The Oliy Majlis and its powers

The Oliy Majlis is the supreme representative body of the state and exercises legislative power; it consists of two chambers: the lower chamber – the Legislative Chamber – and the upper chamber – the Senate. The Legislative Chamber has 150 deputies elected on a multi-party basis (the election procedure comes in later lessons). The Senate is the chamber representing the territories: under the 2023 Constitution it has 65 members – four each from the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the 12 regions and Tashkent city, 56 senators in all, elected at joint sessions of the deputies of local Councils, while 9 are appointed by the President from among citizens with great experience and special merits in science, art, literature and other fields (the textbook’s 100-member Senate belongs to the old edition). Both chambers have a five-year term; one person cannot be a deputy and a senator at the same time. The powers of the Oliy Majlis include adopting the Constitution and laws, approving the state budget, introducing taxes, deciding to hold a referendum and ratifying international treaties. Each chamber also has exclusive powers: for example, the Legislative Chamber elects its Speaker and considers the candidate for Prime Minister proposed by the President; the Senate elects judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court on the President’s nomination.