Myanmar Constitution 2008 -

The most significant structural pillar of the 2008 Constitution is . These articles mandate that the Defence Services Personnel (the military) be appointed to 25% of the seats in both the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the House of Nationalities (Upper House). They also hold 25% of seats in Regional and State Hluttaws (legislatures).

A little-known but critical clause: prohibits anyone whose spouse or children owe allegiance to a foreign power from becoming president. This clause was transparently drafted to bar Aung San Suu Kyi (whose late husband and sons are British) from the presidency. The NLD won a landslide in 2015 but could not install her as president; instead, the party created the role of “State Counsellor” for her—a position the military later used as a legal pretext for her 2021 ouster. myanmar constitution 2008

The constitution grants the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services immense power, effectively creating a state within a state: The most significant structural pillar of the 2008

During this period, a "dual government" system emerged. While the NLD controlled the executive branch and much of the legislature, the military retained control of the security ministries and remained unaccountable to the civilian government. A little-known but critical clause: prohibits anyone whose