The Burma Legislature was the legislative body of British Burma from 1936 to 1947. As an elected body, the Legislature of Burma was a bicameral legislature consisting of the 36-seat Senate and the 132-seat House of Representatives.
Establishment The Government of India Act 1935 separated Burma from British India as of 1 April 1937,"The New Constitution: Separation from India", The Times, 20 April 1937, p36, Issue 47663 and created a 36-seat Senate and a 132-seat House of Representatives."Legislature and Electors Burma at the Polls", The Times, 20 April 1937, p37, Issue 47663
Presidents of the Senate Name Took office Left office NotesMaung Gyee16 March 19371940Sir Joseph Augustus Maung Gyi30 August 19401942 - 1943?
Speakers of the House of Representatives Name Took office Left office NotesChit Hlaing12 February 19371941Saw Sydney Loo-Nee19411941Chit Hlaing26 March 19411942 - 1943?.?19451946Thakin U Nu19461946Speaker of the Constituent AssemblyChit Hlaing19471947President of the Legislative Council
Bandoola U Sein was President of the State Assembly of Japanese-sponsored State of Burma.
Notable legislation In 1938, the Legislature of Burma attempted to remedy the dispossession of rural Burmese farmers who were displaced by Indians, in particular, the Chettiars, by passing the Tenancy Act, Land Purchase Act, and Land Alienation Act. The Tenancy Act intended to safeguard tenants from eviction and to fix fair rents, while the Land Purchase Act allowed the government to purchase large swathes of land owned by non-agriculturalists to be resold on a tenancy basis to genuine farmers. In 1938, the Legislature passed into law the progressive University Act.
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