About the Jokargy Kenes
The Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan is the highest representative body of authority, exercising legislative power.
The Jokargy Kenes is a unicameral body consisting of 65 deputies.
They are elected in territorial electoral districts on a multi-party basis through direct secret voting.
The stability and effectiveness of the Jokargy Kenes’s work are ensured by the activities of its sessions, Presidium, committees, commissions, and deputies.
The procedure of the Jokargy Kenes’s work is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Law “On the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan,” and other legislative acts.
The procedure for elections to the Jokargy Kenes is defined by the Law of the Republic of Karakalpakstan “On Elections” and other legislative acts.
The term of office of the Jokargy Kenes is five years.
After the expiration of its term of office, the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan continues its activities until the newly elected Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan begins its work.
The exclusive powers of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan include:
— adopting the Constitution of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and making amendments and additions to it;
— adopting laws of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, making amendments and additions to them, and interpreting the laws of the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
— adopting long-term programs for economic and social development;
— forming the Presidium, committees, and commissions of the Jokargy Kenes;
— electing the Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and their deputy, as well as the chairs of the committees and commissions;
— appointing and dismissing the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan upon the proposal of the Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, coordinated with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
— appointing and dismissing the Deputy Chairpersons of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the members of the Council of Ministers;
— establishing and abolishing ministries, state committees, and other state administrative bodies of the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
— electing the Constitutional Oversight Committee of the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
— election of the Chairperson of the Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and their deputies, as well as the Chairperson of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and their deputies;
— appointment of judges of the Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, judges of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, and judges of interdistrict and district civil courts, district and city criminal courts, interdistrict economic courts, and interdistrict administrative courts;
— dismissal of the Chairperson of the Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and their deputies, as well as the Chairperson of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and their deputies;
— appointment and dismissal of the Prosecutor of the Republic of Karakalpakstan upon the proposal of the Presidium of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, coordinated with the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
— appointment and dismissal of the Chairperson of the Committee of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on Ecology and Environmental Protection;
— suspension and annulment of decisions made by local Council of people’s deputies;
— consideration of matters related to the establishment and abolition of cities and districts, as well as changes to their names and boundaries;
— determination of the system and powers of republican and local government bodies;
— approval of the structure of the Council of Ministers, its staffing schedule, and the wage fund for its employees;
— determination of rates for local taxes and other mandatory payments within the limits established by legislative acts;
— approval, upon the proposal of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, of the Budget of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the report on its execution;
— making amendments to the expenditures of the Budget of the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
— hearing and discussing reports from the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on the most important and priority issues of the Republic’s socio-economic development;
— hearing information from members of the government on matters within their competence;
— hearing information from the khokims (governors) of cities and districts on the development of their respective territories;
— establishment of state awards and honorary titles of the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
— scheduling elections to the Jokargy Kenes and local representative bodies, and formation of the Central Election Commission;
— submitting appeals to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding the compliance of acts adopted by the state authorities and administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
— consideration of issues related to parliamentary immunity;
— organization of elections of chairpersons (aksakals) of citizens’ assemblies;
— hearing reports from the Prosecutor of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Chairperson of the Committee of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on Ecology and Environmental Protection, and the Head of the Main Directorate of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Republic of Karakalpakstan;
— at least once a year, hearing reports from the Chairperson of the Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Chairperson of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on their activities related to the judicial protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and legal interests of enterprises, institutions, and organizations, and forwarding copies of the resolutions adopted on these matters to the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
— at the end of each half-year, hearing reports from the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on local legislative activities and the state of law enforcement practices, and forwarding a copy of the resolution adopted on these matters to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
— exercising parliamentary oversight;
— organizing the Rules of Procedure of the Jokargy Kenes and its own activities, and adopting other decisions related to the internal order of the Jokargy Kenes.
The procedure for the election, appointment, and dismissal of officials by the Jokargy Kenes is defined in the Rules of Procedure of the Jokargy Kenes.
The organizational form of activity of the Jokargy Kenes is its session.
Sessions of the Jokargy Kenes are held at least twice a year, as necessary.
An extraordinary session of the Jokargy Kenes may be convened upon the proposal of the Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes or at the request of at least one-third of the total number of deputies.
During the sessions of the Jokargy Kenes, the Constitution of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the laws of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, amendments and additions to them, as well as resolutions of the Jokargy Kenes, are adopted.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, heads of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and their deputies, the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and their deputies, ministers, heads of state committees and other government bodies of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and members of the Constitutional Oversight Committee, the Chairperson of the Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Chairperson of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Prosecutor of the Republic of Karakalpakstan may participate in the meetings of the Jokargy Kenes and its bodies.
Representatives of government agencies, non-governmental non-profit organizations, scientific institutions, the press, television, radio, and other media, as well as scholars and experts, may be invited to attend the sessions of the Jokargy Kenes.
Sessions of the Jokargy Kenes are held openly and transparently. If necessary, a decision may be made to hold a session in closed format.
The procedure for organizing and conducting sessions of the Jokargy Kenes is provided in its Rules of Procedure.
For the effective organization of its work, a Presidium of the Jokargy Kenes is formed.
The Presidium of the Jokargy Kenes is convened as necessary, but at least once a month between sessions.
The Presidium of the Jokargy Kenes includes the Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes, their deputy, the chairpersons of committees and commissions, and the leaders of parliamentary factions within the Jokargy Kenes.
The Presidium of the Jokargy Kenes makes decisions on matters within its competence by a majority vote of its total membership.
Organizational, informational, and logistical support for the work of the Jokargy Kenes, its bodies, and its deputies is provided by the Administration of the Jokargy Kenes.
The structure, staffing schedule, salary levels of employees, technical equipment, and the necessary expenses for maintaining the activities of the Administration of the Jokargy Kenes are approved by the Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes.
The employment relationships of the staff of the Administration of the Jokargy Kenes are not dependent on the term of office of the Jokargy Kenes.
The Administration of the Jokargy Kenes is a legal entity.
The organization and procedures of the Administration of the Jokargy Kenes are defined by Regulations approved by the Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes.