The Shengo was established in February 1987, three weeks after the national referendum was approved.[1] General elections were held place in June 1987 with the sole legal party, the Workers' Party of Ethiopia (WPE), winning 795 seats and communist independents winning 40.[2] The 835-member Shengo, took power in September and became the highest organ of state legislative power of the newly formed PDRE.[3] Its members had been elected to five-year terms.