National Assembly (Thailand)
National Assembly รัฐสภา Ratthasapha | |
|---|---|
| 26th Parliament | |
Bicameral | |
| Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
| History | |
| Founded | 28 June 1932 |
| Leadership | |
Vajiralongkorn since 13 October 2016 | |
Vice President of the National Assembly (President of the Senate) | Pornpetch Wichitcholchai since 28 May 2019 |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
|
.svg) | |
| political groups |
|
 | |
House of Representatives political groups | Government (315)
|
| Elections | |
| Indirect limited voting with self-nomination | |
| Parallel voting: First-past-the-post voting (400 seats) Party-list proportional representation (100 seats) | |
Last Senate election | 30 March 2014 |
Last House of Representatives election | 14 May 2023 |
Next Senate election | 26 June 2024 |
Next House of Representatives election | By 27 June 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
.jpg) | |
| Sappaya-Sapasathan Dusit, Bangkok Thailand | |
| Website | |
| parliament.go.th | |
 |
|---|
 |
Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
|
Phumtham Wechayachai (PTP) BTP )Patcharawat Wongsuwan (PPRP) Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (UTN)
|
|
Legislature 
Singsuk Singpai
Padipat Suntiphada (FA)
|
President: Anocha Chevitsophon President: Vorapot Visrutpich President: Nakarin Mektrairat |
 Thailand portal |
The National Assembly of Thailand (
The National Assembly was established in 1932 after the adoption of Thailand's first constitution, which transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.
During the 2013 political crisis, the House of Representatives was dissolved by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who called for election on 2 February 2014 until it was nullified by the Constitutional Court. After the 2014 coup d'état, the National Assembly was replaced by the military-backed, unicameral National Legislative Assembly according to the 2014 constitution.
After the promulgation of the 2017 Constitution in April 2017, the National Assembly was reestablished but the constitution allowed the military National Legislative Assembly to temporarily remain in place until the National Assembly was formed following the 2019 general election.
Composition
 | This section's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. The reason given is: information on women's representation is outdated—women's prorportion as of the most recent election is 19.4%. (February 2024) |
The Assembly is a bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Combined, the Assembly has 750 members, 500 of which were elected directly through a general election (500
Thailand's parliament is overwhelmingly male, at 80.6%. Representation by women is 19.4%, below the Asian average is 20 percent, and the global average for female parliamentarians of 24 percent. All fall short of the 30 percent considered satisfactory by United Nations Women.[1][2]
Senate
The
House of Representatives
The
Elections
Elections in Thailand are held under
Officers
The
Functions
Legislation
The powers of the National Assembly are enshrined in Chapter 6, Part 7 of the
- A bill can be introduced to the National Assembly for consideration by the constitutional independent organs (but only in respect to laws that concern that organization); and by persons who have the right to vote submitting a petition of no fewer than ten thousand in number (a form of direct democracy). If the bill is a money bill its introduction can only be made with the endorsement of the prime minister.[10]
- The bill is then introduced to the House of Representative for debate, amendment, and vote. When the House of Representatives has considered the bill and passed a resolution approving it, the House of Representatives shall submit the bill to the Senate. The Senate must finish the consideration of such bill within 60 days, unless it is a money bill, when consideration must be finished within 30 days.[11]
- After the Senate has finished consideration of a bill, and if it agrees with the House of Representatives, the bill will then proceed to the next stage. If the Senate disagrees with the House of Representatives, then the bill will be withheld and returned to the House of Representatives. If there is an amendment, the amended bill will then be returned to the House of Representatives. If the House of Representatives approves the amendment, the bill will proceed to the next stage. In other cases, each house will appoint representatives (who may or may not be members of the Assembly) in equal number (as may be fixed by the House of Representatives), to constitute a joint committee to consider the bill. The joint committee will then prepare a report and resubmit the bill to both houses. If both houses approve the bill already considered by the joint committee, the bill will proceed to the next stage. If either house disapproves it, the bill will be withheld.[12]
- After a bill has been approved by the National Assembly, the prime minister presents it to the monarch for royal assent within 20 days from the date of the receipt of the bill from the National Assembly. It shall come into force upon its publication in the Royal Gazette.[13]
- If the monarch refuses royal assent, by withholding his signature to a bill and either returns it to the National Assembly or does not return it within 90 days, (a Royal Gazette as if the monarch had signed it. This gives the National Assembly the power to overturn a royal veto.[14]
Relationship with the Government
The Government of Thailand, particularly the Cabinet of Thailand is answerable directly to the National Assembly. The constitution mandates that within 15 days of being sworn in, the Cabinet must state its policies to the National Assembly.[15] The National Assembly has the authority to call any minister to appear before it at any time to explain policies or answer questions. This power of scrutiny is important as some members of the Cabinet need not be members of the National Assembly. If they are a member, they can only be from the lower house or the House of Representatives, as the constitution expressly forbids members of the Senate from being members of the Cabinet.[16]
As the prime minister is selected from the ranks of the House of Representatives and elected by the house, the prime minister is therefore directly responsible to the legislature. The National Assembly can compel him to appear before it like any other minister, and force him to explain policies and answer questions, just like any other member of the Cabinet. In reverse the Cabinet also has some powers over the National Assembly. The Cabinet can, according to the constitution, call an emergency session of the National Assembly at any time.[17]
Appointment
Apart from its legislative and oversight functions, the National Assembly has the power of appointment and removal. The house is given exclusive right to elect the Prime Minister of Thailand. First the candidate must receive the support of one-fifth of all members. Afterwards, a simple majority vote will confirm his appointment which will be made officially by the monarch. The royal assent is then countersigned by the President of the National Assembly.[18]
The Senate is given exclusive powers to advise on the appointment of members of the judiciary and members of independent government organizations. These include judges of the
The National Assembly has the power to impeach and remove these officers. The prime minister can only be removed by the house in a
Term
The two houses of the National Assembly have different terms of office. In accordance with the constitution, the Senate is elected to a five-year term, while the House is elected to a four-year term. Overall, the term of the National Assembly is based on that of the House. The National Assembly each year will sit in two sessions: an "ordinary" session and a "legislative" session. The first session of the National Assembly must take place within 30 days of a
The National Assembly may host a "joint-sitting" of both houses under several circumstances. These include the appointment of a regent; any alteration to the 1924 Palace Law of Succession; the opening of the first session; the announcement of policies by the Cabinet of Thailand; approval of a declaration of war; the hearing of explanations and approval of a treaty; and the amendment of the constitution.
