Government

Under the constitution of 1995, as amended, Kazakhstan is headed by a strong executive president, who is elected by popular vote to a five-year term (prior to 2007, a seven-year term). There is a two-term limit on the president, except for Nursultan Nazarbayev, as the first president of the republic. There is a bicameral parliament, most of whose members are elected, but its powers are limited. The country is divided into 14 administrative provinces, or oblasts, and 3 cities.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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