
fatherhood and childhood shall be under the protection of the state.
2. Care of children and
their upbringing shall be a natural right and responsibility of parents.
3. Able-bodied children
of age must take care of their disabled parents.
Article 28
1. A citizen of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall be guaranteed a minimum wage and pension, and guaranteed
social security in old age, in case of disease, disability or loss of a
breadwinner and other legal grounds.
2. Voluntary social insurance,
creation of additional forms of social security, and charity shall be encouraged.
Article 29
1. Citizens of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall have the right to protection of health.
2. Citizens of the Republic
shall be entitled to free, guaranteed, extensive medical assistance established
by law.
3. Paid medical treatment
shall be provided by state and private medical institutions as well as
by persons engaged in private medical practice on the terms and according
to the procedures stipulated by law.
Article 30
1. The citizens shall be
guaranteed free secondary education in state educational establishments.
Secondary education shall be obligatory.
2. A citizen shall have
the right to receive on a competitive basis a higher education in a state
higher educational establishment.
3. The citizens shall have
the right to pay and receive an education in private educational establishments
on the basis and terms established by law.
4. The state shall set uniform
compulsory standards in education. The activity of any educational establishment
must comply with these standards.
Article 31
1. The state shall set an
objective to protect the environment favorable for the life and health
of the person.
2. Officials shall be held
accountable for the concealment of facts and circumstances endangering
the life and health of the people in accordance with law.
Article 32
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall have the right to peacefully and without arms assemble, hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations, street processions and pickets. The use of this right may be restricted by law in the interests of state security, public order, protection of health, rights and freedoms of other persons.
Article 33
1. Citizens of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall have the right to participate in the government of
the state's affairs directly and through their representatives, to address
personally as well as to direct individual and collective appeals to public
and local self-administrative bodies.
2. Citizens of the Republic
shall have the right to elect and be elected into public and local self-administrations
as well as to participate in an all-nation referendum.
3. The right to elect and
be elected, to participate in the all-nation referendum shall not extend
to the citizens judged incapable by a court as well as those held in places
of confinement on a court's sentence.
4. Citizens of the Republic
shall have the equal right to serve in a public office. The requirements
for candidates for public offices shall be conditioned only by the character
of the office duties and shall be established by law.
Article 34
1. Everyone must observe
the Constitution, legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and respect
the rights, freedoms, honor and dignity of other persons.
2. Everyone must respect
the state symbols of the Republic.
Article 35
Payment of legally established taxes, fees and other obligatory payments shall be a duty and responsibility of everyone.
Article 36
1. Defense of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall be a sacred duty and responsibility of its every citizen.
2. Citizens of the Republic
shall perform military service according to the procedure and in the forms
established by law.
Article 37
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan must care for the protection of historical and cultural heritage, and preserve monuments of history and culture.
Article 38
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan must preserve nature and protect natural resources.
Article 39
1. Rights and freedoms of
an individual and citizen may be limited only by laws and only to the extent
necessary for protection of the constitutional system, defense of the public
order, human rights and freedoms, health and morality of the population.
2. Any actions capable of
upsetting interethnic concord shall be deemed unconstitutional.
3. Any form of restrictions
to the rights and freedoms of the citizens on political grounds shall not
be permitted. Rights and freedoms stipulated by articles 10-11; 13-15 paragraph
1 of article 16; article 17; article 19; article 22; paragraph 2 of article
26 of the Constitution shall not be restricted in any event.
Section III
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall be the head of state, its highest official determining
the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the state and
representing Kazakhstan within the country and in international relations.
2. The President of the
Republic shall be the symbol and guarantor of the unity of the people and
the state power, inviolability of the Constitution, rights and freedoms
of an individual and citizen.
3. The President of the
Republic shall ensure by his arbitration concerted functioning of all branches
of state power and responsibility of the institutions of power before the
people.
Article 41
1. The President of the Republic
shall be elected by universal, equal and direct suffrage under a secret
ballot for a seven-year term in accordance with the constitutional law
by the citizens of the Republic who have come of age.
2. A citizen of the Republic
shall be eligible for the office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
if he is by birth not younger than forty and has a perfect command of the
state language and has lived in Kazakhstan for not less than fifteen years.
3. Regular elections of
the President of the Republic shall be held on the first Sunday of December
and shall not coincide with the election of a new Parliament of the Republic.
4.The candidate who receives
more than 50 percent of the votes of the constituents that took part in
the election shall be deemed elected. If none of the candidates receives
the above number of votes, a second round of elections shall be held between
the two candidates who obtained the largest number of votes. The candidate
who receives the larger number of votes of the constituents who take part
in the second round of elections shall be deemed elected.
Article 42
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall take office from the moment of swearing to the people
the following oath: "I solemnly swear that I will faithfully serve the
people of Kazakhstan, strictly observe the Constitution and the laws of
the Republic of Kazakhstan, guarantee the rights and freedoms of the citizens,
honestly perform the high duties of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
entrusted to me."
2. The oath shall be taken
on the second Wednesday of January in a ceremonial atmosphere in the presence
of the deputies of Parliament, the members of the Constitutional Council,
the judges of the Supreme Court as well as all former Presidents of the
Republic. In case, stipulated by Article 48 of the Constitution, the oath
shall be taken by a person who has taken the powers of the President of
the
Republic of Kazakhstan within
one month since taking the powers of the President of the Republic.
3. The powers of the President
of the Republic shall terminate from the moment the newly elected President
of the Republic takes office as well as in the case of premature release
from office, resignation or death. All former Presidents of the Republic
except those who were discharged from office shall have the title of ex-President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
4. One and the same person
may not be elected the President of the Republic more than two times in
a row.
Article 43
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall not have the right to be a deputy of a representative
body, hold other paid offices and engage in entrepreneurial-activity.
2. The President of the
Republic snail suspend activity in any political party for the period he
exercises his powers.
