The framework law of 1956 established a Territorial Assembly, which was replaced in 1967 by the Chamber of Deputies, which remained in office after independence in 1977.

It consists of 65 members – 30 Somali (30 Issa) and 25 Afar – elected to serve five-year terms in multi-seat (4 to 37 each) constituencies.

The first free multi-party parliamentary election since independence (1977) was held in 2003, with the ruling coalition, led by the People's Rally for Progress (RPP), receiving 62.7% of the vote.

For its entire existence, the National Assembly has been dominated by the Popular Rally for Progress, which is presently the senior partner in the Union for a Presidential Majority coalition.

[3] The building of the national assembly was built and partially financed by the government of Iran and completed on November 23, 2014.