Graphic: Members of the Wolesi Jirga

The Parliament of Afghanistan, also known as the National Assembly, is a bicameral legislature described within the Afghan Constitution as the supreme legislative body that “shall manifest the will of its people as well as represent the entire nation.” It is composed of the two houses: the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) and the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House).

The Wolesi Jirga is composed of 249 Members of Parliament (MPs), each of whom is directly elected to a five-year term. The number of representatives from each of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces is determined proportionately to the population, and each province has at least two MPs. Afghanistan uses the single non-transferable vote system, in which each person casts a single vote for one candidate in their province. The candidates who receive the most votes in each province are elected to serve in the Wolesi Jirga. 

The information in this graphic was compiled from multiple sources, including the International Security Assistance Force, Afghan Bios Database, Afghan Analysts Network, and the Naval Postgraduate School.