President of Burma
Encyclopedia
The President of Burma is the head of state
and head of government
of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and leads the executive branch of the Burmese government, and heads the Cabinet of Burma
. The president is elected by members of parliament, not by the general population. The Presidential Electoral College, a three committee body, elects the president. Each of the three committees, made up of Amyotha Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw members of parliament, or military-appointed lawmakers, nominates a candidate for presidency. The candidate with the highest number of votes from the Electoral College is elected president, while the two other candidates become vice-presidents.
The incumbent President is Thein Sein
, who has held the post since 30 March 2011.
, the President:
Moreover, upon taking oath in office, the President is constitutionally forbidden from taking part in any political party activities (Chapter III, 64).
MPs vote for one of three candidates—the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected President, while the other two are elected as Vice-Presidents.
This process is similar to the one proscribed by the 1947 Constitution
, in which MPs from the Parliament
's Chamber of Nationalities and Chamber of Deputies elected the President by secret ballot. The President was then responsible for appointing a Prime Minister (on the advice of the Chamber of Deputies), who was constitutionally recognised as the head of government
and led the Cabinet
.
Secretariat
building, was headed by a Chief Commissioner (1862–1897) or a Lieutenant-Governor (1897–1923), who headed the administration, underneath the Governor-General of India
. From 31 January 1862 to 1 May 1897, British Burma was headed by a Chief Commissioner. The subsequent expansion of British Burma, with the acquisitions of Upper Burma
and the Shan States
throughout this period increased the demands of the position, and led to an upgrade in the colonial leadership and an expansion of government (Burma was accorded a separate government and legislative council in 1897).
Consequently, from 1 May 1897 to 2 January 1923, the province was led by a Lieutenant Governor. In 1937, Burma was formally separated from British India and began to be administered as a separate British colony, with a fully elected bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. From 2 January 1923 to 4 January 1948, British Burma was led by a Governor, who led the cabinet and was responsible for the colony's defence, foreign relations, finance, and ethnic regions (Frontier Areas and Shan States
). From 1 January 1944 to 31 August 1946, a British Military Governor governed the colony. During the Japanese occupation of Burma
from 1942 to 1945, a Japanese military commander headed the government, while the British-appointed Governor headed the colony in exile.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and leads the executive branch of the Burmese government, and heads the Cabinet of Burma
Cabinet of Burma
The Cabinet of Burma is the executive body of the Burmese government led by the President.-Qualifications:The Constitution of Burma stipulates that Union Ministers must be a Burmese citizen who has been living in the country for at least 10 consecutive years:# persons who have attained the age of...
. The president is elected by members of parliament, not by the general population. The Presidential Electoral College, a three committee body, elects the president. Each of the three committees, made up of Amyotha Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw members of parliament, or military-appointed lawmakers, nominates a candidate for presidency. The candidate with the highest number of votes from the Electoral College is elected president, while the two other candidates become vice-presidents.
The incumbent President is Thein Sein
Thein Sein
Thein Sein is a Burmese politician and military figure who has been president of Myanmar since March 2011. Previously, he was Prime Minister from 2007 until 2011...
, who has held the post since 30 March 2011.
Qualifications
According to the Constitution of BurmaConstitution of Burma
The Constitution of Burma ) has changed several times since the country became independent from the United Kingdom. Burma's third and current constitution was published in September 2008 after a referendum.-1947 Constitution:...
, the President:
- shall be loyal to the Union and its citizens;
- shall be a citizen of Myanmar who was born of both parents who were born in the territory under the jurisdiction of the Union and being Myanmar NationalsBurmese nationality lawBurmese nationality law currently recognizes three categories of citizens, namely citizen, associate citizen and naturalized citizen, according to the 1982 Citizenship Law...
; - shall be an elected person who has attained at least the age of 45;
- shall be well acquainted with the affairs of the Union such as political, administrative, economic and military;
- shall be a person who has resided continuously in the Union for at least 20 years up to the time of his election as President
(Proviso: An official period of stay in a foreign country with the permission of the Union shall be counted as a residing period in the Union) - shall he himself, one of the parents, the spouse, one of the legitimate children or their spouses not owe allegiance to a foreign power, not be subject of a foreign power or citizen of a foreign country. They shall not be persons entitled to enjoy the rights and privileges of a subject of a foreign government or citizen of a foreign country;
- shall possess prescribed qualifications of the President, in addition to qualifications prescribed to stand for election to the Hluttaw.
