How a Citizen Can Participate in Governing the Country
Participation extends beyond elections: citizens may submit appeals, join peaceful assemblies and public councils, apply to the Constitutional Court, and support petitions under the Administrative Procedural Code. You can stand for election to a maslikhat from age 20 and to the Kurultai from age 25.
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, maslikhats, 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 and existing mechanisms:
- Khalyk Kenesi (People's Council) – 126 members, representatives of public groups with the right of legislative initiative
- Petitions – a collective-appeal process under Chapter 12-1 of the Administrative Procedural Code, not direct citizen introduction of a bill
- 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
- The Constitution introduces Khalyk Kenesi; the Administrative Procedural Code governs petitions
- An application to the Constitutional Court is free; a state body must respond within the prescribed period
Public positions and documents
An editorial selection showing how the topic developed and where it stands now.
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«На основе концепции Главы государства «Слышащее государство» был выстроен механизм эффективной обратной связи с обществом, предложения граждан по возможности были учтены.»
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«Президент отметил, что Халық Кеңесі – это уникальная диалоговая площадка, которая будет выполнять важную роль в построении Справедливого Казахстана.»
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«После вступления этих поправок в силу влияние маслихатов возрастет. Народные избранники на местах будут напрямую влиять на распределение бюджета, что усилит контроль со стороны местной представительной власти за расходованием средств в областях и городах.»
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.