Senate of Kazakhstan

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Senate Senat
8th Senate
Type
Type	Upper house
History
Founded	1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Preceded by	Supreme Soviet
Leadership
Chairman	Mäulen Äşimbaev, Amanat since 4 May 2020
Structure
Seats	50
Political groups	Independents (40)   Nominated members (10)
Length of term	6 years
Elections
Voting system	40 seats indirectly elected by the local mäslihats, 10 are appointed by the President
Last election	14 January 2023
Next election	2026
Meeting place
Astana, Kazakhstan
Website
http://www.parlam.kz/en/

Politics of Kazakhstan
CIS member state
Constitution Human rights President (list) Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov Security Council Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Parliament Senate Chairman Mäulen Äşimbaev Mäjilis Chairman Erlan Qoşanov Political parties Recent elections Presidential 2015 2019 2022 Parliamentary 2016 2021 2023 Administrative divisions Regions (oblıstar) Districts (audandar) Foreign relations Visa policy
Other countries
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The Senate of Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Qazaqstan Parlamentınıñ Senaty, Қазақстан Парламентінің Сенаты, [qɑzɑqstɑn pɑrɫɑmʲentɘnɘŋ sʲenɑtɯ]) is the upper house of two chambers in Kazakhstan's legislature, known as the Parliament (Parlamenti). The Senate is composed of elected members: two from each region and two from three municipalities which are Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent.

Deputies of the Senate are elected through indirect suffrage by secret ballot. Local legislative bodies (mäslihats) elect senators, while half of the elected members are up for re-election every three years, ensuring continuous turnover while maintaining institutional stability. Additionally, ten members of the Senate are appointed by the president of Kazakhstan, ensuring that various national, cultural, and professional communities are adequately represented.^[1]

The Senate serves as a check on the legislative process, with a key responsibility of reviewing and amending laws passed by the Mäjilis, the lower house of Parliament. It also plays an important role in approving presidential appointments to high government positions, such as judges, the prosecutor general, and members of the Constitutional Court. The Senate also has authority over certain presidential decrees, particularly those related to military force, the declaration of a state of emergency, and other matters affecting national security and governance.

Senators serve six-year terms, contributing to a more stable and long-term approach to legislative oversight and policy-making. In addition to its legislative functions, the Senate also represents the interests of Kazakhstan's regions, providing a platform for local concerns and perspectives within the national legislative framework. This dual approach—through direct elections and presidential appointments—ensures a balanced representation of both regional and national interests within Kazakhstan's political system.