Under the 21-year leadership of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev since the party's founding, Amanat had constantly won Kazakhstan's presidential and national parliamentary elections, more often in recent history with a supermajority number of votes amidst claims of rigging and lack of viable opposition.
[13][3] Amanat views itself as a party which promotes reforms in civil service, economic diversity, open government, the rule of law, and national interests.
[3] Amanat traces back to its origins in October 1998, when the Public Headquarters in Support of the Candidate for President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nazarbayev N.A.
[14] Shortly following President Nursultan Nazarbayev's re-election win, a decision was made at the headquarters' meeting on 19 January 1999 to convert the formerly campaign staff into the "Otan" Republican Political Party, which was subsequently registered on 12 February 1999.
"[22] At the 4th Extraordinary Congress held on 9 November 2002, the amendments and additions were made to the Otan's party charter, program for the development of small and medium-sized businesses for 2003–2005 was approved.
Having an overwhelming majority in the representative bodies of power at all levels, the party gained its opportunity to influence the socio-economic policy of the state by region.
The party intended to unite all the constructive civic forces within the country on the platform of support for Nazarbayev and provide him with new opportunities to complete political reforms.
[27] The Otan pledged to implement the initiatives set by Nazarbayev of which were reviving the rural villages, developing agricultural production, domestic industry, small and medium-sized businesses.
[31] This came after the dissolution of the 3rd Mazhilis in June 2007 and amendments to the Constitution of Kazakhstan, which removed limit on president's activities with political parties during his term of office.
[32] and the amendments to the Constitution which changed Kazakhstan's electoral system, the Nur Otan presented 127 persons in the party-list which were scheduled to be elected for the first time through proportional representation.
[34] In 2008, the Nur Otan formed its youth wing named Jas Otan and that same year in February, the party signed a cooperation agreement with the Agency of Combating Economic and Corruption Crime to which according to First Deputy Chairman Adilbek Zhaksybekov: "The public councils will influence through the media, through methods of public influence, so that cases brought for corruption offences are brought to an end.
"[35] Just month later on 3 March 2008, the Nur Otan Republican Public Anti-Corruption Council was formed, which was an advisory body under the party aimed at fighting corruption.
He also called for the party to cooperate with non-government organisations (NGOs) and that the Nur Otan should keep issues of corruption in the health and justice system on the stand.
[41] At the 14th Extraordinary Congress held on 25 November 2011, the party unveiled its electoral platform called the "Kazakhstan 2017 Goals National Plan of Action".
[48] The Nur Otan presented its doctrine to which called for evolutionary development and to build a democratic, prosperous, competitive and socially oriented state where every motivated, law-abiding and hard-working citizen would benefit himself and society.
[51][52] On 11 March 2015, at the 16th Ordinary Congress held at the Palace of Independence, around 1,200 delegates took part in which for the first time more than 20% of them were heads of primary party organizations.
[53] At the congress, the participants discussed the issues in the results of works by the Political Council, Central Control, Audit Commission as well as the candidacy nomination for the 2015 presidential election.
[53] Nazarbayev for the last time became a presidential nominee for the Nur Otan and at the congress, put forward his proposed five institutional reforms in response to the economic challenges which were the formation of a modern, professional and autonomous state apparatus; ensuring the rule of law; industrialization and economic growth based on diversification; a nation of a common future; and a transparent and accountable state.
[55] Following the announcement of the snap elections for Mazhilis, the 17th Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress took place on 29 January 2016 which Nazarbayev proclaimed it as a "historical moment", reflecting his 17-year chairmanship of the party where he claimed that it become a "basis for concrete achievements of our economy, state and society".
[57] In the aftermath of 2016 legislative elections, the Nur Otan won an extra seat and 82.2% of the vote, a margin slightly more than compared to 2012 from which Nazarbayev called it "a great accomplishment of our democracy.
[65] The party operates based on principles like voluntariness, equality, self-government, legality, and transparency, with its mission and values outlined in the political platform.
Ultimately, ensuring accurate registration and data integrity falls under the responsibility of primary party organization leaders, as well as branch chairpersons and executive secretaries.
Amanat facilitates the formation of faction in the Mäjilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and as groups in local representative bodies (mäslihat) with their registration and operations governed by respective regulations.
They have distinct responsibilities, including participation in legislative processes, holding consultations on key government appointments, and can even initiate significant political actions such as motion of no confidence.
Members The Central Office serves as the coordinating hub for the party's structural subdivisions and branches, offering comprehensive support encompassing information, analysis, organizational logistics, and legal assistance while ensuring the implementation of directives from the chairman, executive secretary, and other party leadership; its operational guidelines and staffing decisions are set by the Executive Secretary, who also oversees employment matters in compliance with Kazakh labour and social security regulations.
The party doctrine adopted in 2013 says that Nur Otan is "the dominant political force that consolidates society and ensures the implementation of the State course of Elbasy."