Prior to the unicameralization, the Council consisted of the Legislative Assembly and the Assembly of People's Representatives who had 60 and 45 members (respectively) and were elected to five year terms. The Legislative was divided into 45 who were elected in constituencies and 15 from party-lists.
The 2005 Kyrgyz parliamentary elections were held in February and March 2005. More than 400 candidates ran for the new 75-member unicameral legislative assembly. There were two rounds of voting held on 27 February and 13 March. Six seats were won by opposition politicians. Most candidates were officially independent. International observers said the elections fell short of international standards for democratic elections in several important areas. Widespread protests over alleged rigging of the election by the government culminated in the Tulip Revolution on 24 March. Revolutionaries overthrew President Askar Akayev.