The XLV legislative period of the Chilean National Congress commenced on May 21st, 1973, after the general election held on March 4th. Originally, this legislature was going to serve until May 1977, but it only lasted three months and eighteen days, due to the dissolution of the National Congress (Decree-Law Number 27, of 1973) by the Military Junta, in the aftermath of the coup of September 11th. The legislative power was therefore, transferred to the Junta, which held it during the military regime until 1990.