Article 44
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall:
1) annually address the
people of Kazakhstan with a message on the state of the country and main
directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
2) appoint regular and extraordinary
elections to the Parliament of the Republic; convene the first session
of Parliament and accept the oath of its members to the people of Kazakhstan;
call extraordinary joint sessions of the Chambers of Parliament; sign laws
submitted by the Senate of Parliament within fifteen working days, promulgate
the law or return the law or its separate articles for a second discussion
and vote;
3) appoint a Prime Minister
of the Republic with the Parliament's consent; release him from office;
determine the structure of the Government of the Republic at the proposal
of the Prime Minister, appoint to and release from office its members,
as well as form, abolish and reorganize central executive bodies of the
Republic which are not included into the Government; accept the oath of
the members of the Government; preside at the meetings of the Government
on especially important issues; charge the Government with bringing a bill
into the Majilis of Parliament; annul or suspend completely or partially
the effect of the Government's acts and those of the akims of the oblasts,
major cities and the capital;
4) appoint the Chairperson
of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the Parliament's
consent; release him from office;
5) appoint the Procurator
General and Chairperson of the (committee of National Security of the Republic
with the consent of the Senate of Parliament; release them from office;
6) appoint and recall heads
of diplomatic representative offices of the Republic;
7) appoint the Chairperson
and two members of the Estimation Committee for control over Implementation
of the Republican Budget for a five year term;
8) approve state programs
of the Republic;
9) approve a unified system
of financing and labor payment for all bodies financed by the state budget
of the Republic at the proposal of the Prime Minister of the Republic;
10) adopt a resolution on
conducting the all-nation referendum;
11) conduct negotiations
and sign international treaties of the Republic; sign ratification instruments;
receive letters of credentials and recall from diplomatic and other representatives
of foreign states accredited to him;
12) act as the Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces of the Republic, appoint and replace the highest command
of the Armed Forces;
13) award state decorations
of the Republic and confer-honorary, highest military and other ranks,
ranked positions, diplomatic ranks and qualification degrees;
14) resolve issues of citizenship
of the Republic , and political asylum;
15) exercise pardon of citizens;
16) in the event of a serious
and immediate threat to the democratic institutions of the Republic, its
independence and territorial integrity, political stability of the Republic,
security of its citizens and the disruption of normal functioning of the
Constitutional bodies of the state, the President snail have official consultation
with Prime Minister and Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Chambers of the
Republic and take measures, caused by a state of emergency on the entire
territory or in particular areas of Kazakhstan, and immediately inform
the Parliament of the use of the Armed Forces of the Republic;
17) in the case of aggression
against the Republic or immediate external threat to its security, the
President shall impose martial law on the entire territory of the Republic
or in particular areas, declare a partial or total mobilization and immediately
inform the Parliament of the Republic to the effect;
18) form the Republican
Guard as well as the Presidential Guard subordinated to the President;
19) appoint to and release
from office the State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan, define his
status and powers; form the administration of the President of the Republic;
20) form the Security Council,
the Higher Judicial Council and other consultative and advisory bodies;
21) exercise other powers
in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic.
Article 45
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan, on the basis of and with the exercise of the Constitution
and the laws, shall issue decrees and resolutions which are binding on
the entire territory of the Republic.
2. In the case envisioned
by subparagraph 4 of Article 53 of the Constitution the President of the
Republic shall issue laws, and in the case envisioned by subparagraph 2
of Article 61 of the Constitution, - the President or the Republic shall
issue decrees having the force of laws in the Republic.
3. The acts of Parliament
signed by the President of the Republic as well as the acts of the President
issued on the initiative of the Government shall be preliminary signed
respectively by the Chairperson of each Parliaments Chambers or the Prime
Minister on whom bear juridical responsibility for the legality of these
acts.
Article 46
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan, his honour and dignity shall be inviolable.
2. Provision, service, and
guard of the President of the Republic and his family shall be carried
out at the state's expense.
3. The provisions of this
article shall extend to ex-Presidents of the Republic.
Article 47
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan may be prematurely released from office in the case of continued
incapacity to perform his duties due to illness. In this case the Parliament
shall form a commission consisting of equal numbers of deputies from each
Chamber and specialists of the respective areas of medicine. The decision
of premature release based on the conclusion of the commission and that
of the Constitutional Council confirming observance of the established
constitutional procedures shall be adopted at a joint sitting of the Parliament's
Chambers by the majority of no less than three-fourths from the total number
of deputies of each Chamber.
2. The President of the
Republic shall bear responsibility for the actions performed while exercising
his duties and only in the case of high treason may be discharged from
office by Parliament. The decision to bring an accusation and conduct its
investigation may be adopted by the majority of the deputies of the Majilis
at the initiative of no less than one-third of the total number of its
deputies. Investigation of the accusation shall be organized by the Senate
and by the majority of votes of the total number of the deputies of the
Senate its results are transferred for consideration at a joint session
of the Parliament's Chambers. The final decision of this issue shall be
adopted at a joint session of the Parliament's Chambers by the majority
of no less than three-fourths of the total number of the deputies of each
Chamber, provided the Supreme Court concludes the validity of the accusation
and conclusion by the Constitutional Council that the established constitutional
procedures were observed. The failure to arrive at a final decision within
two months from the moment of the accusation shall result in the recognition
that the accusation against the President of the Republic is rejected.
Rejection of the accusation of the President of the Republic in perpetration
of high treason at any stage shall result in premature termination of the
powers of the deputies of the Majilis who initiated the consideration of
this issue.
3. The issue of discharge
of the President of the Republic from office may not be initiated in the
period when the President is considering premature termination of the powers
of the Parliament of the Republic.
Article 48
1. In case of premature release
or discharge of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan from office
as well as in case of his death the powers of the President of the Republic
shall be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament
for the rest of the term; if the Chairperson of the Senate is unable to
assume the powers of the President they shall be transmitted to the Chairperson
of the Majilis of the Parliament; if the Chairperson of the Majilis is
unable to assume the powers of the President they shall be transmitted
to the Prime Minister of the Republic. A person who has taken the powers
of the President of the Republic shall correspondingly withdraw his powers
of the Chairperson of the Senate, the Majilis, the Prime Minister. In this
case filling of those state positions shall be carried out in the order,
stipulated by the Constitution.
A person who has taken the
powers of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the basis and
in the order stipulated by Paragraph 1 of the present Article, has no right
to initiate amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic
of Kazakhstan.
Section IV
1. Parliament of the Republic
of Kazakhstan is the highest representative body of the Republic performing
legislative functions.
2. Parliament's powers shall
begin from the opening of its first session and terminate with the first
session of a new convocation.
3. The powers of Parliament
may be prematurely terminated in cases and according to the procedure stipulated
by the Constitution.
4. The organization and
activities of Parliament, the legal status of its deputies shall be determined
by constitutional law.
Article 50
1. Parliament shall consist
of two Chambers acting on a permanent basis: the Senate and the Majilis.
2. The Senate shall be composed
of deputies elected in twos from each oblast, major city and the capital
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at a joint session of the deputies of all
representative bodies of the respectively oblast, major city and the capital
of the Republic. Seven deputies of the Senate shall be appointed by the
President of the Republic for the term of the Senate.
3. The Majilis shall consist
of seventy-seven deputies. Sixty-seven deputies shall be elected in constituencies
having one mandate and formed according to the administrative-territorial
division of the Republic with an approximately equal number of constituents.
