How a Citizen Can Participate in Governing the Country

Participation extends beyond elections. The Constitution provides for peaceful assembly, appeals to state bodies (which are required to respond), applications to the Constitutional Court (free of charge), and public councils. The 2026 Constitution adds the People's Council – Khalyk Kenesi (126 members with the right of legislative initiative) and a formal petitions mechanism. You can stand for election to a maslikhat from age 20 and to the Kurultai from age 25.

Local Government 1 min read 📄
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Elections are not the only tool

Voting once every five years is just the beginning. The Constitution provides a range of ways to influence decisions.

Forms of participation

Elections and referendum:

  • Voting in elections to the Kurultai, mаslikhats, and for akims
  • Voting in a referendum
  • Standing for election: from age 20 to a maslikhat, from age 25 to the Kurultai

Appeals:

  • To a state body – it is obliged to respond within the prescribed period. Failure to respond is a violation of the law
  • To the Constitutional Court – if a law violates your constitutional rights (free of charge, via eGov)
  • To the Ombudsman – if a state body has violated your rights

Public oversight:

  • Public councils attached to state bodies – participation in discussing decisions
  • Peaceful assemblies – a constitutional right (notification procedure)
  • Trade unions and NGOs – collective protection of interests

New in the 2026 Constitution:

  • Khalyk Kenesi (People's Council) – 126 members, representatives of public groups with the right of legislative initiative
  • Petitions – a formalized mechanism for collective appeals (threshold ~100,000 signatures)
  • Digital tools – eGov as the platform for engaging with the state

What works right now

  • Your district maslikhat approves the budget – for roads, schools, hospitals
  • The akim of your village is elected by you (since 2021)
  • The Constitutional Court annuls unconstitutional laws on a citizen's application (since 2023)
  • Public councils discuss decisions before they are adopted

All of this depends on participation. The tools work when people use them.

Key facts

  • Elections, referendum, appeals, public councils, peaceful assemblies – all are forms of participation
  • Standing for election: from age 20 to a maslikhat, from age 25 to the Kurultai
  • New in the 2026 Constitution: Khalyk Kenesi (126 members), petitions, digital tools
  • An application to the Constitutional Court is free; a state body must respond within the prescribed period
Related questions

What the Local People’s Council Is

The local People’s Council is a proposed participation mechanism at the local level through which residents, community representatives, experts, and civil society actors can discuss local issues and communicate them to public authorities. It is intended as a channel of dialogue, not a replacement for elected local institutions.

What the Akim Does

The akim is the head of the local executive authority and is responsible for administration, implementation of state policy, and management of local affairs within the relevant territory. In everyday life, the akim’s role is highly visible because it directly affects services, infrastructure, and local development.

What the Maslikhat Does

The maslikhat is the local representative body through which local interests, oversight, and political accountability are expressed. Local governance should not consist only of executive administration — it must also include representation and public scrutiny.

What Local Self-Government Is and How It Differs from Local Administration

Local administration is a top-down hierarchy: akims appointed from the centre. Local self-government is a bottom-up initiative: residents themselves decide what to repair and build. Since 2021, village akims are elected by residents. The 2026 Constitution enshrines self-government at the constitutional level.