Chamber of Nationalities

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The Chamber of Nationalities was the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Burma (also called Myanmar). Under the 1947 Constitution, bills initiated and passed by the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, were to be sent to the Chamber of Nationalities for review and revision. The Chamber of Nationalities was primarily formed to give minorities within Burma some political power in the national government.

It consisted of 125 seats, with the constitution providing for specified numbers of representatives from all states and divisions. 25 seats were to be allotted to Shan State, 12 to Kachin State, 8 seats to Special Division of the Chins (now Chin State), 3 seats to Karenni State (now Kayah State), 24 to ethnic Karens, and 53 to all other territories (including divisions), including 4 seats reserved specifically for the Anglo-Burmese community,. The Parliament was abolished after the takeover of Ne Win in 1962, after which a new constitution based on socialism was established.

Sao Shwe Thaik was Speaker of the Chamber of Nationalities 1952–1962.

[edit] References

• "The Constitution of the Union of Burma". Democratic Voice for Burma. 1947. http://english.dvb.no/e_docs/511947_con.htm. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.