Ten deputies shall be elected on the basis of the Party Lists according
to the system of proportional representation and in the territory of a
unified national constituency.
4. A deputy of Parliament
may not be a member of both Chambers simultaneously.
5. Term of the powers of
Senate deputies shall be six years, term of the powers of the Majilis deputies
shall be five years.
Article 51
1. Elections of the deputies
of the Majilis shall be carried out on the basis of the universal, equal
and direct right under secret ballot. Regular elections of the deputies
of the Majilis shall be held no later than two months before the termination
of the powers of current Parliament.
2. The elections of the
deputies of the Senate shall be carried out on the basis of indirect electoral
right under secret ballot. Half of the elected deputies of the Senate shall
be re-elected every three years. In this case, their regular elections
shall be held no later than two months before the end of their term in
office.
3. Extraordinary elections
of the deputies of Parliament shall be held within two months from the
moment of premature termination of Parliament's powers.
4. A deputy of the Senate
may be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan who has been a citizen of
the Republic for not less than five years and who has reached thirty years
of age, has a higher education and length of service of not less than five
years, and has been a permanent resident for not less than three years
on the territory of the respective oblast, major city or the capital of
the Republic. A deputy of the Majilis may be a citizen of the Republic
of Kazakhstan who has reached twenty-five years of age.
5. A candidate shall be
deemed elected if he receives more than fifty percent of the votes of constituents
or electors who took part in the voting in a constituency having one mandate,
at the joint session of deputies of all the representative bodies correspondingly
of the oblasts, the city of republican significance and the capital of
the Republic. If none of the candidates receives the aforementioned number
of votes, a second round of voting shall be held between the two candidates
who obtained the largest number of votes. The candidate who receives the
larger number of votes of the constituents or electors who took part in
voting shall be deemed elected. Only those political parties which received
not less than seven percent of votes of constituents who took part in the
elections, shall be admitted to distribution of deputy mandates in accordance
with the results of elections to the Majilis on the basis of Party Lists.
Elections to the Senate shall be deemed valid in case more than fifty percent
of electors took part in the voting. Procedure of elections of the deputies
of the Parliament of the Republic shall be determined by constitutional
law.
6. A deputy shall take an
oath before the people of Kazakhstan.
Article 52
1. A deputy of Parliament
shall not be bound by any imperative mandate.
2. The deputies of Parliament
must take part in its work. The deputies shall only vote in person in Parliament.
Absence of a deputy at sittings of the Chambers and their bodies without
a good reason for more than three times as well as transferring the right
to vote shall cause the imposition of penalties established by law.
3. A deputy of Parliament
shall have no right to be a deputy of another representative body, hold
other paid offices, except teaching, research and creative activities,
engage in entrepreneurial activity, enter a managing body or a supervisory
board of a commercial organization. Violation of this rule shall result
in the termination of a deputy's powers.
4. A deputy of Parliament
during the term of his office may not be arrested, subject to detention,
measures of administrative punishment imposed by a court of law, arraigned
on a criminal charge without the consent of a respective Chamber except
for the cases of being apprehended on the scene of a crime or committing
grave crimes.
5. The powers of the deputies
of Parliament shall be terminated in cases of resignation, being recognized
as incapable, dissolution of Parliament and in other cases stipulated by
the Constitution. A deputy of Parliament shall be deprived of his mandate
in cases being duly convicted in a court of law, establishing permanent
residency beyond the boundaries of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
6. Preparation of questions
concerning the imposition of penalties on the deputies, their observance
of the requirements of paragraph 3 of this article, principles of the deputies'
ethics, as well as termination of the deputies' powers and deprivation
of their powers and deputy immunity, shall be delegated to the Central
Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Article 53
Parliament at a joint session of the Chambers shall:
1) introduce amendments and
make additions to the Constitution; adopt constitutional laws, introduce
amendments and make additions to the Constitution at the proposal of the
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
2) approve the republican
budget, the reports of the Government, and Estimation Committee about its
implementation, and introduce changes into the budget;
3) conduct a second round
of discussion and voting on the laws or articles of the law that caused
objections of the President of the Republic within a month's term from
the moment the objections were presented. Non-observance of this term denotes
the acceptance of the President's objections. If Parliament by the majority
of two-thirds of votes from the total number of deputies from each Chamber
confirms the decision adopted
earlier, the President shall sign the law within seven days. If the President's
objections .are not overruled, the law shall be deemed not adopted or adopted
in the version proposed by the President;
4) have the right to delegate
legislative Powers for a term not exceeding one year to the President by
two-thirds of the votes from the total number of deputies of each Chamber
at the initiative of the President ;
5) give consent to the appointment
of the Prime Minister of the Republic and the Chairperson of the National
Bank of the Republic by the President of the Republic;
6) hear the report of the
Prime Minister on the Government's program and approve or reject the program.
A second rejection of the
program brought about by
the majority of two-thirds of votes from the total number of deputies of
each Chamber denotes a vote of no confidence in the Government. The absence
of such a majority implies the approval of the Government's program;
7) express a vote of no
confidence in the Government by the majority of two-thirds of votes from
the total number of deputies of each Chamber at the initiative of no less
than one-fifth of the total number of the Parliament's deputies and in
cases established by this Constitution;
8) decide issues of war
and peace;
9) adopt a decision concerning
the use of the Armed Forces of the Republic to fulfill international obligations
in support of peace and security at the proposal of the President of the
Republic;
10) put forward an initiative
calling for an all-nation referendum;
11) hear annual messages
of the Constitutional Council of the Republic on the state of the constitutional
legality in the Republic;
12) form joint commissions
of the Chambers; elect and release from office their chairpersons; hear
reports on the activity of the commissions;
13) exercise other powers
assigned to Parliament by the Constitution.
Article 54
Parliament at separate sessions of the Chambers through consecutive consideration of issues first in the Majilis and then in the Senate shall:
1) adopt laws;
2) discuss the republican
budget and reports about its implementation, changes and additions in the
budget, establish and annul state taxes and fees;
3) establish the procedure
for resolving the issues of the administrative-territorial division of
the Republic of Kazakhstan;
4) establish state awards,
honorary, military and other titles, ranked positions, diplomatic ranks
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and define state symbols of the Republic;
5) decide issues of state
loans and rendering of economic and other assistance by the Republic;
6) issue acts of amnesty
to citizens;
7) ratify and denounce international
treaties of the Republic.
