Parliament of Kazakhstan, Bicameral legislature in Astana, Kazakhstan
The Parliament of Kazakhstan works through two chambers: the Senate with 50 members and the Mazhilis with 98 deputies. Both houses meet in separate facilities within the capital's government district and conduct votes independently from each other.
The legislative body started operations on January 30, 1996, after the 1995 constitutional referendum introduced the two-chamber system. The institution later moved to Astana along with other government offices when the capital relocated in the late 1990s.
The Senate meets in a separate chamber building and holds sessions independently from the Mazhilis, allowing both houses to work with their own schedules. Deputies debate and pass laws in Kazakh, with translation services available for members who prefer other languages.
The buildings stand in the central government district near other state institutions. Tours are sometimes available but need approval in advance, as this remains a working legislative facility.
The Mazhilis members serve five years while senators remain for six, with part of the Senate renewed every three years through regional maslikhats. This staggered renewal means the Senate composition shifts gradually, maintaining continuous links between local and national governance levels.
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