How is Parliament structured?
The Parliament of the Union of Myanmar is comprised of two Hluttaw (assemblies): the Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities) or upper house of Myanmar’s Parliament, and the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) or lower house of Parliament. Together, the Union Parliament is known as the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. Representatives are elected for terms of five years.
The primary duties of the Parliament are to draft, submit, discuss and approve legislation, and also to discuss and approve the Union budget.
Beneath the Union level, each state and region also has its own Hluttaw. As with the Union level Parliament, these regional governments are comprised of elected members and military appointees for terms of five years.
In 2020 on Election Day, voters will be able to select representatives to each of these three hluttaw at the polling booth (Amyotha, Pyithu and the State/Regional Hluttaw).
Amyotha Hluttaw
The Amyotha Hluttaw is made up of 12 representatives from each state and region (totalling 168), and 56 military appointees. Amyotha Hluttaw members are elected by voters from across the whole state or region. They are determined by the most popular 12 candidates, and as such, the candidates may be members of different political parties.
Pyithu Hluttaw
Myanmar is divided into 330 constituencies, based on township divisions and population, each with a single elected representative. The elected representatives from the 330 townships, along with 110 military appointees, comprise the 440 members of the Pyithu Hluttaw.
What type of election system does Myanmar use?
Myanmar uses the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system. Under this system, the candidate with the highest number of votes in a given constituency wins the seat. The FPTP system is also known as a relative majority system and it applies to elections in Myanmar’s national Parliament, as well as to elections in states/regions.
Although there were debates in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Myanmar’s two-chamber national legislature comprised of Parliament’s two houses, about changing the electoral system from FPTP to proportional representation in 2014 and 2015, no changes are expected to the electoral system prior to the 2020 elections.
How do political parties work?
A political party is formed when a group of representatives agree to cooperate in Parliament by grouping together on issues, abiding by the same values, and casting their votes the same way.
To pass bills into law, there must be a majority vote in Parliament. This means that larger parties have more power to effect change and push though their agenda. However, it also means that representatives have less freedom to advocate on their own issues as they must adhere to the party position. Different parties can also agree to cooperate and form alliances to increases their chances of achieving certain objectives.
It is not a requirement for representatives to be affiliated with a political party and there are many candidates who run as independents. While an independent representative will have more difficulty amassing votes for their causes in Parliament, they are much freer to challenge other politicians and advocate on specific issues relating to their constituencies.
In Myanmar, 25% of the Pyidaungsu must be appointed by the military.
What should I look for in a leader?
Before an election, candidates make promises to their constituents about what kinds of actions they will take if they are elected. Before voting, it is important to take into account the leadership skills of the candidate, and the values and actions of the party to which they belong. A good leader should also be able to communicate effectively with their constituents, and should know how to advocate for their communities. As a voter, you must select the candidate that you think will best represent you and your values in Parliament.