Privileges
Members of the National Assembly enjoy
The two houses also retain the privilege to decide its own rules and procedures, committees, quorum of committees, sittings, the submission and consideration of organic law bills and bills, the submission of motions, the consultation, debates, the passing of a resolution, the recording and disclosure of the passing of a resolution, the interpellation, the initiation of a general debate and committee members.
Parliament House
.jpg)
From 28 June 1932 to 1974, the legislature met in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. After the first elections to the National Assembly in 1933, King Prajadhipok gave the Throne Hall for the legislature's use. However through the years the composition of the Assembly increased and the Throne Hall became too small to accommodate all the legislators and its secretariat. Three attempts were made to build a new building. Each failed because the government in power was terminated before a budget could be appropriated.
The fourth time, however, was a success, with the help of King Bhumibol Adulyadej who appropriated to the National Assembly royal land immediately north of the Throne Hall for the site of the new Parliament House. Construction began on 5 November 1970, with a budget of 51,027,360 baht. The new Parliament House complex is composed of three buildings:
- The first building, or the Parliament House, is three storeys containing the meeting chamber for the National Assembly. The chamber is shared by both the Senate and the House. It also contains the offices of the President and Vice President of the National Assembly and other deputy presiding officers.
- The second building is a seven-storey building containing the secretariat and offices of the National Assembly as well as its printing press.
- The third building is a two-storey building used as the Parliament Club, with facilities for Assembly members.
Parliament House was first used on 19 September 1974. The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall became a national historic building and was returned to the king as part of Dusit Palace. From then on Parliament House became the primary building used for the National Assembly. Only the state opening ceremony is now held in the Throne Hall.
On 29 July 2008, the National Assembly appropriated new funds to construct a new and grander Parliament House. As of December 2008, a site belonging to the Royal Thai Army was identified as the site of a new complex, but no further action has been taken.
In 2013, the National Assembly confirmed that it would be moved to the new Parliament House, Sappaya-Sapasathan.
History
Establishment
Prior to 1932, the Kingdom of
The "Draft Constitution" of 1932 signed by King
After World War II until military dominance
After the
On June 5, 1949,
)Military dominance
This charter lasted until 1957 when the military again carried out a coup d'état and created a single 123-member appointed National Assembly, 103 of which were from the military or police. In 1959
In 1974 the rule of the "three tyrants" (as Thanom's tenure became known) was finally overthrown. A new constitution was promulgated, this time swinging the power back to the legislature by creating a bicameral legislature with an elected House and a House-appointed Senate. Within two years the military led by Thanin Kraivichien again abrogated the constitution and installed a royally-appointed 360-member unicameral National Assembly.
By 1978,
The present
The
- Further Information: Constitution of Thailand
See also
- President of the National Assembly of Thailand
- National People's Assembly of Thailand
- National Legislative Assembly of Thailand 2006
- Government of Thailand
- Politics of Thailand
- Constitution of Thailand
- 2007 Constitution of Thailand
- Senate of Thailand
- House of Representatives of Thailand
- Elections in Thailand
- List of legislatures by country
References
- ^ "'I'm ready,' says first transgender candidate for Thai PM". Today. Reuters. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
- ^ "Thailand – Data on Women". IPU Parline. Inter-Parliamentary Union. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Vanijaka, Voranai (2013-08-22). "Welcome to Thakland". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: The National Assembly, Part 3: The Senate
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: The National Assembly, Part 2: House of Representatives
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 4: Duties of the Thai People, Section 72
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Part 1: General Provisions
- ^ "เลขาสภายืนยัน บัตรเลือกประธานสภาผู้แทนราษฎรมีตราเฉพาะปลอมไม่ได้".
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Part 7: Enactment of Acts
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 142
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 146
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 147-149
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 150
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 151
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 176
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Part 9: Scrutiny of Administration of the State Affairs
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 171-196
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 171-173
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 11: Constitutional organs, Section 229-251
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 252
- ^ Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: The National Assembly, Section 158
- ^ Sopchokchai, Orapin. Female Members of Parliament, Women's Political Participation at the National Level Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, Women's Political Participation in Thailand, TDRI Quarterly Review, Vol. 13, No. 4, December 1998, pp. 11-20
- ^ Iwanaga, Kazuki. Women in Politics in Thailand Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, Working Paper No. 14, Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University, Sweden, 2005
- ^ "Thai referendum: Why Thais backed a military-backed constitution".
- ^ "Thailand's 2017 constitution officially promulgated".
External links
| Sovereign states |
|
|---|---|
| States with limited recognition |
|
| Dependencies and other territories |
|
