The Mäjilis plays a role in Kazakhstan’s legislative process, responsible for passing laws, approving the national budget, ratifying international treaties, and overseeing the executive branch.

The Senate, the upper house, consists of 50 deputies who are appointed either by local legislative bodies (mäslihats), the President, or the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan for six-year terms.

Over time, the Parliament has evolved to play a key role in shaping the legislative framework of Kazakhstan, contributing to the development of national policies and governance, and ensuring checks and balances within the political system.

Most deputies at the time served on a part-time basis, balancing their duties with regular jobs, while the president advocated for a fully professional parliament.

Unlike in neighboring Russia, where a constitutional crisis led to violent clashes, Kazakhstan’s conflict concluded with the parliament dissolving itself.

For example, Supreme Soviet Deputy Lyudmila Filaretova openly claimed that the dissolution was the president’s idea but later apologized for this statement.

[1] In 1995, following the dissolution of the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, a new legislative body was established through a constitutional referendum held on 30 August 1995.

[3] This referendum resulted in the adoption of a new draft of the Constitution of Kazakhstan, which introduced a bicameral parliament, replacing the previous unicameral structure.

[4] This reform came after a significant legal challenge when Tatyana Kvyatkovskaya, a journalist and former Supreme Council candidate, filed a lawsuit to annul the results of the 1994 Kazakh legislative elections.

This newly established Parliament convened for its first session on 30 January 1996, laying the foundation for Kazakhstan’s new legislative system under the revised Constitution.

[7] However, these changes also paved the way for a more authoritarian system, as the amendments exempted President Nazarbayev from term limits, effectively allowing him to remain in power indefinitely.

[8] This led to the 2007 legislative elections, where the ruling Nur Otan party won all the contested seats in the Mäjilis, eliminating opposition and establishing a one-party state for a brief period.

[11] This title provided Nazarbayev with vast powers, allowing him to control key government policies even without holding the office of President.

It also granted him immunity from criminal prosecution for any actions taken during his time in office and protected his family’s assets, ensuring their continued influence in Kazakhstan's political and economic landscape.