The state structure
Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1992 the country joined the United Nations. The country's current constitution was adopted in 1995. The country's executive branch is headed by the Head of State, President Nursultan Nazarbayev who was elected President of Kazakhstan by the Supreme Soviet on 24 April 1990. He was then elected president of Kazakhstan on 1 December, 1991 after the independence and has remained in power since then. The President is elected for a 7 year term and the next presidential elections are scheduled for 2012. The head of government, prime minister Karim Massimov , is appointed by the president. The Cabinet of Ministers is proposed by the Prime Minister and then appointed by the President.
The country's legislative branch consists of two chambers: the Assembly (Mazhilis) and the Senate. The Senate has 47 deputies, 40 which are indirectly elected by local legislators and seven are appointed by the President. The senators serve six-year terms, with one-half of the Senate facing re-election every three years. The Assembly has 67 members who are directly elected for five-year terms, with an additional ten members from political parties selected on the basis of proportional representation.
The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Council, as well as regional and local level courts. Judges are appointed by the president and serve for life.
Kazakhstan is divided into 14 regions (oblasts) headed by provincial governors (akims). Each province has several districts (audandar).
