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.
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.
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.
Related articles
Quick links to the constitutional articles behind this explainer.