Article 55
The following shall belong to exclusive jurisdiction of the Senate:
1) election and discharge
from office, the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, the Chairpersons of
the Collegium of Justice, and judges of the Supreme Court of the Republic
at the proposal of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and swearing
them into office;
2) approval of the appointment
of the Procurator General and the Chairperson of the Committee of National
Security by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan ;
3) deprivation of inviolability
of the Procurator General, the Chairperson and judges of the Supreme Court
of the Republic;
4) premature termination
of the powers of local representative administrative bodies in accordance
with the legislation of the Republic;
5) delegation of two deputies
to the Highest Judicial Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
6) consideration of the
issue raised by the Majilis about the discharge from office of the President
of the Republic and submitting the results for consideration at a joint
session of the Chambers.
Article 56
The following belongs to exclusive jurisdiction of the Majilis:
1) accepting drafts of laws
for consideration and consideration of the drafts of laws;
2) preparation of suggestions
concerning the objections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to laws adopted by Parliament of the Republic;
3) election and discharge
from office of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary and members
of the Central Election Commission of the Republic at the proposal of the
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
4) announcing regular elections
of the President of the Republic;
5) delegation of two deputies
to the Qualification Collegium of Justice;
6) bringing an accusation
of high treason against the President of the Republic.
Article 57
Each Chamber of the Parliament independently, without participation of the other Chamber shall:
1) appoint three members
for a five-year term to the Estimation Committee for control over implementation
of the republican budget;
2) delegate half of the
members of the commission formed by Parliament in the case envisaged by
paragraph I of article 47 of the Constitution;
3) elect half of the members
of joint commissions of the Chambers;
4) terminate powers of the
deputies of the Chambers, as well as resolve the issues of depriving deputies
of their deputy immunity at the proposal of the Procurator General of the
Republic of Kazakhstan;
5) hold Parliamentary hearings
on the issues of its jurisdiction;
6) have the right to hear
reports of the members of the Government of the Republic on the issues
of their activities, at the initiative of no less than one-third from the
total number of the deputies of the Chambers, and adopt an appeal by a
majority of two-thirds of the total number of the deputies of the Chambers
to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to discharge a member of
the Government from office in the case of nonobservance of the laws of
the Republic, if the President of the Republic refuses such appeal, then
the deputies, by majority of not less than two-thirds of votes of the total
number of deputies of the Chamber, shall possess the right to put a question
to the President anew on release from the position of a member of the Government
on expiration of six months since the first appeal. In this case the President
of the Republic shall release from the position of a member of the Government.
7) form coordinating and
working bodies of the Chambers;
8) adopt procedural orders
of their activities and other decisions on the issues connected with organization
and the internal routine of the Chambers.
Article 58
1. The Chambers shall be
headed by their chairpersons who are elected by the Senate and the Majilis
from among the deputies who have a perfect command of the state language,
under secret ballot by a majority of votes from the total number of the
deputies of the Chambers. The candidacy for the Chairperson of the Senate
shall be nominated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
candidacy for the Chairperson
of the Majilis shall be nominated by the deputies of the Chamber.
2. The Chairpersons of the
Chambers may be recalled from office and also have the right to submit
their resignation if the majority of the total number of the deputies of
the Chambers have voted against them.
3. The Chairpersons of Parliament's
Chambers shall:
1) convene sessions of the
Chambers and preside over them;
2) exercise general supervision
in preparation of the issues under consideration by the Chambers;
3) nominate the candidacies
of Deputy Chairpersons to the Chambers;
4) ensure the observance
of the procedural orders in the activities of the Chambers;
5) supervise the activities
of the coordinating bodies of the Chambers;
6) sign acts issued by the
Chambers;
7) each appoint two members
to the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
8) fulfill other duties
assigned to them by the procedural orders of Parliament.
4. The Chairperson of the
Majilis shall:
1) open sessions of Parliament;
2) convene regular joint
sessions of the Chambers, preside at regular and extraordinary joint sessions
of the Chambers.
5. The chairpersons of the
Chambers shall issue instructions on the items of their jurisdiction.
Article 59
1. Parliament's sessions
shall proceed in the form of joint and separate sessions of its (chambers.
2. The first session of
Parliament shall be convened by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
no later than thirty days from the day of publishing of the election results.
3. Regular sessions of the
Parliament shall be held once a year from the first working day of September
to the last working day of June.
4. Session of Parliament
shall be opened by the President of the Republic and closed at joint sessions
of the Senate and Majilis. In the period between Parliament's sessions,
the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan may call an extraordinary joint
session of the Chambers on his own initiative, at the suggestion of the
chairpersons of the Chambers or no less than one-third from the total number
of the deputies of Parliament. Only the issues that were the reason for
convocation shall be reviewed at this session.
5. Joint and separate sessions
of the Chambers shall be held on condition that no less than two-thirds
from the total number of the deputies of each Chamber are present.
6. Joint and separate sessions
of the Chambers shall be open. In cases stipulated by the procedural orders,
sessions may be closed. The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister
and members of the Government, the Chairperson of National Bank, the Procurator
General, the Chair-person of the Committee of National Security shall have
the right to be present at any session and be heard.
Article 60
1. The Chambers shall form
standing committees, the number of which shall not exceed seven in each
Chamber.
2. The Senate and Majilis
shall have the right to form joint commissions on a parity basis for solution
of issues dealing with the joint activity of the Chambers.
3. The committees and commissions
shall issue resolutions on items of their jurisdictions.
4. The procedure of formation,
the powers and organization of the activities of the committees and commissions
shall be determined by law.
Article 61
1. The right of a legislative
initiative shall belong to the deputies of Parliament of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, the Government of the Republic and shall be realized exclusively
in the Majilis.
2. The President of the
Republic of Kazakhstan shall have the right to determine priority consideration
of draft of laws as well as to declare consideration of a draft of law
urgent signifying that Parliament must consider this draft within a month
from the day of its submission. If the Parliament does not meet this requirement,
the President of the Republic shall have the right to issue a decree having
the
force of law which shall
be. in effect until Parliament adopts a new law as established by the Constitution.
3. Parliament shall have
the right to issue laws that regulate the most important public relations,
establish fundamental principles and standards dealing with:
1) legal capacity of individuals
and legal entities, civil freedoms and rights, obligations and responsibility
of individuals and legal entities;
2) conditions of ownership
and other rights of property;
3) foundations of organization
and activity of state bodies and bodies of local self administration, state
and military service;
4) taxation, establishment
and levying of duties and other obligatory payments;
5) the republican budget;
6) issues of the judicial
system and legal proceedings;
7) education, health care
and social provision;
8) privatization of enterprises
and their property;
9) environmental protection;
10) administrative-territorial
structure of the Republic;
11) ensuring defense and
security of the state. All other relations shall be regulated by legislative
acts.
4. A draft of law considered
and approved by the majority of votes from the total number of the deputies
of the Majilis shall be transmitted to the Senate where it shall be considered
for no more than sixty days. A draft of law approved by the majority of
votes of the total number of deputies of the Senate shall become the law
and shall be submitted to the President to be signed within ten days .
