Council of Ministers (Bhutan)
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The Council of Ministers (
History of the Lhengye Zhungtshog
Until 1999, Bhutan's Cabinet consisted of a council of Ministers chaired by King
On July 26, 1999, the National Assembly enacted the Lhengye Zhungtsho Act on advice of the King.[1] This represents the first codification of the modern Lhengye Zhungtshog. Under the act, executive power is fully devolved to the new Lhengye Zhungtshog. Initially, the body lacked a Prime Minister, but was headed by a Chair; later, this position was eliminated in favor of the office of Prime Minister. The Lhengye Zhungtshog was also composed differently from in later years: it consisted of elected Ministers, members of the Royal Advisory Council and the Kalyon. Elected Ministers must have been natural born citizens of Bhutan, must not have been married to a foreign national, and must have already held senior government posts at the rank of Secretary to the Royal Government or above.[1] Candidates were nominated by the King and elected indirectly through the National Assembly.[1] Under the first incarnation of the Lhengye Zhungtshog, as under the "CCM," Ministers continued to enjoy five-year terms while the Chair rotated among them on a yearly basis.
Modern Lhengye Zhungtshog
Under Article 20 of the
The Lhengye Zhungtshog must assess the state of affairs arising from developments in the State and society and from events at home and abroad; define the goals of State action and determine the resources required to achieve them; plan and co-ordinate government policies and ensure their implementation; and represent the Kingdom at home and abroad. The Lhengye Zhungtshog are collectively responsible to the King and to Parliament. The Executive cannot issue any executive order, circular, rule or notification inconsistent with, modifying, varying or superseding the laws of Bhutan.[2]
Presently, the council has 10 members who are termed as Lyonpos and wear a ceremonial orange
(MoAF)
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Forests and Park Services
- Department of Livestock
- Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives
- Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority
- National Biodiversity Center
- Rural Development Training Centre
State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) affiliated to MoAF are:
- Green Bhutan Corporation Limited
- Farm Machinery Corporation Limited
- Bhutan Livestock Development Corporation Limited
- Previous Ministers:
The Ministry of Economic Affairs[3] is responsible for:
- Department of Trade
- Department of Industry
- Department of Intellectual Property
- Department of Geology and Mines
- Department of Hydro-Met Services
- Department of Renewable Energy
- Department of Hydropower & Power Systems
- Department of Cottage & Small Industry
- Office of Consumer Protection
- Previous Ministers:
The Ministry of Education is responsible for:
- Department of Adult and Higher Education
- Department of School Education
- Department of Youth, Culture and Sports
- Previous Ministers:
The Ministry of Finance is responsible for:
- Department of Aid and Debt Management
- Department of National Budget
- Department of National Properties
- Department of Public Accounts
- Department of Revenue and Customs
- Department of Macro Economics
- Previous ministers:
- Lyonpo Chogyal (May 1968 – 1988)
- Lyonpo Dorji Tshering (1988 – 1998)
- Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba (August 1998 – July 2003)
- Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu (July 2003 – July 2007) (April 2008 – May 2013)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for:
- Department of Bilateral Affairs
- Department of Multilateral Affairs
- Department of Protocol
- Previous Ministers:
The Ministry of Health is responsible for:
- Department of Public Health
- Department of Public Services
- Department of Medical Supplies and Health Infrastructures
- Department of Traditional Medicine
- Directorate of Services
- Previous Ministers:
The
- Bureau of Law and Order
- Department of Civil Registration and Census
- Department of Culture and Heritage
- Department of Immigration
- Department of Local Governance
- Previous ministers:
- Lyonpo Tamji Jagar (1968 – 1985)
- HRH Namgyal Wangchuk (1985 – 1991)
- Lyonpo Dago Tshering (1991 – June 1998)
- Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho (July 1998 – August 2003)
- Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley (August 2003 – July 2007)
The Ministry of Information and Communication is responsible for:
- Bhutan Infocomm and Media Authority
- Department of Civil Aviation
- Department of Information and Media
- Department of Information Technology
- Road Safety and Transport Authority
- Bhutan Broadcasting Service
- Bhutan Post
- Bhutan Telecom
- Druk Air
- Kuensel Corporation
- Previous Ministers:
The Ministry of Labour and Human Resources is responsible for:
- Department of Employment
- Department of Human Resources
- Department of Labour
- Department of Occupational Standards
- Previous Ministers:
The Ministry of Works and Human Settlement is responsible for:
- Department of Roads
- Department of Urban Development & Engineering Serv
- Department of Urban Development and Eng. Services
- Standard and Quality Control Authority
- Previous Ministers:
- Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering
- Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji
Former cabinets
Tshering Tobgay's cabinet
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister |
Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay |
Minister of Agriculture & Forest | Lyonpo Yeshey Dorji |
Minister of Economic Affairs | Lyonpo Lekey Dorji |
Education Minister | Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk |
Finance Minister | Lyonpo Namgay Dorji |
Foreign Minister |
Lyonpo Damcho Dorji |
Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs | Lyonpo Dawa Gyeltshen |
Health Minister | Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk |
Information and Communications Minister | Lyonpo Dina Nath Dhungyel |
Minister of Labour and Human Resources | Lyonpo Ngeema Sangay Tshempo |
Minister of Works and Human Settlement | Lyonpo Dorji Choden |
Current cabinet
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister |
Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering |
Minister for Foreign Affairs | Lyonpo Tandi Dorji |
Minister for Home and Cultural Affairs | Lyonpo Ugyen Dorji |
Minister for Agriculture and Forests | Lyonpo Yeshey Penjor |
Minister for Information and Communication | Lyonpo Karma Donnen Wangdi |
Minister for Health | Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo |
Minister for Economic Affairs | Lyonpo Loknath Sharma |
Minister for Finance | Lyonpo Namgay Tshering |
Minister for Labour and Human Resources | Lyonpo Karma Dorji |
Minister for Education | Lyonpo Jai Bir Rai |
Minister for Works and Human Settlement | Lyonpo Dorji Tshering |
See also
Notes
- ^ Government of Bhutan. 1999-07-26. Retrieved 2011-01-02.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (English)" (PDF). Government of Bhutan. 2008-07-18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
- ^ "Tengye Lhenkhag". Archived from the original on 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
External links
- The Royal Government of Bhutan Archived 2016-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
- The 4th King's 2006 address of the Lhengye Zhungtsho - His Majesty's vision of the future of Bhutan
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Economic Affairs Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs
- Ministry Information and Communications Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
- Ministry of Labour and Human Resources
- Ministry of Works and Human Settlement
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (English)