The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the highest representative body of the Republic exercising legislative power.
The powers of the Parliament begin with the opening of its first session and end with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the new convocation.
The Parliament consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Mazhilis acting on a permanent basis.
The Senate is formed by deputies representing in the order established by the constitutional law, two persons from each region, city of republican significance and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Ten deputies of the Senate shall be appointed by the President of the Republic, five of whom shall be nominated by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan*
*In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 08.06.2022, starting from the election of deputies to the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the eighth convocation.
Until October 1998, the term of office of members of the Senate was four years, since October 1998 – six years.
The term of office of the Parliament is determined by the term of office of the deputies of the Mazhilis of the next convocation.
The term of office of the deputies of the Mazhilis is five years.
FIRST CONVOCATION
(January 1996 – November 1999)
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the first convocation began with the opening of the first session on January 30, 1996 and ended with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the second convocation on November 30, 1999.
In the elections of December 5, 1995, 40 deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan were elected – by two persons from 19 regions and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan Almaty. Seven members of the Senate were appointed by the President of the Republic.
Due to the end of the term of office of the deputies of the Senate elected in 1995 for 2 years, on October 8, 1997, elections of deputies of the Senate for 4 years were held.
As a result of optimization of regions of the republic, elections for 14 regions of the republic and the city of Almaty were appointed.
In October 1997, 15 deputies were elected to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On February 11, 1998, elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan were held for the city of Akmola, in connection with declaring the city of Akmola the capital of Kazakhstan.
SECOND CONVOCATION
(December 1999 – November 2004)
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the second convocation began with the opening of its first session on December 1, 1999 and ended with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the third convocation on November 3, 2004.
Due to the end of the term of office of the deputies of the Senate elected in 1995 for 4 years, on September 17, 1999, elections of deputies of the Senate for 6 years were held.
The powers of the deputies of the Senate elected in 1997, in accordance with constitutional norms, continued in the second convocation until December 2002.
THIRD CONVOCATION
(November 2004 – September 2007)
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the third convocation began with the opening of its first session on November 3, 2004 and ended with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the fourth convocation on September 1, 2007.
Due to the end of the term of office in December 2005 of the deputies of the Senate elected on September 17, 1999, elections of deputies of the Senate were held on August 19, 2005.
The powers of the deputies of the Senate elected in 2002, in accordance with constitutional norms, continued in the third convocation.
FOURTH CONVOCATION
(September 2007 – January 2012)
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the fourth convocation began with the opening of its first session on September 2, 2007 and ended with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the fifth convocation on January 19, 2012.
In accordance with the amendments made to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan in May 2007, on August 29, 2007, 8 more deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan were appointed by the Decree of the President of the Republic.
The powers of the Senate deputies elected in 2002 continued in the fourth convocation until December 2008.
The powers of the deputies of the Senate elected in 2005 lasted until September 2011.
On October 4, 2008, regular elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan were held.
On August 19, 2011, regular elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan were held.
On November 23, 2011, 7 deputies of the Senate were appointed by the Decree of the President of the Republic, whose powers ended in 2017.
FIFTH CONVOCATION
(January 2012 – January 2016)
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the fifth convocation came into effect from the opening of its first session on January 20, 2012 and expired with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the sixth convocation.
In the fifth convocation of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the powers of the Senate deputies elected in 2008 and 2011, appointed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2007 and 2011, in accordance with constitutional norms, were continued.
On August 26, 2013, in connection with the expiration of the constitutional term of office of the Senate deputies appointed in August 2007, 8 deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan were appointed by the Decree of the President of the Republic.
On October 1, 2014, elections of deputies of the Senate were held in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The powers of the deputies of the Senate elected in October 2008 were terminated due to the registration of the deputies of the Senate elected in October 2014.
THE SIXTH CONVOCATION
(March 2016 – January 2021)
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the sixth convocation came into effect with the opening of its first session on March 25, 2016 and expired with the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the seventh convocation.
In the sixth convocation of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the powers of the Senate deputies elected in 2011 and 2014, appointed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2011 and 2013, in accordance with the constitutional provisions, were continued.
On June 28, 2017, senatorial elections were held. The powers of the Senate deputies elected in August 2011 were terminated on June 30, 2017, due to the registration of the Senate deputies elected in June 2017.
In October 2018, two Senate deputies were elected from Shymkent, as a city of republican importance.
In August 2020, senatorial elections were held. The powers of the Senate deputies elected in October 2014 were terminated on August 28, 2020, due to the registration of the Senate deputies elected in August 2020.
THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION
(January 2021 - )
The powers of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the seventh convocation have come into effect from the opening of its first session on January 15, 2021 and will continue until the beginning of the first session of the Parliament of the eighth convocation.
In the seventh convocation of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the powers of the Senate deputies elected in 2018 and 2020, appointed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2017 and 2019, have been continued in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
In connection with the formation of three new Regions in the Republic, elections were appointed to the Senate deputies from those Regions. The election of six new deputies to the Senate took place on August 24, 2022.