{"faq_id":"e1fdb710-e1cf-478e-b8a3-0cd7796b557a","code":"practical-entry-into-force","kind":"faq","canonical_slug":"practical-entry-into-force","section":{"id":22,"code":"practical","slug":"practical","title":"Practical"},"lang":"en","question":"When the New Constitution Entered Into Force","short_answer":"Following the referendum of 15 March 2026, the new Constitution entered into force on 1 July 2026. Until then, the 1995 Constitution remained in force. During the transition period (16 March – 30 June), all institutions continued operating, key laws were signed on June 5, and preparations continued for Kurultai elections.","blocks":{"answer_html":"<h2>Key dates</h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Event</th>\n<th>Date</th>\n</tr>\n</thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Referendum</td>\n<td><strong>15 March 2026</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Official result announced by the CEC</td>\n<td>By <strong>22 March 2026</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Transitional period</td>\n<td>16 March – 30 June</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Entry into force</td>\n<td><strong>1 July 2026</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Elections to the Kurultai</td>\n<td>August 23, 2026</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<h2>What happens during the transitional period</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The 1995 Constitution <strong>remains in force</strong> until 1 July</li>\n<li>The Mazhilis and Senate <strong>continue their work</strong></li>\n<li>The Government, courts, and Constitutional Court – <strong>without interruption</strong></li>\n<li>Key constitutional laws for the new institutions were already signed on June 5</li>\n<li>Preparations are underway for the decree and calendar of Kurultai elections (145 deputies elected by proportional representation)</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>What happens on 1 July</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The new Constitution entered into force</li>\n<li>The 1995 Constitution ceased to have effect</li>\n<li>Existing acts apply only insofar as they do not contradict the new Constitution; state bodies must align them without a fixed one-year deadline in the Constitution</li>\n<li>The Parliament formed under the 1995 Constitution ceased its powers</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>If the vote is 'No' or turnout is below 50%</h2>\n<p>Nothing enters into force. The 1995 Constitution remains. A repeat referendum cannot be held for at least one year.</p>\n<p>The date of 1 July is fixed in the new Constitution. The transitional period is not a vacuum but a standard legal mechanism.</p>\n<p>→ <a href=\"/full-text?lang=en\">Full text of the 2026 Constitution</a> · <a href=\"/constitution-1995?lang=en\">1995 Constitution (previous)</a></p>\n","facts_html":"<ul>\n<li>Entry into force – 1 July 2026 after the referendum of 15 March 2026</li>\n<li>Transitional period – 3.5 months; all institutions operate without interruption</li>\n<li>Key constitutional laws were signed on 5 June 2026</li>\n<li>Kurultai deputy elections are scheduled for August 23, 2026</li>\n<li>The former Parliament ceased its powers on July 1, 2026; until the Kurultai election, the legal system operates under the Constitution's transitional provisions</li>\n</ul>\n","what_not_change_html":"","where_detailed_html":"","misconceptions_html":""},"updated_at":"2026-07-16T00:00:00+00:00","article_refs":[{"number":94,"title":"Entry into Force"},{"number":95,"title":"Transitional Provisions"},{"number":96,"title":"Alignment of Legislation"}],"entity_links":[{"type":"constitutional_article","number":94,"label":"Article 94","title":"Entry into Force","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-94"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":95,"label":"Article 95","title":"Transitional Provisions","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-95"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":96,"label":"Article 96","title":"Alignment of Legislation","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-96"}],"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":"2026-07-16","checked_at_label":"16 July 2026"},{"id":"kurultai-election-decree","type":"presidential_decree","url":"https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/U2600001338","title":"Decree calling the Kurultai election for August 23, 2026","publisher":"Adilet Legal Information System","checked_at":"2026-07-16","reviewed_at":"2026-07-16","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"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Decree calling the Kurultai election for August 23, 2026","url":"https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/U2600001338","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Adilet Legal Information System"},"dateModified":"2026-07-16"}],"source_citation_urls":["https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000","https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/U2600001338"]}