A draft of law rejected as a whole by the majority of votes from the total
number of the Senate's deputies shall be returned to the Majilis. If the
Majilis approves the draft of law again by the majority of two-thirds of
votes from the total number of its deputies, it shall be transferred to
the Senate for a second discussion and voting. A twice -rejected draft
may not be submitted again during the same session.
5. Amendments and additions
to a draft of law proposed by the majority of votes from the total number
of the Senate's deputies shall be sent to the Majilis. If the Majilis by
the majority of votes from the total number of its deputies agrees with
the proposed amendments and additions, the law shall be deemed to be adopted.
If the Majilis by the same majority of votes objects to the amendments
and additions
proposed by the Senate,
the disagreement between the Chambers shall be resolved through conciliatory
procedures.
6. Drafts of law envisioning
reduction of state revenues or increase in state expenditures may be submitted
only when supplied with the positive resolution of the Government of the
Republic.
7. In the case when of a
draft of law submitted by the Government is not adopted, the Prime-Minister
shall have the right to raise an issue of nonconfidence in the Government
at a joint session of the Chambers. Voting on this issue shall be held
not earlier than within forty-eight hours from the moment of calling for
a vote of confidence. If the call for a vote of no confidence does not
receive the
necessary number of votes
established by this Constitution, a draft of law shall be deemed adopted
without voting. However, the Government may not use this right more than
twice a year.
Article 62
1. The Parliament shall adopt
legislative acts in the form of laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, resolutions
of the Parliament, resolutions of the Senate and the Majilis having obligatory
force on the entire territory of the Republic.
2. Laws of the Republic
shall come into effect after they are signed by the President of the Republic.
3. Amendments and additions
to the Constitution shall be introduced by the majority of no less than
three-fourths of votes from the total number of the deputies of each chamber.
4. Constitutional laws shall
be adopted on the issues stipulated by the Constitution by the majority
of no less than two-thirds of votes from the total number of the deputies
of each Chamber.
5. Legislative acts of the
Parliament and its Chambers shall be adopted by the majority of votes from
the total number of the deputies of the Chambers unless otherwise stipulated
by the Constitution.
6. No less than two readings
introducing amendments and additions to the Constitution, adopting constitutional
laws or introducing of changes and additions into them shall be obligatory.
7. Laws of the Republic,
resolutions of the Parliament and its Chambers must not contradict the
Constitution. Resolutions of the Parliament and its Chambers must not contradict
laws.
8. The procedure for development,
submission, discussion, bringing into effect and promulgation of legislative
and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic shall be regulated by a
special law and the procedural orders of Parliament and its Chambers.
Article 63
1. The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan may dissolve Parliament in cases: expressing by Parliament
of a vote of no confidence in the Government, twice refusal of Parliament
to give consent to the appointment of the Prime Minister, political crisis
resulting from of insurmountable differences between the Chambers of Parliament
or Parliament and other branches of state power.
2. The Parliament may not
be dissolved in the period of a state of emergency or martial law, during
the last six months of the President's term, as well as within a year after
a previous dissolution.
Section V
1. The Government shall implement
the executive power of the Republic of Kazakhstan, head the system of executive
bodies and exercise supervision of their activity.
2. The Government in its
entire activity shall be responsible before the President of the Republic
as well as accountable to the Parliament of the Republic in the case stipulated
by paragraph 6 of article 53 of the Constitution.
3. Members of the Government
shall be accountable to the Chambers of Parliament in the case stipulated
by paragraph 6 of Article 57 of the Constitution.
4. The jurisdiction, the
procedure of organization and activity of the Government shall be determined
by constitutional law.
Article 65
1. The Government shall be
formed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan according to the
procedure stipulated by this Constitution.
2. Suggestions about the
structure and composition of the Government shall be submitted to the President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan by the Prime Minister of the Republic within
ten days after his appointment.
3. The members of the Government
shall take an oath to the people and President of Kazakhstan.
Article 66
The Government shall:
1) develop the main directions
of the socio-economic policy of the state, its defense capability, security,
guarantee of public order and organize their realization;
2) present to the Parliament
the republican budget and a report about its performance, ensure implementation
of the budget;
3) introduce draft of laws
into the Majilis and ensure enforcement of laws;
4) organize management of
state property;
5) develop measures for
the conduct of the foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
6) manage the activity of
ministries, state committees, other central and local executive bodies;
7) annul or suspend completely
or partially, the effect of acts of ministries, state committees, other
central and local executive bodies of the Republic;
8) appoint to and release
from office heads of central executive bodies not encompassed by the Government;
9) perform other functions
assigned to it by this Constitution, laws and acts of the President.
Article 67
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall:
1) organize and supervise
the work of the Government, personally answer for its work;
2) within a month after
his appointment, present to the Parliament a report about the Program of
the Government and in the event of its rejection, present a new report
about the Program within two months;
3) sign resolutions of the
Government;
4) report the main directions
of the Government's activity and all of its important decisions to the
President;
5) perform other functions
connected with organization and supervision of the Government's activity.
Article 68
1. Members of the Government
shall be independent in making decisions within their competence and bear
personal responsibility before the Prime Minister for the activity of bodies
subordinated to them . A member of the Government who does not agree with
the policy, pursued by the Government, or who does not pursue it shall
resign or subjected to release from his office.
2. Members of the Government
shall not have right to be deputies of a representative body, hold other
paid offices except teaching, scientific and other creative activities,
engage in entrepreneurial activity, enter governing body or a supervisory
board of a commercial organization.
Article 69
1. The Government of the
Republic of Kazakhstan shall issue resolutions on the items of its jurisdiction
having obligatory force on the entire territory of the Republic.
2. The Prime Minister of
the Republic shall issue directions having mandatory force on the entire
territory of the Republic.
3. Resolutions of the Government
and directions of the Prime Minister must not contradict the Constitution,
legislative acts, decrees and resolutions of the President of the Republic.
Article 70
1. The Government shall resign
its powers to the newly elected President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. The Government and any
of its members shall have the right to submit a resignation to the President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan if they consider further performance of the
functions assigned to them to be impossible.
3. The Government shall
submit its resignation to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in
the event that Parliament passes a vote of no confidence in the Government.
4. The President of the
Republic within a period of ten days shall consider the issue of accepting
or declining the resignation.
5. Acceptance of the resignation
shall denote the termination of the powers of the Government or a respective
member. Acceptance of the resignation of the Prime Minister shall denote
the termination of the powers of the entire Government.
