{"faq_id":"a99eb3f6-600b-4fa1-8bb1-97bd1ffc3020","code":"local-self-government","kind":"faq","canonical_slug":"local-self-government","section":{"id":21,"code":"local","slug":"local","title":"Local Government"},"lang":"en","question":"What Local Self-Government Is and How It Differs from Local Administration","short_answer":"Local administration is a top-down hierarchy: akims appointed from the centre. Local self-government is a bottom-up initiative: residents themselves decide what to repair and build. Since 2021, village akims are elected by residents. The 2026 Constitution enshrines self-government at the constitutional level.","blocks":{"answer_html":"<h2>Two terms – two approaches</h2>\n<p><strong>Local administration:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Top-down hierarchy – akims are appointed or confirmed by the centre</li>\n<li>Implements policy from Astana at the local level</li>\n<li>Funded from the national budget</li>\n<li>Accountable to higher-level akims and the President</li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong>Local self-government:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bottom-up initiative – residents decide local issues themselves</li>\n<li>Forms include: residents' assemblies, public councils, elected akims</li>\n<li>Funded from the local budget</li>\n<li>Accountable to residents</li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong>A practical example:</strong> the road in your village is repaired not because Astana included it in a plan, but because residents and their elected akim decided it was a priority – that is self-government.</p>\n<h2>Current framework</h2>\n<p>Since 2021, akims of <strong>villages and settlements</strong> are elected by residents. This is the first step toward genuine self-government. At the district and city level, appointment remains the current practice.</p>\n<h2>What the 2026 Constitution changes</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Constitutional recognition</strong> of self-government – not merely a statutory rule but a provision of the fundamental law</li>\n<li>Extending <strong>elected accountability</strong> for akims to higher levels</li>\n<li>Strengthening the <strong>role of maslikhats</strong></li>\n<li>Greater <strong>financial autonomy</strong> for local budgets</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Self-government is not separatism. It is the resolution of local issues by residents within a unified state – as practiced in democratic countries from Sweden to South Korea.</p>\n","facts_html":"<ul>\n<li>Local administration = top-down hierarchy (appointed akims)</li>\n<li>Local self-government = bottom-up initiative (elections, residents' assemblies, local budget)</li>\n<li>Since 2021 – village akims are elected; the 2026 Constitution extends elected accountability higher</li>\n<li>The 2026 Constitution enshrines self-government at the constitutional level</li>\n</ul>\n","what_not_change_html":"","where_detailed_html":"","misconceptions_html":""},"updated_at":"2026-06-16T00:00:00+00:00","article_refs":[{"number":87,"title":"Local Government and Self-Government"},{"number":88,"title":"Local Government and Self-Government"},{"number":89,"title":"Local Government and Self-Government"},{"number":90,"title":"Local Government and Self-Government"},{"number":91,"title":"Local Government and Self-Government"}],"entity_links":[{"type":"constitutional_article","number":87,"label":"Article 87","title":"Local Government and Self-Government","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-87"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":88,"label":"Article 88","title":"Local Government and Self-Government","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-88"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":89,"label":"Article 89","title":"Local Government and Self-Government","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-89"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":90,"label":"Article 90","title":"Local Government and Self-Government","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-90"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":91,"label":"Article 91","title":"Local Government and Self-Government","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-91"}],"source_records":[{"id":"constitution-2026-official","type":"constitution","url":"https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000","title":"Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan","publisher":"Adilet Legal Information System","checked_at":"2026-07-16","reviewed_at":"2026-07-18","checked_at_label":"16 July 2026"}],"verified_claims":[],"implementation_status":null,"source_schema_records":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan","url":"https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Adilet Legal Information System"},"dateModified":"2026-07-16"}],"source_citation_urls":["https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000"]}