1922 Burmese general election: Difference between revisions
→Electoral system: missing word |
+ |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
==Electoral system== |
==Electoral system== |
||
The Legislative Council had 130 members, of which 80 were elected and 50 appointed by the British authorities.<ref name=IM/> All citizens over the age of 18 were enfranchised as long as they met certain requirements.<ref name=T2>"New Constitution For Burma. Wide Franchise", ''The Times'', 31 May 1922. p9, Issue 43045</ref> Suffrage in the 44 rural constituencies was based on taxation - in [[Upper Burma]] voters had to pay household tax, whilst in [[Lower Burma]] they had to pay the married rate of capitation tax.<ref name=T2/> This requirement disenfranchised most of the peasantry.<ref name=IM/> In eight towns with urban constituencies the same requirements as for local elections were applied.<ref name=T2/> Of the country's 12 million population, only 1.8 million were eligible to vote,<ref name=IM/> as the [[Shan States]] and some border districts were not part of the election.<ref name=T2/> |
The Legislative Council had 130 members, of which 80 were elected and 50 appointed by the British authorities.<ref name=IM/> All citizens over the age of 18 were enfranchised as long as they met certain requirements.<ref name=T2>"New Constitution For Burma. Wide Franchise", ''The Times'', 31 May 1922. p9, Issue 43045</ref> Suffrage in the 44 rural constituencies was based on taxation - in [[Upper Burma]] voters had to pay household tax, whilst in [[Lower Burma]] they had to pay the married rate of capitation tax.<ref name=T2/> This requirement disenfranchised most of the peasantry.<ref name=IM/> In eight towns with urban constituencies the same requirements as for local elections were applied.<ref name=T2/> Of the country's 12 million population, only 1.8 million were eligible to vote,<ref name=IM/> as the [[Shan States]] and some border districts were not part of the election.<ref name=T2/> Separate seats were established for [[Karen people|Karen]], Eurasians and Europeans.<ref>Hugh Trinker (1990) ''South Asia: a short history'' University of Hawaii Press, p195</ref> |
||
Candidates had to be aged 25 or over.<ref name=T2/> |
Candidates had to be aged 25 or over.<ref name=T2/> |
||
==Electoral campaign== |
==Electoral campaign== |
||
The election was contested by moderates and radical nationalists.<ref name=IM/> Whilst the moderates aimed to change the system from within, the nationalists campaigned for separation from [[British Raj|India]] and home rule.<ref name=IM/> Candidates were accused of selling out to the British authorities, and voters were intimidated by campaigners calling for a boycott and nationalist monks.<ref name=IM/> Of the 80 elected seats, 24 were uncontested.<ref name=TT/> For the remaining seats there were 162 candidates.<ref name=TT/> |
The election was contested by moderates and radical nationalists.<ref name=IM/> Whilst the moderates aimed to change the system from within, the nationalists campaigned for separation from [[British Raj|India]] and home rule.<ref name=IM/> The General Council of Burmese Associations called for a boycott of the election, although one faction formed the [[21 Party]] to contest it. |
||
Candidates were accused of selling out to the British authorities, and voters were intimidated by campaigners calling for a boycott and nationalist monks.<ref name=IM/> Of the 80 elected seats, 24 were uncontested.<ref name=TT/> For the remaining seats there were 162 candidates.<ref name=TT/> |
|||
==Results== |
==Results== |
||
In [[Rangoon]] three moderates and one "extremist" were elected.<ref name=TT/> Voter turnout was very low, at just 6.9%.<ref name=IM/> |
The 21 Party led by [[Ba Pe]] emerged as the largest in the Council with 28 seats.<ref name=I/> In [[Rangoon]] three moderates and one "extremist" were elected.<ref name=TT/> Voter turnout was very low, at just 6.9%.<ref name=IM/> |
||
==Aftermath== |
|||
Pe refused to form a coalition with the pro-British grouping known as the [[Golden Valley Party]] (GVP). Instead, the GVP leader J.A. Maung Gyi was able to form a government.<ref name=I>[http://election.irrawaddy.org/analysis/95-here-today-gone-tomorrow.html Here Today, Gone Tomorrow] The Irrawaddy, 3 November 2009</ref> |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 14:12, 16 February 2012
 |
|---|
 Myanmar portal |
Legislative Council elections were held in Burma on 21 November 1922,[1] the first in the country's history.[2]
Electoral system
The Legislative Council had 130 members, of which 80 were elected and 50 appointed by the British authorities.[2] All citizens over the age of 18 were enfranchised as long as they met certain requirements.[3] Suffrage in the 44 rural constituencies was based on taxation - in Upper Burma voters had to pay household tax, whilst in Lower Burma they had to pay the married rate of capitation tax.[3] This requirement disenfranchised most of the peasantry.[2] In eight towns with urban constituencies the same requirements as for local elections were applied.[3] Of the country's 12 million population, only 1.8 million were eligible to vote,[2] as the Shan States and some border districts were not part of the election.[3] Separate seats were established for Karen, Eurasians and Europeans.[4]
Candidates had to be aged 25 or over.[3]
Electoral campaign
The election was contested by moderates and radical nationalists.[2] Whilst the moderates aimed to change the system from within, the nationalists campaigned for separation from India and home rule.[2] The General Council of Burmese Associations called for a boycott of the election, although one faction formed the 21 Party to contest it.
Candidates were accused of selling out to the British authorities, and voters were intimidated by campaigners calling for a boycott and nationalist monks.[2] Of the 80 elected seats, 24 were uncontested.[1] For the remaining seats there were 162 candidates.[1]
Results
The 21 Party led by Ba Pe emerged as the largest in the Council with 28 seats.[5] In Rangoon three moderates and one "extremist" were elected.[1] Voter turnout was very low, at just 6.9%.[2]
Aftermath
Pe refused to form a coalition with the pro-British grouping known as the Golden Valley Party (GVP). Instead, the GVP leader J.A. Maung Gyi was able to form a government.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d "News in Brief", The Times, 23 November 1922, p9, Issue 43196
- ^ a b c d e f g h The Ghost of Elections Past Irrawaddy Media, 31 May 2010
- ^ a b c d e "New Constitution For Burma. Wide Franchise", The Times, 31 May 1922. p9, Issue 43045
- ^ Hugh Trinker (1990) South Asia: a short history University of Hawaii Press, p195
- ^ a b Here Today, Gone Tomorrow The Irrawaddy, 3 November 2009
