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.

Local Government 1 min read 📄
0:00

Main idea

The local People’s Council is intended to create a structured dialogue platform at the local level. Its purpose is to help residents and organized community groups discuss local problems in a more regular and institutional form.

Why such a body may be useful

Many local issues affect people directly:

  • roads and transport
  • utilities and housing matters
  • schools and clinics
  • public spaces
  • environmental concerns
  • local development priorities

In practice, residents often need a forum where these issues can be raised collectively rather than only through isolated complaints.

What it may include

A local People’s Council may include:

  • residents
  • local experts
  • representatives of civil society
  • community activists
  • professional and sectoral representatives
  • local opinion leaders

What it can do

Such a council may:

  • discuss local development questions
  • formulate recommendations
  • identify community concerns early
  • improve communication between residents and local authorities
  • strengthen participatory local governance

What it cannot do

The local People’s Council is not a parliament and not an executive body. It does not replace:

  • the akim
  • the maslikhat
  • formal administrative procedures

Its value lies in consultation, dialogue, and articulation of local interests.

Why it matters

If local participation mechanisms are real and active, people are more likely to see local governance as responsive rather than distant.

Key facts

  • The local People’s Council is a dialogue and consultation mechanism
  • It helps residents raise local issues in an organized way
  • It does not replace the akim or the maslikhat
  • Its value is participatory discussion and local feedback
Related questions

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.

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.

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.