The era of Liberal Democracy (Indonesian: Demokrasi Liberal) in Indonesia began on 17 August 1950 following the dissolution of the federal United States of Indonesia less than a year after its formation, and ended with the imposition of martial law and President Sukarno's decree regarding the introduction of Guided Democracy on 5 July 1959. It saw a number of important events, including the 1955 Bandung Conference, Indonesia's first general elections and Constitutional Assembly elections, and an extended period of political instability, with no cabinet lasting as long as two years.