6. In the event that the
resignation of the Government or its member is declined, the President
shall charge the Government or its member with continued performance of
their responsibilities. In the event that the resignation of the Government
owing to the passage of a vote of no confidence is declined, the President
shall have the right to dissolve Parliament.
7. The President of the
Republic shall have the right on his own initiative to adopt a decision
to terminate the powers of the Government and to release any of its members
from their offices. The release of the Prime Minister from office shall
denote the termination of the powers of the entire Government.
Section VI
1. The Constitutional Council
of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall consist of seven members whose powers
shall last for six years. The ex-Presidents of the Republic shall have
the right to be life-long members of the Constitutional Council
2. The Chairperson of the
Constitutional Council shall be appointed by the President of the Republic,
and in case the votes are equally divided, his vote snail be decisive.
3. Two members of the Constitutional
Council shall be appointed by the President of the Republic, two
by the Chairperson of Senate, and two by the Chairperson of the Majilis.
Half of the members of the Constitutional Council shall be renewed every
three years.
4. The Chairperson and members
of the Constitutional Council shall not be deputies, hold paid offices
except teaching, scientific or other creative activities, engage in entrepreneurial
activity, enter a governing body or a supervisory board of a commercial
organization.
5. The Chairperson and members
of the Constitutional Council during their term in office may not be arrested,
subject to detention, measures of administrative punishment imposed by
a court of law, arraigned on a criminal charge without the consent of Parliament,
except in cases of being apprehended on the scene of a crime or committing
grave crimes.
6. Organization and activity
of the Constitutional Council shall be regulated by Constitutional Law.
Article 72
1. The Constitutional Council
by appeal of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the (chairperson
of the Senate, the Chairperson of Majilis, not less than one-fifth of the
total number of deputies of Parliament, the Prime Minister shall:
1) decide on the correctness
of conducting the elections of the President of the Republic, deputies
of Parliament, and conducting an all-nation referendum in case of dispute;
2) consider the laws adopted
by Parliament with respect to their compliance with the Constitution of
the Republic. before they are signed by the President;
3) consider the international
treaties of the Republic with respect to their compliance with the constitution,
before they are ratified;
4) officially interpret
the standards of the Constitution;
5) conclude in cases stipulated
by paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 47 of the Constitution.
2. The Constitutional Council
shall consider the appeals of courts of law in cases stipulated by Article
78 of the Constitution.
Article 73
1. The inauguration of the
President, registration of the elected deputies of Parliament or results
of all-nation referendum snail be suspended in cases of appeal to the Constitutional
Council on issues mentioned in subparagraph 1) of paragraph 1 of Article
72 of the Constitution.
2. The term of signing or
ratifying of the corresponding acts shall be suspended in case of appeal
to the (constitutional Council on issues mentioned in subparagraphs 2)
and 3) of paragraph I of Article 72 of the Constitution.
3. The constitutional Council
shall pass a resolution within one month from the day of appeal. This period
of time, at the demand of the President or the Republic, may be shortened
by 10 days if the issue is urgent.
4. The President of the
Republic may object, as a whole or in part to the resolutions of the Constitutional
Council. These objection shall be overruled by two-thirds of the votes
of the total number of the members of the Constitutional Council. If the
objections of the President are not overruled, the resolution of the Constitutional
Council shall be considered not adopted.
Article 74
1. Laws and international
treaties recognized not to be in compliance with the Constitution of the
Republic of Kazakhstan, may not be signed or, accordingly, ratified and
brought into effect.
2. Laws and other regulatory
legal acts, recognized as infringing on the rights and freedoms of an individual
and citizen secured by the Constitution, shall be canceled and shall not
be in effect.
3. Resolutions of the Constitutional
Council shall come into effect from the day they are adopted, shall be
binding on the entire territory of the Republic, Final and not subject
to appeal.
1. Justice in the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall be exercised only by the court.
2. Judicial power shall
be exercised through the constitutional, civil, administrative, criminal
and other forms of judicial procedure as established by law. In cases,
stipulated by law, criminal procedure shall be carried out with participation
of jurymen.
3. The courts of the Republic
shall be the Supreme Court of the Republic and local courts of the Republic
established by law.
4. The judicial system of
the Republic shall be established by the Constitution of the Republic and
the constitutional law. The establishment of special and extraordinary
courts under any name shall not be allowed.
Article 76
1. Judicial power shall be
exercised on behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan and shall be intended
to protect the rights, freedoms, and legal interests of the citizens and
organizations for ensuring the observance of the Constitution, laws, other
regulatory legal acts, and shall ensure international treaties of the Republic.
2. Judicial power shall
be extended to all cases and disputes arising on the basis of this Constitution,
laws, other regulatory legal acts, international treaties of the Republic.
3. Decisions, sentences
and other judgments of courts shall have an obligatory force on the entire
territory of the Republic.
Article 77
1. A judge when executing
justice shall be independent and subordinate only to the Constitution and
the law.
2. Any interference in the
activity of the court in the exercise of justice shall be inadmissible
and accountable by the law. Judges shall not be held accountable with regard
to specific cases.
3. In application of law
a judge must be guided by the following principles:
1) a person snail be considered
to be innocent of committing a crime until his guilt is established by
a court's sentence that has come into force;
2) no one may be subject
twice to criminal or administrative prosecution for one and the same offense;
3) no one may have his jurisdiction,
as stipulated by law changed without his consent;
4) everyone shall have the
right to be heard in court;
5) the laws establishing
or intensifying liability, imposing new responsibilities on the citizens
or deteriorating their conditions shall have no retroactive force. If after
the commitment of an offense accountability for it is canceled by law or
reduced, the new law shall be applied;
6) the accused shall not
be obligated to prove his innocence;
7) no person shall be compelled
to give testimony against oneself, one's spouse and close relatives whose
circle is determined by law.
The clergy shall not be
obligated to testify against those who confided in them with some information
at a confession;
8) any doubts of a person's
guilt shall be interpreted in the favor of the accused;
9) evidence obtained by
illegal means shall have no juridical force. No person may be sentenced
on the basis of his own admission of guilt;
10) application of the criminal
law by analogy shall not be allowed.
4. The principles of justice
established by the Constitution shall be common and uniform for all courts
and judges in the Republic.
Article 78
1. The courts shall have
no right to apply laws and other regulatory legal acts infringing on the
rights and liberties of an individual and a citizen established by the
Constitution. If a court finds that a law or other regulatory legal act
subject to application infringes on the rights and liberties of an individual
and a citizen it shall suspend legal proceedings and address the Constitutional
Council with a proposal to
declare that law unconstitutional.
Article 79
1. Courts shall consist of
permanent judges whose independence shall be protected by the Constitution
and law. A judge's powers may be terminated or suspended exclusively on
the grounds established by law.
