Union Assembly

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Template:Region icon Kylaris

Union Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Unicameral legislature
of the Union of Zomia
Leadership
Chairman
Structure
Seats110
Assembly diagram.png
Political groups
Government (335)
  •   Independent (90)
  •   Tribal Representatives (20)
Length of term
5 years
Elections
Single non-transferable vote for ruler-nominated candidates
Last election
17th March 2017
Next election
17th March 2022

The Union Assembly is a quasi-parliamentary consultative body, consisting of twenty hereditary chieftains representing the autonomous tribal regions, and ninety directly elected councillors; ten from each of the princely states. Constitutionally, the Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Union of Zomia, directly elected by universal suffrage, though in practice its independence from the Executive Council is limited, as all candidates must be nominated by their State Election Committee, in practice controlled by their presiding prince. According to the International Council for Democracy the "the process of nomination is opaque, and voter intimidation is rife. Turnout is mandatory in seven of the nine princely states, and Zomi elections have been described by human rights groups as unofficial censuses, intended to enforce conscription and unfree labour obligations on Zomia's semi-nomadic swiddening population.