How the New Constitution Was Developed

The new Constitution was created openly, with the participation of experts, citizens, and representatives of all regions. The process took six months – from September 2025 to February 2026 – and included collecting proposals, expert review, public discussions, and coordination.

About the Constitution 1 min read 📄
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Development Timeline

Stage 1: Launching the Process (September 2025)

Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the need for constitutional reform in his Address to the Nation of Kazakhstan. The key focus – transition to a unicameral parliament and strengthening mechanisms of popular participation.

Stage 2: Forming the Working Group (October 2025)

An interdepartmental Working Group on parliamentary reform was created. Its members included:

  • Constitutional lawyers
  • Deputies of the current Parliament (all parties)
  • Business community representatives
  • Human rights advocates and NGO activists
  • Public administration experts
  • Regional representatives

Stage 3: Collecting Citizen Proposals (October 2025 – January 2026)

Online platforms for proposals were launched:

  • e-Otinish – official appeals portal
  • eGov – state services portal

Any citizen could submit their proposal. Over 2,000 proposals were received. Each was reviewed by the working group.

Stage 4: Constitutional Commission Work (January–February 2026)

The Constitutional Commission (130+ members) was formed under the chairmanship of Elvira Azimova (Chair of the Constitutional Court).

All commission sessions were held in an open format with online broadcast. Topics discussed:

  • Power structure
  • Checks and balances mechanisms
  • Citizens' rights (including digital)
  • Electoral system
  • Popular participation institutions

Stage 5: Publication and Final Discussion (February 2026)

The new Constitution was published for public review. Events held:

  • Expert roundtables
  • Regional discussions
  • Media briefings

Stage 6: Referendum (March 15, 2026)

Citizens made the decision on March 15, 2026: voting took place on March 15, 2026.

Who Participated in Development

Constitutional Commission members (130+):

  • Lawyers – constitutionalists, judges, prosecutors
  • Parliamentarians – deputies from all factions (Amanat, Auyl, QHP, Respublika, OSDP)
  • Business – representatives of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken"
  • Civil society – NGOs, human rights advocates, activists
  • Regions – representatives of all oblasts and cities of republican significance
  • Academia – scholars, legal researchers
  • Media – journalists, editors
  • Culture – figures from culture and arts

Gender balance: maintained (at least 30% women).

Regional balance: all regions of Kazakhstan represented.

Process Transparency

  1. All sessions broadcast live – on official portals and YouTube
  2. Materials published – minutes, transcripts, proposals (anonymized)
  3. Open communication channel – citizens could ask questions via eGov
  4. Media coverage – daily briefings, interviews with commission members

Key facts

  • Six months of work – September 2025 to February 2026
  • 130+ experts – lawyers, deputies, business, NGOs, regions
  • 2,000+ citizen proposals – via e-Otinish and eGov
  • All sessions open – live broadcasts, access to materials
Related questions

What Is the Constitution

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.

Why We Are Updating the Constitution

The 1995 Constitution laid the foundations of an independent state. But over 30 years, the economy, technology, public expectations, and governance institutions have changed. Updating the Constitution is not abandoning previous values but aligning the legal system with the reality of 2026.

Key Changes in the New Constitution

The new Constitution preserves the foundations of statehood but changes the architecture of power and strengthens citizens' rights. Key changes: transition to a unicameral parliament, introduction of the Vice President, expansion of digital rights, and strengthened mechanisms of popular oversight.

Full Text of the New Constitution

Here you can access the full text of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The document is available for download in Kazakh and Russian.