'Assembly of Nations'

The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) cooperates with 16 smaller local assemblies, 14 from oblasts - or provinces - and two from the cities Almaty and Astana.

The local assemblies, made up of representatives from national cultural centers, youth organizations, groups of veterans and religion and maslikhats - local legislative body- also serve as consultative organizations to akims, which are heads of oblasts.

Local assemblies led by heads of Astana, Almaty and oblasts approve the personnel structure of local governments.