[4] Under this current constitution, the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) retain significant control of the government, even before their coup of 2021.
[14] This constitution was developed in consultation with different ethnic groups including the Chin, Kachin, and Shan people.
The constitution also granted the right for ethnic states to secede from the new Union of Burma if so desired after ten years following independence in 1948.
[18] Other influences of the socialist Yugoslav constitution were the sections establishing a welfare state and codifying a heavily centralised government.
[14] The 1947 constitution was suspended when the Myanmar military seized power and formed the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma, led by general Ne Win.
In its place, the 1974 constitution codified a unitary, centralized state, under the complete control of the military, through the BSPP.
"[20]: 211 Upon taking power in September 1988, the military, under the guise of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) suspended the 1974 constitution.
[22] On 9 April 2008, the military government of Myanmar (Burma) released its proposed constitution for the country to be put to a vote in public referendum on 10 May 2008, as part of its roadmap to democracy.
[citation needed] The revisions in state structure, including the creation of self-administering areas were not implemented until August 2010.
[4] At the time of its release, foreign media often incorrectly alleged that the constitution barred Aung San Suu Kyi from holding public office because of her marriage to a British citizen;[23] in fact, she would only be barred from the office of President, under the disqualification of those who have a spouse or children who are foreign citizens.
Opposition groups say the turnout was comparatively light, with many reported cases of voting irregularities, such as premarked ballots, voter intimidation, and other techniques to influence the outcome of the referendum.
[33]In spite of its earlier opposition to the 2008 constitution, the NLD participated in the 2012 by-election for 46 seats and won a landslide victory, with Aung San Suu Kyi becoming a member of parliament, alongside 42 others from her party.
The 2008 constitution reserves 25% of seats in parliament for members of the military, with the most powerful posts given to active-duty or retired generals.