Direct Democracy

Kazakhstan

DD002

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The people shall exercise power directly through national referendum and free elections, as well as delegate the execution of their ability to state institutions. The Parliament can initiate the republican referendum.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan: amended on June 9th, 2021. Article 3, 54. https://www.akorda.kz/en/constitution-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan-50912
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD003

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	Referendums are optional. Amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan may be introduced by a republican referendum, which shall be held by the decision of the President of the Republic, on his or her own initiative or on the proposal of the Parliament or the Government.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan: amended on June 9th, 2021. Article 91. https://www.akorda.kz/en/constitution-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan-50912
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD004

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan may be introduced by a republican referendum, held by decision of the President of the Republic, adopted by him on his own initiative or on the proposal of Parliament or the Government.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan: amended on June 9th, 2021. Article 91. https://www.akorda.kz/en/constitution-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan-50912
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD005

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	No less than two hundred thousand citizens of the Republic who have the right to participate in a republican referendum, in quantitative terms equally representing all regions, the capital of the Republic and cities of republican significance can initiate the republican referendum.
Source:	Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Republican Referendum (dated May 1999), Article 11: https://www.election.gov.kz/eng/election-legal-framework/on-the-republican-referendum.php
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD006

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	e decision to hold a referendum and the issue(s) submitted to it shall be brought to the attention of citizens by the mass media. 3. A referendum commission shall inform citizens about their work on the conduct of the referendum, formation of polling stations for voting, composition, location, working hours of the commissions and lists of citizens eligible to take part in the referendum. 4. Representatives of public associations of the Republic, observers of foreign states and international organisations, whose powers are certified according to the order established by the Central Referendum Commission, shall be eligible to be present in the conduct of a referendum. Interference of representatives and observers in the work of commissions shall not be allowed. 5. The mass media shall cover the course of preparation and conduct of a referendum, their representatives, accredited to referendum commissions, shall be guaranteed access to events related to the conduct of a referendum.
Source:	Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Republican Referendum (dated May 1999), Article 6: https://www.election.gov.kz/eng/election-legal-framework/on-the-republican-referendum.php
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD007

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	c. No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD129

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:	Adopted at the referendum Constitution, constitutional acts, laws, additions and changes to them, decisions on other questions, put to the referendum, shall entry into force from the date of publication of the official statement on the referendum results in the case if the Constitution, constitutional act, law, additions and changes to them, the decision adopted at referendum shall not set another date. 1. Decision taken at referendum shall have a binding force throughout the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and shall not need any confirmation by the acts of the President and bodies of state power of theRepublic. 2. Inconsistency between the decision adopted by the referendum and the Constitution, constitutional acts, laws and other normative acts of the Republic shall removed by bringing the Constitution, constitutional acts, laws and other normative acts in compliance with the decision, adopted by the referendum.
Source:	Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Republican Referendum (dated May 1999), Article 34, 35: https://www.election.gov.kz/eng/election-legal-framework/on-the-republican-referendum.php
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD130

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:	The subject of referendum shall be: 1) adoption of the Constitution, constitutional acts, laws of the Republic, introduction to them of any changes and additions; 2) solution of other most important issues of the public life of the Republic.
Source:	Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Republican Referendum (dated May 1999), Article 2: https://www.election.gov.kz/eng/election-legal-framework/on-the-republican-referendum.php
Verified:	2024/10/24

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DD131

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan stipulates for national referenda as a form of direct democracy.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan: amended on June 9th, 2021. Article 3: https://www.akorda.kz/en/constitution-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan-50912
Verified:	2024/10/24

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