Translation*
CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND **
SOMDET PHRA PARAMINTHARAMAHA
BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ
SAYAMMINTHARATHIRAT BOROMMANATTHABOPHIT
Enacted on the 11th Day of October B.E. 2540;
Being the 52nd Year of the Present Reign.
May there be virtue. Today is the tenth day of the waxing moon in
the eleventh month of the year of the Ox under the lunar calendar, being
Saturday, the eleventh day of October under the solar calendar, in the 2540th year
of the Buddhist Era.
Phrabat Somdet Phra Paramintharamaha Bhumibol Adulyadej
Mahitalathibet Ramathibodi Chakkri Narubodin Sayammintharathirat
Borommanatthabophit is graciously pleased to proclaim that whereas
Constitutions have been promulgated as the principle of the democratic regime
of government with the King as Head of the State in Thailand for more than
sixty-five years, and there had been annulment and amendment to the
Constitutions on several occasions, it is manifest that the Constitution is
changeable depending upon the situation in the country. In addition, the
Constitution must clearly lay down fundamental rules as the principle of the
administration of the State and the guideline for the preparation of the organic
laws and other laws in conformity therewith; and whereas the Constitution of the
Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2534 as amended by the Constitution Amendment
(No. 6), B.E. 2539 established the Constituent Assembly, consisting of ninety-
nine members elected by the National Assembly, charged with the duty to
prepare a draft of a new Constitution as the fundamental of political reform
and His Majesty the King graciously granted an audience to members of the
Constituent Assembly for taking His Royal speeches and receiving blessings in
carrying out this task, and, thereafter, the Constituent Assembly prepared the
draft Constitution with the essential substance lying in additionally promoting
and protecting rights and liberties of the people, providing for public
participation in the governance and inspecting the exercise of State power as
well as improving a political structure to achieve more efficiency and stability,
_______________________
* Translation by the Office of the Council of State
** Published in the Government Gazette, Vol. 114, Part 55a,dated 11th October B.E.
2540(1997)
having particular regard to public opinions and observing procedures provided
in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2534 as amended by the
Constitution Amendment (No. 6), B.E. 2539 (1996) in every respect;
Having carefully considered the Draft Constitution prepared by the
Constituent Assembly in the light of the situation of the country, the National
Assembly passed a resolution approving the presentation of the draft
Constitution to the King for His Royal signature to promulgate it as the
Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand;
Having thoroughly examined the draft Constitution, the King
deemed it expedient to grant His Royal assent in accordance with the resolution
of the National Assembly;
Be it, therefore, commanded by the King that the Constitution of
the Kingdom of Thailand be promulgated to replace, as from the date of its
promulgation, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2534
promulgated on 9th December B.E. 2534.
May the Thai people unite in observing, protecting and upholding
the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in order to maintain the democratic
regime of government and the sovereign power derived from the Thai people,
and to bring about happiness, prosperity, and dignity to His Majesty's subjects
throughout the Kingdom according to the will of His Majesty in every respect.
CHAPTER I
General Provisions
____________
Section 1. Thailand is one and indivisible Kingdom.
Section 2. Thailand adopts a democratic regime of government
with the King as Head of the State.
Section 3. The sovereign power belongs to the Thai people.
The King as Head of the State shall exercise such power through the National
Assembly, the Council of Ministers and the Courts in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution.
Section 4. The human dignity, right and liberty of the people
shall be protected.
Section 5. The Thai people, irrespective of their origins, sexes
or religions, shall enjoy equal protection under this Constitution.
Section 6. The Constitution is the supreme law of the State.
The provisions of any law, rule or regulation, which are contrary to or
inconsistent with this Constitution, shall be unenforceable.
Section 7. Whenever no provision under this Constitution is
applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional
practice in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the
State.
CHAPTER II
The King
____________
Section 8. The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered
worship and shall not be violated.
No person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or
action.
Section 9. The King is a Buddhist and Upholder of religions.
Section 10. The King holds the position of Head of the Thai
Armed Forces.
Section 11. The King has the prerogative to create titles and
confer decorations.
Section 12. The King selects and appoints qualified persons to be
the President of the Privy Council and not more than eighteen Privy Councillors
to constitute the Privy Council.
The Privy Council has a duty to render such advice to the King on
all matters pertaining to His functions as He may consult, and has other duties as
provided in this Constitution.
Section 13. The selection and appointment or the removal of a
Privy Councillor shall depend entirely upon the King's pleasure.
The President of the National Assembly shall countersign the
Royal Command appointing or removing the President of the Privy Council.
