Myanmar - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Myanmar, it was both "Burma" and "Myanmar" derive from the name of the majority Burman (Bamar) ethnic group. The Government system in this country is the military regime type and the different Administrative divisions includes:
7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), 1 union territory
regions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy), Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon)
states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan
union territory: Nay Pyi Taw
National symbols
Chinthe (mythical lion); national colors: yellow, green, red, white.
The flag
The National flag of Myanmar has design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored stripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from 1943-45, during the Japanese occupation.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Kaba Ma Kyei" (Till the End of the World, Myanmar) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | SAYA TIN |
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note: adopted 1948; Burma is among a handful of non-European nations that have anthems rooted in indigenous traditions; the beginning portion of the anthem is a traditional Burmese anthem before transitioning into a Western-style orchestrated work
More about the government of Myanmar
| Date of Independence | 4 January 1948 (from the UK) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947) |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest drafted 9 April 2008, approved by referendum 29 May 2008 |
| Amendments | Proposals require at least 20% approval by the Assembly of the Union membership; passage of amendments to sections of the constitution on basic principles, government structure, branches of government, state emergencies, and amendment procedures requires 75% approval by the Assembly and approval in a referendum by absolute majority of registered voters; passage of amendments to other sections requires only 75% Assembly approval; military granted 25% of parliamentary seats by default; amended 2015 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | both parents must be citizens of Burma |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | none |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | Prime Minister, State Administration Council Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister, State Administration Council Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointments shared by the president and the commander-in-chief; note - on 2 February 2021, the military leadership replaced the Cabinet with the State Administrative Council (SAC), which is the official name of the military government in Burma |
| Elections/appointments | prior to the military takeover in 2021, president was indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the full Assembly of the Union from among 3 vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Presidential Electoral College (consists of members of the lower and upper houses and military members); the other 2 candidates become vice presidents (president elected for a 5-year term); general election last held on 8 November 2020; the military junta has pledged to hold new general elections but has repeatedly announced delays |
| Election results | 2020: the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 seats across both houses, well above the 322 required for a parliamentary majority, which would have ensured that its preferred candidates would be elected president and second vice president in the Presidential Electoral College; however, on 1 February 2021 the military claimed the results of the election were illegitimate and launched a coup d'état that deposed State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI and President WIN MYINT of the NLD, causing military-affiliated Vice President MYINT SWE (USDP) to become Acting President; MYINT SWE subsequently handed power to coup leader MIN AUNG HLAING; WIN MYINT and other key leaders of the ruling NLD party were placed under arrest following the military takeover 2018: WIN MYINT elected president in an indirect by-election held on 28 March 2018 after the resignation of HTIN KYAW; Assembly of the Union vote for president - WIN MYINT (NLD) 403, MYINT SWE (USDP) 211, HENRY VAN THIO (NLD) 18, 4 votes canceled (636 votes cast) |
| State counsellor | State Counselor AUNG SAN SUU KYI (since 6 April 2016); note - under arrest since 1 February 2021; formerly served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for the Office of the President |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Prior to its dissolution after a coup, the bicameral Assembly of the Union or Pyidaungsu consisted of: House of Nationalities or Amyotha Hluttaw, (224 seats; 168 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed and 56 appointed by the military; members served 5-year terms) prior to its dissolution after a coup, the House of Representatives or Pyithu Hluttaw, (440 seats, currently 433; 330 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 appointed by the military; members served 5-year terms) |
| Elections | House of Nationalities - last held on 8 November 2020 House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2020 |
| Election results | House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party - NLD 61.6%, USDP 3.1%, ANP 1.8%, MUP 1.3%, KySPD 1.3%, other 5.9%, military appointees 25%; seats by party - NLD 138, USDP 7, ANP 4, MUP 3, KySPD 3, SNLD 2, TNP 2, other 2, vacant 7 (canceled due to insurgency), military appointees 56 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NLD 58.6%, USDP 5.9%, SNLD 3.0%, other 7.5%, military 25%; seats by party - NLD 258, USDP 26, SNLD 13, ANP 4, PNO 3, TNP 3, MUP 2, KySPD 2, other 4, vacant 15 (canceled due to insurgency), military appointees 110 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of the Union (consists of the chief justice and 7-11 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Chief justice and judges nominated by the president, with approval of the Lower House, and appointed by the president; judges normally serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 |
| Subordinate courts | High Courts of the Region; High Courts of the State; Court of the Self-Administered Division; Court of the Self-Administered Zone; district and township courts; special courts (for juvenile, municipal, and traffic offenses); courts martial |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires THET WIN (since 22 June 2022) |
| Chancery | 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 332-3344 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 332-4351 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.mewashingtondc.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Los Angeles |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan STEVENSON (since 10 July 2023) |
| Embassy | 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon |
| Mailing address | 4250 Rangoon Place, Washington DC 20521-4250 |
| Telephone | [95] (1) 753-6509 |
| FAX | [95] (1) 751-1069 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://mm.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 2 (both cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Pyu Ancient Cities; Bagan |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Myanmar
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Myanmar
Want to know more about Myanmar? Check all different factbooks for Myanmar below.
