Reorganization of the System of Supreme State Authority in the Republic of Kazakhstan: The Constitutional and Legal Status of the Kurultai and the Office of Vice President

Abstract

This article examines the reorganization of Kazakhstan’s supreme state authorities following the adoption of a new Constitution in the referendum of 15 March 2026. Through formal legal and institutional analysis, it considers the status of the unicameral Kurultai, its legislative, appointment and oversight powers, and the appointment and remit of the Vice President. Particular attention is given to the relationship between the Kurultai’s consent to the appointment of the Vice President and the constitutional mechanism for presidential succession. The new arrangement combines a more direct legislative process with additional points of coordination between the President and the representative body. At the same time, the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight depends on the actual practice of party factions, committees and deliberative procedures. The article concludes that the reform should be assessed in terms of public accountability, continuity of presidential authority and the Kurultai’s institutional autonomy.