President of RK

Election of the President of RK
The President is elected by:
universal,
equal and,
direct suffrage,
under a secret ballot,
by the citizens of the Republic who have come of age 18
A citizen of the Republic is eligible for the office of the President of the RK if he is:
citizen of RK by birth,
not younger than forty,
has a perfect command of the state language,
has lived in Kazakhstan for not less than fifteen years.

Election of the President of RK (2)
Regular elections of the President are held on the first Sunday of December.
First Round based on Absolute Majority (the candidate who receives more than 50 percent of the votes is deemed elected).
If none of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of votes, a second round of elections is held between the two candidates who obtained the largest number of votes.
Second Round based on Relative Majority (the candidate who receives the larger number of votes is deemed elected).
President is elected for a five year term.
One and the same person may not be elected as the President of the Republic more than two times in a row.
Note: This rule does not apply to the First President of the RK.

Taking the Office
The President of the RK takes office from the moment of swearing to the people the following oath:
"I solemnly swear that I will faithfully serve the people of Kazakhstan, strictly observe the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, guarantee the rights and freedoms of the citizens, honestly perform the high duties of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan entrusted to me.“
President swears on the Constitution.
The oath is taken in a ceremonial atmosphere on the second Wednesday of January.

Competence of the President
Foreign Policy
Defense and Security
Regarding Parliament of RK
Regarding Government of RK
Other most important functions

Foreign Policy
President of RK:
negotiates and signs international treaties;
appoints and recalls heads of diplomatic embassies of the Republic;
receives letters of credentials from ambassadors of foreign states.

Defense and Security
President of RK:
acts as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic;
appoints the Chairperson of the Committee of National Security of the RK with the consent of the Senate of Parliament; releases him from office;
takes measures caused by a state of emergency in the event of a serious and immediate threat to the the RK;
imposes martial law in the case of aggression against the Republic or immediate external threat to its security.

Competences Regarding Parliament
President of RK:
signs laws of Republic of Kazakhstan,
promulgates laws or returns them for a second discussion and vote;
may dissolve the Parliament.

Competences Regarding Government
President of RK:
appoints a Prime Minister with the consent of the Mazhilis; releases him from office;
appoints and releases from office members of the Government;
presides at the meetings of the Government on especially important issues.
ALSO:
appoints the Chairperson of the National Bank with the Parliament's consent;
appoints the Procurator General with the consent of the Senate;

Other most important functions
annually addresses the people of Kazakhstan with a message on the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the RK;
approves state programs of the Republic;
adopts a resolution on conducting the all-nation referendum;
awards state decorations and confers honorary, military, diplomatic and other ranks;
resolves issues of citizenship of the Republic, and political asylum;
exercises pardon of citizens.

Premature release and
Discharge (Impeachment) of the President
Premature release from office is possible in the case of continued incapacity to perform duties due to illness.
The decision is adopted at a joint session of the Parliament's Chambers by the majority of 3/4 from the total number of deputies of each Chamber.
Discharge is possible only in the case of high treason.
The final decision is adopted at a joint session of the Parliament by the majority of 3/4 of each Chamber,
The failure to arrive at a final decision within 2 months results in the rejection of the accusation against the President.