{"items":[{"slug":"myths-law-vs-constitution","code":"myths-law-vs-constitution","kind":"faq","question":"Myth: 'If the Law Says So, the Constitution Doesn't Matter'","short_answer":"Myth: 'The law is the law – the Constitution has nothing to do with it.' Fact: the Constitution stands above any law. If a law contradicts the Constitution, it has no legal force. The Constitutional Court strikes down unconstitutional provisions on any citizen's application – free of charge via eGov.","section":{"code":"myths","title":"Myths"}},{"slug":"myths-constitution-always-good","code":"myths-constitution-always-good","kind":"faq","question":"Myth: 'If the Constitution Was Adopted by Referendum, It Must Be Perfect'","short_answer":"A referendum confers legitimacy – but not perfection. The US Constitution began by enshrining slavery. Kazakhstan's 1995 Constitution required 56 amendments in 2022. Every constitution is a compromise. That is precisely why the 2026 Constitution builds in mechanisms for renewal: the Constitutional Court, amendments, and the Khalyk Kenesi.","section":{"code":"myths","title":"Myths"}},{"slug":"constitution-history-path-to-2026","code":"constitution-history-path-to-2026","kind":"faq","question":"How Kazakhstan Reached the 2026 Constitution","short_answer":"The 2026 Constitution did not emerge suddenly. It is the product of a long constitutional evolution that began with independence in 1991, passed through the Constitutions of 1993 and 1995, and accelerated significantly after the constitutional changes of 2022.","section":{"code":"history","title":"History"}},{"slug":"what-is-constitution","code":"what-is-constitution","kind":"faq","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.","section":{"code":"about","title":"About the Constitution"}},{"slug":"constitution-history-1993","code":"constitution-history-1993","kind":"faq","question":"What the 1993 Constitution Was","short_answer":"The 1993 Constitution was the first Constitution of independent Kazakhstan. It established the legal foundations of sovereignty and marked the transition from the Soviet legal order to a national constitutional system. It remained, however, a transitional document and was soon superseded by a more stable constitutional model.","section":{"code":"history","title":"History"}},{"slug":"constitutional-court","code":"constitutional-court","kind":"faq","question":"Constitutional Court","short_answer":"The Constitutional Court is an independent body of constitutional review. A citizen may challenge a normative legal act that directly affects their constitutional rights, but the constitutional law sets admissibility conditions for that route.","section":{"code":"power","title":"Government"}},{"slug":"myth-any-constitution-good","code":"myth-any-constitution-good","kind":"faq","question":"Myth: “Any Constitution is good simply because it is a Constitution”","short_answer":"Not every constitution is good merely by virtue of existing. A constitution can be democratic and rights-protecting, or it can be vague, overly centralized, weak in guarantees, and ineffective in practice. What matters is not the title of the document, but its content, safeguards, and real operation.","section":{"code":"myths","title":"Myths"}},{"slug":"constitution-history-1995","code":"constitution-history-1995","kind":"faq","question":"What the 1995 Constitution Changed","short_answer":"The 1995 Constitution created the basic framework of Kazakhstan’s modern state system. It clarified the structure of power, consolidated the presidential model, and provided the legal foundation for institutional stability over three decades.","section":{"code":"history","title":"History"}},{"slug":"myths-constitution-doesnt-work","code":"myths-constitution-doesnt-work","kind":"faq","question":"Myth: 'The Constitution Doesn't Work Anyway, So What's Written in It Doesn't Matter'","short_answer":"The claim that 'the Constitution doesn't work' is a common myth. Since 2023, the Constitutional Court has accepted dozens of applications from ordinary citizens and struck down several unconstitutional provisions. Applications are free and submitted via eGov. The Constitution works – when people use it.","section":{"code":"myths","title":"Myths"}},{"slug":"law-on-constitutional-court","code":"law-on-constitutional-court","kind":"faq","question":"Law on the Constitutional Court – what changes?","short_answer":"The Constitutional Court retains its role as guarantor of constitutional supremacy. The new model changes the composition from 11 to 10 judges, the appointment process, and term