Before → After

Unicameral Kurultai: 145 deputies elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. Term of office – 5 years.

The office of Vice President is introduced. It is appointed by the President with the consent of the Kurultai and is first in the line of presidential succession.

7 years, single term (unchanged). New requirement: at least 5 years of experience in public service or elected positions. The single-term provision is entrenched as unamendable.

Prime Minister appointed with Kurultai's consent. The Vice President coordinates Government work on the President's behalf. The President independently appoints the Chair of the Constitutional Court, Prosecutor General, and Chair of the National Bank; Kurultai consent is required for Constitutional Court judges, Central Election Commission members, and Supreme Audit Chamber members.

New block: protection of personal data from unlawful collection, processing and storage, including via digital technologies. Privacy of communications transmitted through digital means. Right to erasure of information about oneself (right to be forgotten).

Without a court ruling, detention may not exceed 48 hours – a 24-hour reduction, enshrined directly in the Constitution.

Upon detention, every person must be informed of the grounds for deprivation of liberty and their rights. The right to a lawyer from the moment of detention is now constitutionally guaranteed.

Now functions as a general constitutional principle for criminal offenses. Also codified: no one is obligated to testify against themselves or close relatives. Clergy are not obligated to testify against those who confided in them during confession.

Every person has the right to compensation by the state for harm caused by unlawful actions of state bodies or their officials.

Constitutional Court is retained. Chief Justice appointed with Kurultai's consent. Courts may not apply laws that infringe constitutionally guaranteed rights. Judicial power is exercised in the name of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

All previous guarantees are retained. Added: judicial power is exercised for the purpose of protecting citizens' rights and freedoms. Prohibition on conviction based solely on confession is retained.

The Kazakhstan People's Council receives constitutional status as a consultative-advisory body under the President, comprising civil society representatives, NGOs, experts, and regional representatives.

The constitutional right to individual and collective appeals is retained. Petitions are governed by the Administrative Procedural Code, while Article 60 gives legislative initiative to the President, Kurultai deputies, the Government, and the People's Council, not directly to citizens.

Citizens have the right to participate in nationwide referendums. The list of issues subject to referendum is clarified. Citizens convicted by court verdict do not have the right to participate in a referendum.

Freedom of speech and scientific, technical, artistic creativity is guaranteed. Censorship is prohibited. Added: freedom of speech must not encroach on the honour and dignity of others, or on citizens' health and public morality. Intellectual property is protected by law.

New constitutional requirement: information about the financial flows of non-commercial organizations receiving foreign funding must be open and accessible. Financing of political parties and trade unions by foreign persons and organizations is prohibited.

Citizens have the right to peaceful assemblies. The wording is shortened. The specific list of forms (rallies, demonstrations, pickets) is delegated to statutory law.

The procedure for international treaties to take effect on Kazakhstani territory is now determined by national legislation. The Constitution enshrines the primacy of sovereign national decisions.

New principles of the Republic's activity: protection of sovereignty and independence, the rule of law and order, strengthening of national unity, development of public dialogue, and ecological culture.

Free secondary education is guaranteed. Primary and secondary education become compulsory (expanded). The education system is secular in character, except for religious educational institutions.

Citizens are entitled to receive medical assistance established by law at no personal cost. The wording is clarified: 'not paid by them' rather than 'free of charge'.

The state retains the goal of environmental protection. Among the new principles of the Republic's activity is 'formation of a high ecological culture.' Concealment by officials of threats to citizens' life and health entails liability.

Preamble: 'We, the united people of Kazakhstan… following the idea of Just Kazakhstan and the principle of Law and Order… declaring strict observance of the rights and freedoms of citizens.' The emphasis is on citizens' rights and national unity.

State language – Kazakh (Article 7). In state organizations and local self-governance bodies, Russian is officially used alongside Kazakh. The state ensures conditions for learning and developing the languages of the 'united people of Kazakhstan'.

The ban on dual and multiple citizenship is retained. New provision: possession of another citizenship is grounds for termination of Kazakhstani citizenship. The wording 'vital interests' is replaced with 'national interests'.

A constitutional definition is added: 'Marriage is a voluntary and equal union of a man and a woman, registered by the state in accordance with the law.'