Official name

Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Form of state

A military dictatorship, which is in the process of being replaced by a "disciplined" multiparty democratic system

The executive

Currently the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). However, a new executive will be formed following the national elections that took place in November 2010, with a Presidential Electoral College (formed by the newly established legislature) appointing a president and two vice-presidents

Head of state

Currently the chairman of the SPDC, Senior General Than Shwe. However, the president, when appointed, will become head of state

National legislature

Two new legislative chambers, a 440-seat Pyithu Hluttaw (People's Assembly, lower house) and a 224-seat Amyotha Hluttaw (Nationalities Assembly, upper house), must sit within 90 days of the election. In both assemblies, 25% of seats are reserved for appointees representing the military

National elections

Multiparty national elections were held on November 7th 2010 for both the lower and upper houses

National government

The SPDC currently controls all organs of state power, but a civilian administration is to be appointed by the president under the new constitution. However, the 2008 constitution specifies no timeframe for this transfer of power

Main political organisations

The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured a landslide victory in the November 2010 election. The National League for Democracy (NLD) was for more than two decades the country's main pro-democracy party, but it refused to register under new electoral laws in 2010 and no longer officially exists. An offshoot of the NLD, the National Democratic Force (NDF), contested the election, as did a number of ethnic-based political groups. Another party with close ties to the military, the National Unity Party (NUP), contested the election but fared poorly compared with the USDP

Main political parties

USDP, NUP, NDF, Shan National Democratic Party, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, other ethnic-based parties

Main members of the State Peace and Development Council

Chairman: Senior General Than Shwe

Vice-chairman: Deputy Senior General Maung Aye

Secretary-1: Tin Aung Myint Oo

Prime minister: Thein Sein

Key ministers

Agriculture: Htay Oo

Commerce: Tin Naing Thain

Defence: Than Shwe

Energy: Lun Thi

Finance & revenue: Hla Tun

Foreign affairs: Nyan Win

Home affairs: Maung Oo

Industry-1: Aung Thaung

Industry-2: Soe Thein

Labour: Aung Kyi

Telecommunications, posts & telegraphs: Thein Zaw

Central Bank governor

Than Nyein