ge; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the
Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December
1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Kazymzhomart TOKAYEV (since 2
October 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously
scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note - President NAZARBAYEV's
previous term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum
held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percent
of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 79.8%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 11.7%,
Gani KASYMOV 4.6%
note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by decree:
only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss
the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his discretion,
and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47
seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members are
popularly elected, two from each oblast and Almaty, to serve six-year
terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; the addition of 10 "Party List"
seats brings the total to 77; members are popularly elected to serve
five-year terms); note - with the oblasts being reduced to 14, the
Senate will eventually be reduced to 37; a number of Senate seats come
up for reelection every two years
elections: Senate - (indirect) last held 17 September 1999 (next to be
held NA 2001); Majilis - last held 10 October 1999 (next to be held NA
2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; 16 seats up for election in 1999, candidates nominated by
local councils; Majilis - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Otan 25, Civic Party 10, Communist Party 3, Agrarian Party 3,
People's Cooperative Party 1, independents 32, 3 seats unaccounted for
note - most independent candidates are affiliated with parastatal
enterprises and other pro-government institutions

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7
members)

Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party ; Alash
; AZAMAT Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and
Galym ABILSIITOV, cochairmen]; Civic Party [Azat PER