# What Types of Laws Exist and How They Relate to Each Other

> The hierarchy runs: Constitution → constitutional laws → laws → presidential decrees → government resolutions → ministerial orders. Any lower-ranking act that contradicts a higher-ranking one has no legal force. The Constitution sits at the top.

Canonical URL: https://constitution.my/p/constitution-levels-of-law?lang=en
Language: en
Updated: 2026-07-26

Section: About the Constitution

Not all laws are equal. There is a clear hierarchy in Kazakhstan's legal system – and the Constitution stands at its peak.

## Hierarchy of legal acts

| Level | What it is | Who adopts it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Constitution | The fundamental law | The people (referendum) |
| 2. Constitutional laws | Laws on matters explicitly named in the Constitution | Kurultai (2/3 majority) |
| 3. Laws | The main body of legislation | Kurultai (simple majority) |
| 4. Presidential decrees | Normative acts of the head of state | President |
| 5. Government resolutions | Acts of the executive | Government |
| 6. Ministerial orders | Departmental acts | Ministers |
| 7. Maslikhat decisions | Local normative acts | Maslikhats |

## The priority rule

If an act at a lower level contradicts one at a higher level, **the higher-ranking act prevails**:

- A ministerial order cannot contradict a law.
- A law cannot contradict a constitutional law.
- Nothing can contradict the Constitution.

## Why this matters in practice

Suppose a local official cites a departmental order and denies you a right guaranteed by the Constitution. That order **has no legal force**. You can:

- challenge it in court;
- report it to the Prosecutor's Office;
- apply to the Constitutional Court if the problem lies with the law itself.

## Constitutional laws – a special tier

Constitutional laws are adopted on matters explicitly listed in the Constitution: on the President, the Kurultai, the courts, and referendums. Their adoption requires a **qualified majority** – at least 2/3 of deputies. They are harder to amend than ordinary laws.

## Key Facts

- The Constitution is the supreme act, at the top of the hierarchy
- A lower-ranking act that contradicts a higher-ranking one has no legal force
- Constitutional laws require a 2/3 majority in the Kurultai
- The hierarchy is a practical tool for defending your rights

## Checked sources

- [Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan](https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000) – Adilet Legal Information System (checked 2026-07-16)

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/constitution-levels-of-law?lang=en
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