Mäjilis

Mäjilis
Name	Mäjilis
Background color	#0032A0
Text color	#FFFFFF
Legislature	Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan
House type	Lower house
Body	Parliament of Kazakhstan
Leader1 type	Chairman
Leader1	Erlan Qoşanov
Election1	1 March 2023
Members	98
Political groups1	Government (62), Amanat (62), Supported by (11), Auyl (8), Respublica (6), Opposition (19), People's Party (5), National Social Democratic Party (4), Independent (10)
Voting system1	Mixed-member proportional representation
Last election1	19 March 2023
Meeting place	Astana, Kazakhstan
Website	parlam.kz

Mäjilis. The Mäjilis is the lower chamber of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a bicameral legislature established under the Constitution of Kazakhstan. It is a central institution in the country's political system, primarily responsible for drafting and adopting legislation, approving the state budget, and exercising oversight over the Government of Kazakhstan. The chamber's evolution reflects Kazakhstan's political development since independence from the Soviet Union.

History

The first parliamentary elections following the dissolution of the Soviet Union were held in 1994, establishing an early legislature. A new constitutional framework adopted in 1995 created a bicameral Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the Mäjilis as its lower house. Significant reforms were enacted following the 2007 constitutional amendments, which increased its size and powers. Further political modernization, including the introduction of a Mixed-member proportional representation system, was implemented after the January 2022 unrest in Kazakhstan. The most recent elections for the chamber were the 2023 Kazakh legislative election.

Structure and composition

The Mäjilis is composed of 98 deputies who serve five-year terms. The Chairman, currently Erlan Qoşanov, presides over the chamber's sessions and its work. The internal structure includes various standing committees focused on specific policy areas such as legislation, finance, and international affairs. These committees review bills and conduct hearings, with their work supported by the parliamentary apparatus and research staff based in the capital, Astana.

Powers and functions

The primary constitutional mandate is the consideration and adoption of laws, which require its approval before being sent to the Senate of Kazakhstan. It holds the exclusive right to give consent to the President of Kazakhstan for the appointment of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. The chamber also approves the republican budget, reviews reports on its execution, and can express a vote of no confidence in the government. It ratifies international treaties and has the right to initiate legislation on most issues, except those pertaining to state fees and taxes.

Electoral system

Deputies are elected through a Mixed-member proportional representation system introduced in 2023. Sixty-nine deputies are elected from single-mandate territorial constituencies based on a First-past-the-post voting principle. The remaining twenty-nine seats are allocated from a single nationwide constituency to political parties that surpass a 5% electoral threshold, based on proportional representation. Elections are administered by the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan and are governed by the Constitutional Law "On Elections."

Political parties and factions

The dominant political force is the ruling party Amanat, which holds a majority of seats. Other parties represented include the Auyl party, the Respublica party, the People's Party, and the National Social Democratic Party. A number of deputies sit as independents. Factions are formed by parliamentary groups of political parties, which play a key role in organizing legislative work and debates on the floor.

Relationship with other government bodies

As the lower house, it works in conjunction with the upper Senate of Kazakhstan to pass laws; disagreements between chambers are resolved through conciliation commissions. Draft laws adopted by the Mäjilis are sent to the Senate for review. The chamber interacts closely with the Government of Kazakhstan, questioning ministers and holding hearings. It also provides consent for key presidential appointments, creating a system of checks and balances within the framework of the Constitution of Kazakhstan.

Category:National lower houses Category:Government of Kazakhstan Category:Legislatures of Asia