Zahir Shah asserts his power through the…

Zahir Shah asserts his power through the liberal constitution of 1964, which establishes a constitutional monarchy and prohibits royal relatives from holding public office.

The constitution also calls for the establishment of an independent Supreme Court.

The National Assembly approves the new constitution, under which the House of the People is to have 216 elected members, and the House of the Elders is to have 84 members, one-third elected by the people, one-third appointed by the king, and one-third elected indirectly by new provincial assemblies.