Focus on Burma?s election has largely been on the Parliament, but is fact this is a largely powerless body which will be dominated by the military. Real power will lie with the President, the Commanderin- Chief and the new National Defense and Security Council....In brief: • Assembly/Parliament with one Upper House and one lower house • 14 regional and state assemblies (Parliaments) • 25% of seats (110) in People Assembly (Lower House) reserved for military • 25% of seats (56) in Upper House reserved for military • 25% of seats in state and regional assemblies reserved for the military • 1,163 seats available by vote (but voting banned in at least 6 seats in ethnic areas) • 37 parties allowed to participate • Dictatorship linked parties only ones which can afford to stand in almost every constituency • 2,203 political prisoners unable to take part • New National Defense and Security Council where real power lies – not Parliament