length; citizen applications have been accepted since January 1, 2023.","section":{"code":"constitutional_laws","title":"Constitutional Laws"}},{"slug":"constitutional-court-term-counting-july-2026","code":"constitutional-court-term-counting-july-2026","kind":"faq","question":"How are office terms counted after the new Constitution entered into force?","short_answer":"On July 7, 2026, the Constitutional Court explained that holding the relevant office under the 1995 Constitution does not itself prevent a new election or appointment. For limits in the new Constitution, an election or appointment after July 1, 2026 is treated as the first.","section":{"code":"post_referendum","title":"Current Focus"}},{"slug":"constitution-direct-effect","code":"constitution-direct-effect","kind":"faq","question":"What Does the 'Direct Effect' of the Constitution Mean","short_answer":"Direct effect allows a person to invoke a constitutional provision, but it does not dispense with evidence, time limits, procedure or requirements of special legislation. In a concrete dispute, read the constitutional text with the applicable procedure.","section":{"code":"rights","title":"Rights"}},{"slug":"constitution-how-to-read","code":"constitution-how-to-read","kind":"faq","question":"How to Read Constitutional Changes Correctly","short_answer":"Constitutional change is easiest to understand when read historically rather than as isolated legal fragments. The best approach is to compare the previous and proposed texts and place them in the sequence of 1993, 1995, 2022, and 2026.","section":{"code":"history","title":"History"}},{"slug":"constitution-reforms-2022","code":"constitution-reforms-2022","kind":"faq","question":"What the 2022 Constitutional Reforms Changed","short_answer":"The 2022 constitutional reforms were aimed at rebalancing Kazakhstan’s political system. They marked a shift away from an overly centralised model toward a more balanced institutional arrangement, and served as a direct precursor to the deeper reforms of 2026.","section":{"code":"history","title":"History"}},{"slug":"myth-constitution-solves-everything","code":"myth-constitution-solves-everything","kind":"faq","question":"Myth: “The new Constitution will improve life immediately”","short_answer":"A Constitution is a legal foundation, not an automatic outcome. Real change depends on laws, court practice, and civic use. The distance between a norm and daily reality is usually measured in years of institutional work.","section":{"code":"myths","title":"Myths"}},{"slug":"constitutional-laws-june-2026","code":"constitutional-laws-june-2026","kind":"faq","question":"What constitutional laws were signed on June 5, 2026?","short_answer":"Four core laws cover the President, the Kurultai, the Constitutional Court, and the Kazakhstan People's Council. They entered into force on July 1, 2026. The Kurultai law sets 145 seats, a 7% threshold, and an aggregate quota of at least 30% for women, young people, and persons with disabilities; citizen access to the Constitutional Court has operated since 2023.","section":{"code":"post_referendum","title":"Current Focus"}},{"slug":"constitution-how-to-read-simple","code":"constitution-how-to-read-simple","kind":"faq","question":"How to Read the Constitution","short_answer":"It's better to read the Constitution in blocks rather than sequentially: first rights and freedoms, then the power structure and amendment procedure.","section":{"code":"about","title":"About the Constitution"}},{"slug":"practical-entry-into-force","code":"practical-entry-into-force","kind":"faq","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.","section":{"code":"practical","title":"Practical"}},{"slug":"full-text","code":"full-text","kind":"faq","question":"Full Text of the New Constitution","short_answer":"Here you can access the full text of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan online in Kazakh and Russian, along with official publications and comparative materials.","section":{"code":"about","title":"About the Constitution"}},{"slug":"what-changed-after-vote","code":"what-changed-after-vote","kind":"faq","question":"What changed after the new Constitution was adopted?","short_answer":"On 15 March 2026, citizens of Kazakhstan approved the new Constitution in a referendum. Key constitutional laws were signed on June 5, the Constitution took effect on July 1, and on the same day the decree calling Kurultai elections was signed. Kurultai deputy elections were held on August 23, 2026.","section":{"code":"post_referendum","title":"Current Focus"}}]}