[2][3] The Parliament is a 100-member unicameral body in which 5 seats are reserved for non-Kurdish minority communities of the Kurdistan Region.

Legislative proposals and bills are initiated via the Regional Council of Ministries or by the endorsement of ten individual members of parliament.

The three main functions of the IKP are to examine proposals for new laws, to scrutinize government policy and administration, and to debate major issues.

The founding principles of the IKP are liberty, pluralism, accountability, openness, and the representation of all citizens of Kurdistan Region.

To protect civilians from attacks by Iraqi military forces following the 1991 Gulf War, the US, UK and France initiated a no-fly zone above the 36th line of latitude which cuts across Kurdistan.

These no-fly and security zones strongly supported and encouraged refugees, including those who had left in the 1970s, to return to their homes.

In 1991, Saddam Hussein withdrew his forces and his administration, including the national flag, from parts of the Kurdistan Region.

Compounding the hardship caused by an international UN embargo on Iraq, Saddam Hussein enforced an additional internal embargo on the region that stopped food and fuel supplies, disconnected electrical power and prevented the movement of people to other parts of the country.

Voter turnout was very high and the elections were deemed to be free, fair, and democratic by international observers.

The people of the Kurdistan Region decided to remain part of Iraq, and to adopt and abide by all national laws except for those that violated human and universal rights.

Not surprisingly, the coalition received the majority of votes (an overwhelming 90%) allowing the KDP and PUK to effectively divide key positions in government.

Nechervan Barzani, who is a member of the KDP, was expected to serve two years and would be replaced with a PUK candidate in 2008.

Eleven seats have been allocated to represent the Assyrian, Armenian, and Turkmen minority communities in the KRG-administered provinces.

[3][needs update] As provided in the federal constitution of Iraq, the KNA has considerable power to debate and legislate on policy in a wide range of areas.

Members of the Kurdistan National Assembly Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq Regulation 14/2005 on the KNA elections