How is the People's Council formed?
The body has 126 members divided into three equal groups: ethnocultural associations (42), NGOs and civil society (42), and maslikhats plus regions (42). Candidates are nominated by those structures and then approved by the President.
Composition
The People's Council includes 126 members divided into three equal groups of 42 each:
- representatives of ethnocultural associations
- representatives of NGOs, professional associations, and civil society
- representatives of maslikhats and regional public councils
How It Is Formed
- First, candidates are nominated by the relevant bodies
- Then the final composition is approved by the President It is not an elected parliamentary body, but a consultative and nominative constitutional institution.
Powers
- the right of legislative initiative in the Kurultai
- the right to initiate a referendum
- sessions held at least once a year
How It Differs from the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan
The old Assembly is dissolved. The People's Council becomes its constitutional successor, but with a wider mandate that covers not only ethnocultural bodies, but also NGOs, professional groups, and regions.
Term and Launch
- members serve 4-year terms
- the law has been in force since July 1 and the Secretariat was created on July 2; no date for approving the membership or holding the first session has yet been published
Basis for this explainer
Constitutional provisions and primary sources supporting this explanation.
Constitutional provisions
Primary sources
Open sources the editorial team used to verify this explainer. Checked 16 July 2026.
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