# How is the Kurultai different from the Mazhilis and the Senate?

> The Kurultai is a unicameral parliament. The Senate and presidential appointments to parliament are abolished. There are 145 deputies instead of 147 and the threshold rises from 5% to 7%. Women, young people, and persons with disabilities must jointly make up at least 30% of a party list.

Canonical URL: https://constitution.my/p/kurultai-vs-mazhilis?lang=en
Language: en
Updated: 2026-07-26

Section: Kurultai Elections

## What the Previous Model Looked Like
The old parliamentary model had two chambers:
- **Mazhilis** – 98 deputies
- **Senate** – 49 senators
Total – **147 seats**.

In addition:
- **9 Mazhilis deputies** were elected from single-member constituencies.
- **13 senators** were appointed by the President.

## What Changes Now
The Kurultai becomes a **unicameral** parliament:
- **145 deputies**
- All elected through **proportional representation**
- A **single nationwide constituency**
- A **7% threshold**
- Women, young people, and persons with disabilities jointly make up **at least 30% of a party list**

## Comparison at a Glance
| Parameter | Mazhilis + Senate | Kurultai |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Bicameral | Unicameral |
| Seats | 98 + 49 = 147 | 145 |
| Single-member seats | 9 | – |
| Presidential appointments | 13 (Senate) | – |
| Threshold | 5% | 7% |
| Party-list quota | Different rules under the former model | At least 30% jointly for women, young people, and persons with disabilities |

## Practical Meaning
The new model removes duplication between the two chambers, makes the parliamentary architecture more direct, and raises the threshold for parties entering parliament.

## 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)
- [Constitutional Law on the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan](https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2600000297) – Adilet Legal Information System (checked 2026-07-16)
- [Results of the nomination stage for Kurultai candidates](https://www.election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10290) – Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan (checked 2026-07-16)

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/kurultai-vs-mazhilis?lang=en
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