Federal Era and Parliamentary Democracy Era
On 27 December 1949, Indonesia's independence was recognized by the Dutch Government, and the search was on for a form of government that would suit Indonesia.
From that year until 17 August 1950, Indonesia was known as the United States of Indonesia (RIS) and had a federal system of government. Under the constitution of the RIS, the MPR was not recognized as the highest state institution, and it ceased to function. On the 17 August 1950, however, the RIS ceased to exist, and Indonesia changed its name to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
Parliamentary democracy was the form of government quickly adopted by the newly re-formed nation. It operated under a provisional constitution that did not recognize the MPR. As a result of the 1955 legislative elections, however, a new DPR was formed. In December 1955, a government body called the Constitutional Assembly of Indonesia (Konstituante) was formed, and its duty was to draft a new constitution for Indonesia. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Assembly could not agree on a constitution, and by 1959, the government was demanding a return to the 1945 constitution; this step was rejected by the Constitutional Assembly.
Read more about this topic: People's Consultative Assembly
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