2. A judge may not be arrested,
subject to detention, measures of administrative punishment, imposed by
a court of law, arraigned on a criminal charge without the consent of the
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on a conclusion of the Highest
Judicial Council of the Republic or in a case stipulated by paragraph 3)
of Article 55 of the Constitution; without the consent of Senate except
for the cases of being apprehended on the scene of a crime or committing
grave crimes.
3. Judges may be citizens
of the Republic who have reached twenty-five years of age, have a higher
juridical education, length of service of not less than two years in the
legal profession and who have passed a qualification examination. Additional
requirements to the judges of the courts of the Republic may be established
by law.
4. The office of a judge
shall be incompatible with a deputy's mandate, holding other paid offices
except teaching, research or other creative activity engaging in other
entrepreneurial activity, or being a member of a managing body or supervisory
board of a commercial enterprise.
Article 80
Financing of courts, provision of judges with housing shall be performed from the republican budget and must ensure the possibility of complete and free exercise of justice.
Article 81
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be the highest judicial body for civil, criminal and other cases which are under the courts of general jurisdiction; exercises the supervision over their activities in the forms of juridical procedure stipulated by law, and provide interpretation on the issues of judicial practice.
Article 82
1. The Chairperson of the
Supreme Court, the Chair-persons of the Collegiums and judges of the Supreme
Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be elected by the Senate at the
proposal of the President of the Republic based on a recommendation of
the Highest Judicial Council of the Republic.
2. The Chairpersons of oblast
and equivalent courts, the Chairpersons of the Collegiums and judges of
the oblast and equivalent courts shall be appointed by the President of
the Republic at the recommendation of the Highest Judicial Court of the
Republic.
3. The Chairperson and judges
of other courts of the Republic shall be appointed by the President of
the Republic at the proposal of the Minister of Justice based on a recommendation
of the Qualification Collegium of Justice.
4. The Highest Judicial
Council shall be headed by the Chairperson who is appointed by the President
of the Republic and consist of the Chairperson of the Constitutional Council,
the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, the Procurator General, the Minister
of Justice, deputies of the Senate, judges and other persons appointed
by the President of the Republic. The Qualification Collegium of Justice
shall be an autonomous, independent institution formed from deputies of
the Majilis, judges, public prosecutors, teachers and scholars of law and
workers of the bodies of justice.
5. The status of the Highest
Judicial Council and the Qualification Collegium of Justice, and their
procedure of formation and organization of their work shall be determined
by law.
Article 83
1. The procurator's office
on behalf of the state shall exercise the highest supervision over exact
and uniform application of law, the decrees of the President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan and other regulatory legal acts on the territory of the Republic,
legality of preliminary investigation, inquest and inspection, administrative
and executive legal procedure; and take measures for exposure and
elimination of any violations
of the law, the independence of courts as well as the appeal of laws and
other regulatory legal acts contradicting the Constitution and laws of
the Republic. The Procurator's office of the Republic shall represent interest
of the state in court as well as conduct criminal prosecution in cases
using procedures and within the limits, stipulated by law.
2. The procurator's office
of the Republic shall be a unified centralized system with subordination
of junior procurators to their seniors and the Procurator General of the
Republic. It shall exercise its authorities independently of other state
bodies and officials and be accountable only to the President of the Republic.
3. The Procurator General
of the Republic during the term of his office may not be arrested, subject
to detention, measures of administrative punishment imposed by a court
of law, arraigned on a criminal charge without the consent of the Senate
except for the cases of being apprehended on the scene of a crime or committing
grave crimes. The term of the Procurator General shall be five years.
4. The jurisdiction, organization
and procedure of the activity of the procurator's office of the Republic
shall be determined by law.
Article 84
1. Inquiry and preliminary
investigation of criminal cases shall be carried out by special bodies
and be separated from the court and the procurator's office.
2. The powers, organization
and procedure of the activity of the inquest and investigation bodies,
other questions of preliminary investigation in the Republic of Kazakhstan
shall be regulated by law.
Section VIII
Local public administration shall be exercised by local representative and executive bodies which are responsible for the state of affairs of the respective territory.
Article 86
1. Local representative bodies
- maslikhats - shall express the will of the population of respective administrative-territorial
units and with regard to the common public interests shall determine the
measures needed for its realization, and control their implementation.
2. Maslikhats shall be elected
by the population on the basis of universal, equal suffrage under secret
ballot for a four -year term.
3. A deputy of a maslikhat
may be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan who has reached twenty years
of age. A citizen of the Republic may be a deputy of only one maslikhat.
4. The jurisdiction of maslikhats
shall include:
1) approval of plans, economic
and social programs for development of the territory, local budget and
reports of their performance;
2) decision of issues of
local administrative-territorial organization in their jurisdiction;
3) consideration of reports
by heads of local executive bodies on the issues delegated by law to the
jurisdiction of a maslikhat;
4) formation of standing
commissions and other working bodies of a maslikhat, nearing reports about
their activity, decision of other
issues connected with organization
of the work of a maslikhat;
5) exercise other authorities
for insuring of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens in accordance
with the legislation of the Republic.
5. The powers of a maslikhat
shall be prematurely terminated by the Senate on the grounds and according
to the procedure established by law as well as in the case of adoption
of a decision about self-dissolution.
6. The jurisdiction of maslikhats,
procedure of their organization and activity, and legal status of their
deputies ' hall be established by law.
Article 87
1. Local executive bodies
shall be a part of a unified system of the executive bodies of the Republic
of Kazakhstan, and ensure conduct of the general state policy of the executive
power in conjunction with the interests and development needs of the respective
territory.
2. The jurisdiction of local
executive bodies shall include:
1) development of drafts
of plans, economic and social programs for development of the territory,
local budget and provision of their
realization;
2) management of public
property;
3) appointment to and release
from office the heads of local executive bodies, resolution of other issues
connected with organization of
the work of local executive
bodies;
4) exercise other powers
delegated to local executive bodies by the legislation of the Republic
in the interests of local public
administration.
3. A local executive body
shall be headed by an akim of the respective administrative-territorial
unit who is a representative of the President and the Government of the
Republic.
4. Akims of the oblasts,
major cities and the capital shall be appointed to office by the President
of the Republic on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Akims of other
administrative-territorial units shall be appointed or elected to office
in the order, determined by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The President of the Republic shall have the right to release akims from
office at his own
discretion.
5. A maslikhat shall have
the right by two-thirds of votes from the total number of its deputies
to express non-confidence in the akim and raise the issue of his release
from office respectively before the President of the Republic or a senior
akim. The powers of akims of the oblasts, the major cities and the capital
shall terminate when a newly elected President assumes office.
