One hundred members were appointed representing delegations from groups as addition to the faction delegates of Karya Pembangunan (FKP), Partai Demokrasi Indonesia (FPDI), Persatuan Pembangunan (FPP), and military (Fraksi ABRI, later renamed Fraksi TNI/POLRI).

Under its transitional provisions, for a six-month transition period, the new republic would be governed according to the constitution by a president, assisted by a National Committee, which would establish the long awaited People's Consultative Assembly mandated by the said constitution as the supreme legislative authority of the new republic, with the House of Representatives as its presidum (18 August is presently marked as the official birthday of the MPR).

Sukarno and Vice President Hatta agreed to these demands, and on 16 October 1945, Hatta issued Vice-Presidential Edict No.X that gave the KNIP full legislative powers alongside Sukarno, meaning it had to approve all legislation, including those which determine the current national policies.

However, one by one, the individual regions and territories of the USI began to dissolve themselves into the Republic, and on 17 August 1950, Indonesia became a unitary state.

He then appointed a Mutual Cooperation House of Representatives (DPR-GR) and reestablished the MPR in the form of a Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS).

The resolution was supported by the armed forces deputies to the Assembly, while it dealt a serious blow to the increasing influence of the Communist Party of Indonesia and its representatives, who hoped for a pro-communist, democratically elected president as Sukarno's successor.

Meeting in Jakarta from 20 June to 5 July 1966 under a new leadership, and with a membership purged of 180 individuals either pro-Sukarno or linked to organizations implicated in the alleged coup attempt of 30 September 1965, the General Session marked the beginning of the official transfer of power from Sukarno to Suharto.

Although the de facto transfer of power had been made on 11 March by virtue of the Supersemar document, Suharto wanted to maintain the appearance of legality.

[12][15][16] During the 1966 session, the MPRS passed 24 resolutions; they included revoking Sukarno's appointment to the life presidency, banning "Communism/Marxism-Leninism" [sic]; explicitly defined in the resolution's corresponding explanatory memorandum to include "the struggle fundaments and the tactics taught by ... Stalin, Mao Zedong, etc.

'The Nine Points'), in which he was expected to give account for the 30 September Movement, in which six generals and a first lieutenant were kidnapped and killed by alleged communists.

The MPRS also passed a resolution to re-examine the adoption of the Political Manifesto as the primary GSP of the Assembly and the Republic at large.

The Special Session assembled after Sukarno's Nawaksara Supplementary Letter was deemed to be unworthy because it had not included a full account of the 30 September Movement.

The MPRS commissioned Suharto to continue stabilizing Indonesia's politics and to formulate a Five Year Plan for the economy.

Until 1999 it included members from Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), ABRI members (Indonesian National Armed Forces, which included the police force at the time), as well as regional representatives.

The 1978 General Session, held on 11 to 23 March,[12] passed resolutions that included the integration of East Timor as a province of Indonesia and commissioning Suharto to establish Pancasila as the national ideology via an indoctrination process.

The session was noted for the mass walkout of PPP deputies when Suharto referred to religions as "streams of beliefs".

The 1983 General Session passed resolutions on the holding of a referendum, as well giving Suharto the title of "Father of Development".

The 1988 General Session was marked by a reorganization of the MPR and the return of the sectoral representatives which formed the Groups Faction.

The 1998 General Session was held during the height of the Asian Financial Crisis and the peak of pro-democratic movements in Suharto's regime.

The 1998 Special Session (Sidang Istimewa) was the first MPR assembly held after Suharto's resignation from the Presidency and fall from power in May 1998.

During the General Session, the MPR recognized the referendum in East Timor and set a task force to amend the 1945 constitution.

It also passed resolutions on the consolidation of national unity and recommendations regarding the execution of regional autonomy in the provincial level and below.

The 2003 Annual Session focused on the legal status of the previous resolutions that the MPR and the MPRS had passed, as well as deciding on the composition of a Constitutional Commission.

It was also empowered to enact Guidelines of State Policies (Garis-Garis Besar Haluan Negara), and the president was responsible for executing them.