Moreover, upon taking oath in office, the President is constitutionally forbidden from taking part in any political party activities (Chapter III, 64).
Election process
The President is not directly elected by Burmese voters; instead, he is indirectly elected by the Presidential Electoral College , an electoral body made of three separate committees. One committee is composed of MPs who represent the proportions of MPs elected from each Region or State; another is composed of MPs who represent the proportions of MPs elected from each township population; the third is of military-appointed MPs personally nominated by the Defence Services' Commander-in-Chief. Each of the three committees nominates a presidential candidate. Afterward, all the Pyidaungsu HluttawPyidaungsu Hluttaw
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is the national-level bicameral legislature of Myanmar established by the 2008 National Constitution...
MPs vote for one of three candidates—the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected President, while the other two are elected as Vice-Presidents.
This process is similar to the one proscribed by the 1947 Constitution
Constitution of Burma
The Constitution of Burma ) has changed several times since the country became independent from the United Kingdom. Burma's third and current constitution was published in September 2008 after a referendum.-1947 Constitution:...
, in which MPs from the Parliament
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is the national-level bicameral legislature of Myanmar established by the 2008 National Constitution...
's Chamber of Nationalities and Chamber of Deputies elected the President by secret ballot. The President was then responsible for appointing a Prime Minister (on the advice of the Chamber of Deputies), who was constitutionally recognised as the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
and led the Cabinet
Cabinet of Burma
The Cabinet of Burma is the executive body of the Burmese government led by the President.-Qualifications:The Constitution of Burma stipulates that Union Ministers must be a Burmese citizen who has been living in the country for at least 10 consecutive years:# persons who have attained the age of...
.
History
Prior to 1862, different regions of modern-day Burma were governed separately. From 1862 to 1923, the colonial administration, housed in Rangoon'sYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
Secretariat
Ministers' Building
The Ministers' Building , was the home and administrative seat of British Burma, located in Kyauktada Township in downtown Yangon, Burma. Built in the late 1800s, the structure is more than 120 years old...
building, was headed by a Chief Commissioner (1862–1897) or a Lieutenant-Governor (1897–1923), who headed the administration, underneath the Governor-General of India
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
. From 31 January 1862 to 1 May 1897, British Burma was headed by a Chief Commissioner. The subsequent expansion of British Burma, with the acquisitions of Upper Burma
Upper Burma
Upper Burma refers to a geographic region of Burma , traditionally encompassing Mandalay and its periphery , or more broadly speaking, Kachin and Shan States....
and the Shan States
Shan States
The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century...
throughout this period increased the demands of the position, and led to an upgrade in the colonial leadership and an expansion of government (Burma was accorded a separate government and legislative council in 1897).
Consequently, from 1 May 1897 to 2 January 1923, the province was led by a Lieutenant Governor. In 1937, Burma was formally separated from British India and began to be administered as a separate British colony, with a fully elected bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. From 2 January 1923 to 4 January 1948, British Burma was led by a Governor, who led the cabinet and was responsible for the colony's defence, foreign relations, finance, and ethnic regions (Frontier Areas and Shan States
Shan States
The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century...
). From 1 January 1944 to 31 August 1946, a British Military Governor governed the colony. During the Japanese occupation of Burma
Japanese occupation of Burma
The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces...
from 1942 to 1945, a Japanese military commander headed the government, while the British-appointed Governor headed the colony in exile.
See also
- Burma
- Politics of Burma
- List of colonial heads of Burma
- List of Presidents of Burma
- Vice President of BurmaVice President of BurmaThe Vice President of Burma also known as Vice President of Myanmar, is the second highest-ranking post in the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The office was established by the 2008 Burmese constitution and ranks directly after the President...
- Prime Minister of Burma
- Lists of Incumbents