6. The jurisdiction of local
executive bodies, organization and procedure of their activity shall be
established by law.
Article 88
1. Maslikhats shall adopt
decisions on the issues of their jurisdiction, akims shall adopt decisions
and resolutions which are binding on the territory of the respective administrative-territorial
unit.
2. Drafts of decisions of
maslikhats envisioning a reduction of local budgetary revenues or an increase
of local budgetary expenditures may be submitted for consideration only
with a positive resolution of the akim.
3. Decisions of maslikhats
not corresponding to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan
may be annulled by a legal process.
4. Decisions and resolutions
of akims may be respectively annulled by the President, the Government
oithe Republic of Kazakhstan or a senior akim, as well as by a legal process.
Article 89
1. In the Republic of Kazakhstan,
local self-administration which ensures that the issues of local significance
shall be resolved independently by the population, shall be recognized.
2. Local self-administration
shall be exercised by the population directly through elections as well
as through elective and other bodies of local self-administration in rural
and urban local communities covering the territories on which groups of
the population live compactly.
3. The procedure or organization
and activity of the bodies of local self-administration shall be determined
by citizens themselves within the limits of their powers established by
law.
4. The independence of the
bodies of local self-administration shall be guaranteed within the limits
of their powers established by law.
Section IX
Article 90
1. The Constitution of the
Republic of Kazakhstan adopted at an all-nation referendum shall come into
effect from the day of official publication of the results of the referendum
with the simultaneous termination of the functioning of the previously
adopted Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. The day of adoption of
the Constitution at the all-nation referendum shall be proclaimed a national
holiday -the Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Article 91
1. Amendments and additions
to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan may be introduced only
by an all-nation referendum held by the decision of the President of the
Republic made on his own initiative, at the recommendation of Parliament
or the Government. The draft of amendments and additions to the Constitution
shall not be submitted to an all-nation referendum if the President decides
to pass it to the consideration of Parliament. In this case, Parliament's
decision shall be adopted according to the procedure established by this
Constitution. In case the President of the Republic refuses the proposal
of the Parliament on submission of amendments and additions to the Constitution
for the consideration of the Republican referendum, the Parliament has
the right by majority of not less than four-fifths of votes of the total
number of deputies of each Chamber of the Parliament to adopt the law on
making of these amendments and additions to the Constitution. In such case
the President of the Republic shall sign this law or submit it for the
consideration of the Republican referendum which shall be deemed valid
if more than half of the Republican citizens, possessing the right to participate
in the Republican referendum, take part in it. Amendments and additions
to the Constitution, which are submitted for the consideration of the Republican
referendum, shall be deemed adopted, if more than half of citizens, taking
part in it, vote for it.
2. The unitary status and
territorial integrity of the Republic, the forms of government may not
be changed.
Article 92
1. The constitutional laws
must be adopted within a year from the day of enactment of the Constitution.
If the laws called constitutional in the Constitution or the acts having
the force thereof have been adopted by the moment of enactment of the Constitution,
they are brought into accordance with the Constitution and deemed to be
the constitutional laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. Other laws named in the
Constitution must be adopted according to the procedure and within the
terms determined by the Parliament but no later than two years after the
enactment of the Constitution.
3. The decrees of the President
of the Republic published within the term of his exercise of additional
powers in accordance with the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan from December
10, 1993 "On Temporary Delegation of Additional Powers to the President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Heads of Local Administration" and having
the force of law shall attain the force of law and may be altered,
amended or annulled according
to the procedure stipulated for alteration, amendment or annulment of the
laws of the Republic. The decrees of the President of the Republic published
within a term he exercises additional powers on the issues stipulated by
paragraphs 12-15, 18 and 20 of article 64 of the Constitution of the Republic
of Kazakhstan adopted on January 28, 1993 shall not be subject to approval
by Parliament of the Republic.
4. The legislation of the
Republic of Kazakhstan functioning at the moment of enactment of this Constitution
shall be applied in the part that does not contradict it and within two
years from the day of the adoption of the Constitution must be brought
into accordance with it.
Article 93
With the purpose of implementation of article 7 of the Constitution, the Government, local representative and executive bodies must create all necessary organizational, material and technical conditions for fluent and free-of-charge mastery of the state language by all citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with a special law.
Article 94
The President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan elected in accordance with the legislation of the Republic
of Kazakhstan functioning at the moment of enactment of this Constitution
shall acquire the powers of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
stipulated by it and exercise them during the term established by the decision
adopted at the all-nation referendum of April 29, 1995.
By consent of the President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan the present term of the powers of the President
of the Republic may be reduced by resolution of the Parliament of the Republic,
adopted at the joint session of its Chambers by the majority of votes of
the total number of deputies of each Chamber. In such case the Majilis
of the Parliament within one month shall order elections of the President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The President of the Republic, elected according
to the results of these elections, shall take the oath within one month
since the day of publication of the results of elections and exercise his
duties before taking office of the President of the Republic, elected in
regular Presidential elections, which shall be held after the expiration
of a seven-year term on the first Sunday of December.
2. The Vice-President of
the Republic of Kazakhstan elected in accordance with the legislation of
the Republic of Kazakhstan functioning at the moment of enactment î
this Constitution shall preserve his powers until the expiration of the
term for which he was elected.
Article 95
1. One half of the deputies
of the Senate of the first convocation shall be elected for a four-year
term, the other half of the deputies shall be elected for a two-year term
in the procedure, established by Constitutional Law.
2. Provisions of the Constitution
of the Republic of Kazakhstan on elections of deputies of the Majilis of
the Parliament on the basis of Party Lists shall be applied from the beginning
of elections of deputies of the Majilis of the Parliament of the second
convocation.
Article 96
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kazakstar from the day of enactment of this Constitution shall acquire the rights, obligations and responsibility of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Article 97
The first composition of the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be formed in the following manner: the President of the Republic, the Chairperson of the Senate of Parliament, the Chairperson of the Majilis of Parliament shall each appoint one member to the Constitutional Council for a three-year term and shall each appoint one member to the Constitutional Council for a six-year term. The Chairperson of the Constitutional Council shall be appointed by the President of the Republic for a six-year term.
Article 98
1. The justice and investigation
bodies stipulated by this Constitution shall be formed according to the
procedure and within the terms stipulated by the respective laws. The functioning
juridical and inquiry bodies shall retain their powers until new bodies
are formed.
2. Judges of the Supreme
Court and the Highest Arbitration Court and local courts of the Republic
of Kazakhstan shall retain their powers until the formation of courts,
as stipulated by the (constitution. Vacant offices of judges shall be filled
according to the procedure, established by the Constitution.