Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Day of the Republic, 25 October (1990) (date on
which Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty)
Constitution: adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995;
first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the
Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990-91, president since 1 December
1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Nurlan BALGIMBAYEV (since 10
October 1997) and First Deputy Prime Minister Uraz ZHANDOSOV (since
20 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously
scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note—President NAZARBAYEV's
previous term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum
held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percent
of vote—Nursultan NAZARBAYEV 82%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12%
note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by
decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and
dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members
are popularly elected, two from each oblast and Almaty, to serve
four-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularly
elected to serve four-year terms); note—with the oblasts being
reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37
elections: Senate—(indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be
held NA 1999); Majilis—last held 9 December and 23 December 1995
(next to be held NA 1999)
election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
party—party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which
"independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7,
elected by popular vote 15; Majilis—percent of vote by party—NA;
seats by party—PUP 24, December National Democratic Party 12,
Kazakhstan Agrarian Union 5, Confederation of Kazakh Trade Unions 5,
KPK 2, independents and others 19
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional
Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders: People's Unity Party or PUP (was
Political pressure groups and leaders: Independent Trade Union
chairman]