Thailand (Political Setting)

Political Setting:

Thailand

Reported by:

Corinth Fabuna

(Crim. 2-A, Group 7)

Political Setting:

Thailand

• Thailand was ruled by anabsolute monarchy from 1782until 1932, when a small groupof rebels seized control of thecountry and persuaded the kingto accept the introduction of aconstitutional monarchy. The

Political Setting:

Thailand

country’s first constitution calledfor a government headed by alegislature (the NationalAssembly), with the kingmaintaining an advisory role ashead of state. When the kingsought to dissolve the new

Political Setting:

Thailand

legislature the following year,the army moved to prevent him,thus becoming the dominantpolitical force in the country. Formost of the next half century,Thailand was under the controlof various military governments.

Political Setting:

Thailand

In 1997 Thailand’s 16thconstitution took effect. It wasthe country’s first constitution tobe drafted by a process involvingpublic debate, and the first toinclude a bill of rightsguaranteeing equality and basic

Political Setting:

Thailand

human rights to all citizens. Theconstitution was intended tomove the center of power awayfrom the military andbureaucracy and toward theelected members of thelegislature. It contained

Political Setting:

Thailand

guarantees for social welfareand environmental protectionand required the government toreport its activities. Following amilitary coup coup in September2006, the 1997 constitution wasrescinded. The military

Political Setting:

Thailand

government drafted a newconstitution, which votersapproved by referendum inAugust 2007.

Political Setting:

Thailand

Thailand is a unitary state, inwhich the authority of thecentral government is superiorto that of the country’sprovincial and municipalgovernments. However, in recentyears pressure has increased for

Political Setting:

Thailand

more devolution of power to theprovinces and municipalities. Allcitizens age 18 and older areeligible to vote.

Political Setting:

Thailand

A. Executive

The king is Thailand’s head ofstate and the commander-in-chiefof the armed forces. Although theking has little direct power, hemay exercise considerableinfluence on political leaders and

Political Setting:

Thailand

moral influence on society as a whole. Since 1946 the king of Thailand has been BhumibolAdulyadej, or Rama IX.

Political Setting:

Thailand

The country’s chief executiveofficial is the prime minister. Theprime minister is designatedfrom among the members of theHouse of Representatives and isusually the leader of thedominant party following

Political Setting:

Thailand

elections. The king formallyappoints the prime minister. Theprime minister heads thecabinet, which consists of nomore than 35 members. Underthe 2007 constitution the primeminister is limited to two four-year terms in office.

Political Setting:

Thailand

B. Legislature

Legislative power in Thailand isvested in a bicameral (two-chamber) National Assembly(Ratha Sapha), consisting of aHouse of Representatives (SaphaPoothaen Rassadorn) and a

Political Setting:

Thailand

Senate (Woothi Sapha). TheHouse of Representatives has480 members; 400 of them areelected from single-memberconstituencies (geographicalareas that each have onerepresentative) and the

Political Setting:

Thailand

remaining 80 are electedthrough a party-list system.House members are elected tofour-year terms, but these termscan be cut short if the kingdecides to dissolve thelegislature and call for new

Political Setting:

Thailand

elections. The Senate has 150members, 76 of whom aredirectly elected from districtscorresponding to Thailand’sprovinces and 74 of whom areselected by a committee. Mostprovinces have a single

Political Setting:

Thailand

representative in the Senate, butthe larger ones have additionalrepresentatives. The electedmembers of the Senate serve six-year terms, and the appointedsenators serve three-year terms.

Political Setting:

Thailand

C. Judiciary

Thai citizens are guaranteed dueprocess and equal justice underthe law. At the top of the courtsystem is the San Dika (SupremeCourt), located in Bangkok. Itserves as a court of final appeal

Political Setting:

Thailand

in all civil, criminal, andbankruptcy cases. Below the SanDika is the San Uthon (Court ofAppeal), which has appellatejurisdiction in all cases. Courts offirst instance includemagistrates’ courts, , provincial

Political Setting:

Thailand

courts, and courts with exclusivejurisdiction in Bangkok and itsimmediate environs. The 1997constitution recognized, andincreased the independence of,the judiciary. As part of thecountry’s reforms to enhance the

Political Setting:

Thailand

rights and freedoms of the Thaipeople, a royal decree createdthe 15-member ConstitutionalCourt in 1998. This court makesfinal and binding decisions incases involving constitutionalissues, and it may recommendamendments to the constitution.

Political Setting:

Thailand

D. Local Government

Thailand is divided into 76provinces (changwat), eachheaded by a governor. Except forthe governor of Bangkok, who iselected by popular vote, theprovincial governors are

Political Setting:

Thailand

appointed by the minister of theinterior. The provinces are dividedinto 744 districts (amphoe),headed by appointed districtofficers. Municipalities aregoverned by elected andappointedofficials, while elected

Political Setting:

Thailand

and appointed officials, whileelected heads hold power at thevillage level.

Political Setting:

Thailand

Source:

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft

Corporation. All rights reserved.

Political Setting:

Thailand

Khop Khun!!!

Political Setting

as we

Understanding

Political-Security

Communityfor

establish a

Republic of the Philippines

CAPIZ STATE UNIVERSITY

Dumarao Satellite College, Dumarao, Capiz

Theme: “Understanding Better the Political, Economic & Socio-Cultural Setting of Southeast Asian Nations for

Peace, Prosperity & People”

March 09, 2015 (8:00-11:30 am)

Campus Library