# Myth: 'A Referendum Is Always Better Than Parliament Because the People Decide'

> A referendum does not replace parliament – it complements it for fundamental questions. Voting on a budget or a tax code with a simple Yes/No is not feasible. The 2026 referendum is the appropriate case: 84% of the text is new, and the structure of power is fundamentally different.

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

Section: Myths

## The myth

"Let the people decide everything through referendums – what do we need parliament for?"

## The facts

A referendum and a parliament solve different problems.

**When a referendum is needed:**
- A new constitution – the foundation of the state, requiring the highest legitimacy
- Questions of sovereignty and territory
- Fundamental values on which society must speak directly

**When parliament is more effective:**
- Budget – thousands of line items, compromises between sectors and regions
- Tax code – hundreds of pages of technical provisions
- International treaties – negotiations and legal expertise
- Current legislation – hundreds of acts per year; a referendum on each is impossible

**Risks of "referendum on everything":**
- Voter fatigue – in Switzerland, referendum turnout is often below 40%
- Populism – a complex question is reduced to Yes/No
- Manipulation of the wording – a question can be phrased to steer the answer

## The 2026 Constitution – exactly the right case

A new constitution is a fundamental choice. 84% of the text is new. A unicameral Kurultai replaces a bicameral parliament; parliamentary functions expand from 13 to 23; the Khalyk Kenesi, the Vice President, and new rights are introduced. This is not a technical amendment – it is a choice of direction for the country. Such a decision belongs to the people.

## Why this myth exists

Disillusionment with parliament: "deputies do not represent our interests." But the solution is not to abolish parliament – it is to make it more effective. The new Constitution does exactly that: all 145 Kurultai deputies are directly elected, with quotas for women, young people, and people with disabilities.

## Key Facts

- A referendum is for fundamental questions (constitution, sovereignty)
- Parliament is more effective for current legislation (budget, taxes, treaties)
- 2026 Constitution: 84% of text is new, parliamentary functions expand from 13 to 23 – the right case for a referendum
- After adoption, current laws are passed by the Kurultai (145 deputies), not by referendum

## 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)
- [Preliminary official results of the March 15, 2026 national referendum](https://election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10110) – Central Referendum Commission of Kazakhstan (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)

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/myths-referendum-vs-parliament?lang=en
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