What Changed in 30 Years
1. Digital Reality
In 1995, the internet was rare. Today, the digital space is part of everyday life. New challenges have emerged:
- Personal data protection
- Privacy of digital communications
- Right to be forgotten
- Cybersecurity
The previous Constitution did not regulate these issues – they simply did not exist.
2. Balance of Powers
The experience of a bicameral parliament showed that coordination between two chambers increased the time of the legislative process. The transition to the unicameral Kurultai:
- Optimizes the legislative process while maintaining representation
- Strengthens personal accountability of deputies (all decisions are transparent and personalized)
- Expands parliamentary powers (from 13 to 23 constitutional functions)
3. Citizen Participation
Public demand for involvement has grown. People want not just to "vote once every 5 years" but to participate in discussing laws, oversee the government, and influence decisions. The new Constitution institutionalizes these mechanisms:
- Kazakhstan People's Council (Khalyq Keñesi) – a permanent platform for dialogue
- Strengthened right to petitions and popular initiatives
- Transparent public oversight procedures
4. Legal Guarantees
Over 30 years, international human rights standards have evolved. The new Constitution establishes:
- "Miranda Rule" – the right to know your rights upon detention
- Reduction of detention without court from 72 to 48 hours
- Presumption of innocence as a general constitutional principle (not just criminal)
- Strengthened protection of honor and dignity
What Does NOT Change
It's important to understand: this is not a "new Constitution from scratch." This is an update of the existing one. Preserved:
- Presidential form of government – the President remains the head of state
- Unitary state – Kazakhstan is a single state, not a federation
- Popular sovereignty – citizens are the source of power
- Fundamental rights and freedoms – freedom of speech, assembly, religion, property
Why Now
Constitutional reform is the result of a systematic process:
- September 2025: The Head of State announced the need for parliamentary reform in his Address
- October 2025: Working Group created (130+ experts: lawyers, business, NGOs, parliamentary parties)
- October–February: Open discussion via e-Otinish and eGov portals (2,000+ proposals)
- February 2026: Constitutional Commission completed work, text published
- March 2026: The referendum took place on March 15, 2026 – 87.15% voted in favour.
→ Compare constitutions: 1995 vs 2026 · Full text of the Constitution