{"faq_id":"3ea4fdbe-690a-4d29-a941-e574d5ce0bfd","code":"what-is-constitution","kind":"faq","canonical_slug":"what-is-constitution","section":{"id":23,"code":"about","slug":"about","title":"About the Constitution"},"lang":"en","question":"What Is the Constitution","short_answer":"The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state that defines the structure of power, citizens' rights, and the basic rules of society. It is not a political program or ideological manifesto but the legal foundation upon which all other laws are built. The Constitution establishes the \"rules of the game\" for everyone – from the president to ordinary citizens.","blocks":{"answer_html":"<h2>Why We Need a Constitution</h2>\n<p>The Constitution serves three key functions:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Limits state power.</strong> The Constitution prevents the government from acting arbitrarily – it establishes clear boundaries for every body's authority and mechanisms of checks and balances.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Guarantees citizens' rights.</strong> Fundamental rights – to life, freedom of speech, property, fair trial – are enshrined in the Constitution and protected from changes by ordinary laws.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Establishes rules of interaction between institutions.</strong> Who is elected and how, how laws are adopted, who is responsible for what – all of this is written in the Constitution.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<h2>How the Constitution Differs from Ordinary Laws</h2>\n<p>The Constitution has <strong>supreme legal force</strong>:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Any law contradicting the Constitution is invalid.</li>\n<li>The Constitution can only be changed through a referendum – direct voting by citizens.</li>\n<li>The Constitution is reviewed by a separate body – the Constitutional Court.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Ordinary laws elaborate on constitutional norms but cannot override or contradict them.</p>\n<h2>The Constitution Is a Living Document</h2>\n<p>The Constitution is not written once and forever. It evolves with society. The economy changes, new technologies emerge (internet, digital rights), new challenges arise (cybersecurity, data protection) – and the Constitution must respond to these changes.</p>\n<p>At the same time, fundamental principles remain stable:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Popular sovereignty</li>\n<li>Separation of powers</li>\n<li>Human rights guarantees</li>\n<li>Territorial integrity</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Updating the Constitution is not &quot;rewriting from scratch&quot; but adjusting institutions to new conditions while preserving fundamental values.</p>\n","facts_html":"<ul>\n<li>Constitution = rules of the game for all members of society</li>\n<li>Supreme legal force – no law can contradict it</li>\n<li>Changed only through referendum – citizens decide</li>\n<li>Protects rights and limits power simultaneously</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":1,"title":"State Foundations and Highest Values"},{"number":4,"title":"Popular Sovereignty and Separation of Powers"},{"number":5,"title":"Supremacy of the Constitution"},{"number":12,"title":"Protection of Human Rights"}],"entity_links":[{"type":"constitutional_article","number":1,"label":"Article 1","title":"State Foundations and Highest Values","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-1"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":4,"label":"Article 4","title":"Popular Sovereignty and Separation of Powers","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-4"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":5,"label":"Article 5","title":"Supremacy of the Constitution","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-5"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":12,"label":"Article 12","title":"Protection of Human Rights","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-12"}],"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"]}