The President of the Privy council shall countersign the Royal
Command appointing or removing other Privy Councillors.
Section 14. A Privy Councillor shall not be a member of
the House of Representatives, senator, Election Commissioner,
Ombudsman, member of the National Human Rights Commission, judge of the Constitutional
Court, judge of an Administrative Court, member of the National Counter
Corruption Commission, member of the State Audit Council, Government
official holding a permanent position or receiving a salary, official of a State
enterprise, other State official or holder of other position of member or official of
a political party, and must not manifest loyalty to any political party.
Section 15. Before taking office, a Privy Councillor shall make
a solemn declaration before the King in the following words:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal
to His Majesty the King and will faithfully perform my duties in the interests of
the country and of the people. I will also uphold and observe the Constitution of
the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
Section 16. A Privy Councillor vacates office upon death,
resignation or removal by a Royal Command.
Section 17. The appointment and removal of officials of the
Royal Household and of the Royal Chief Aide-de-Camp shall depend entirely
upon the King's pleasure.
Section 18. Whenever the King is absent from the Kingdom or
unable to perform His functions for any reason whatsoever, the King will appoint
a person Regent, and the President of the National Assembly shall countersign
the Royal Command therefor.
Section 19. In the case where the King does not appoint a Regent
under section 18, or the King is unable to appoint a Regent owing to His not
being sui juris or any other reason whatsoever, the Privy Council shall submit
the name of a person suitable to hold the office of Regent to the National
Assembly for approval. Upon approval by the National Assembly, the President
of National Assembly shall make an announcement, in the name of the King, to
appoint such person as Regent.
During the expiration the term of the House of Representatives or
the dissolution thereof, the Senate shall act as the National Assembly in giving
an approval under paragraph one.
Section 20. While there is no Regent under section 18 or section
19, the President of the Privy Council shall be Regent pro tempore.
In the case where the Regent appointed under section 18 or section
19 is unable to perform his or her duties, the President of the Privy Council shall
act as Regent pro tempore.
While being Regent under paragraph one or acting as Regent under
paragraph two, the President of the Privy Council shall not perform his or her
duties as President of the Privy Council. In such case, the Privy Council shall
select a Privy Councillor to act as President of the Privy Council pro tempore.
Section 21. Before taking office, the Regent appointed under
section 18 or section 19 shall make a solemn declaration before the National
Assembly in the following words:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal
to His Majesty the King (name of the King) and will faithfully perform my duties
in the interests of the country and of the people. I will also uphold and observe
the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
During the expiration of the term of the House of Representatives
or the dissolution thereof, the Senate shall act as the National Assembly under
this section.
Section 22. Subject to section 23, the succession to the Throne
shall be in accordance with the Palace Law on Succession, B.E. 2467.
The Amendment of the Palace Law on Succession, B.E. 2467 shall
be the prerogative of the King. At the initiative of the King, the Privy Council
shall draft the Palace Law Amendment and shall present it to the King for his
consideration. When the King has already approved the draft Palace Law
Amendment and put His signature thereon, the President of the Privy Council
shall notify the President of the National Assembly for informing the National
Assembly. The President of the National Assembly shall countersign the Royal
Command, and the Palace Law Amendment shall have the force of law upon its
publication in the Government Gazette.
During the expiration of the term of the House of Representatives
or the dissolution thereof, the Senate shall act as the National Assembly in
acknowledging the matter under paragraph two.
Section 23. In the case where the Throne becomes vacant and the
King has already appointed His Heir to the Throne under the Palace Law on
Succession, B.E. 2467, the Council of Ministers shall notify the President of the
National Assembly. The President of the National Assembly shall convoke the
National Assembly for the acknowledgement thereof, and the President of the
National Assembly shall invite such Heir to ascend the Throne and proclaim
such Heir King.
In the case where the Throne becomes vacant and the King has not
appointed His Heir under paragraph one, the Privy Council shall submit the name
of the Successor to the Throne under section 22 to the Council of Ministers for
further submission to the National Assembly for approval. For this purpose, the
name of a Princess may be submitted. Upon the approval of the National
Assembly, the President of the National Assembly shall invite such Successor to
ascend the Throne and proclaim such Successor King.
During the expiration of the term of the House of Representatives
or the dissolution thereof, the Senate shall act as the National Assembly in
acknowledging the matter under paragraph one or in giving an approval under
paragraph two.
Section 24. Pending the proclamation of the name of the Heir or
the Successor to the Throne under section 23, the President of the Privy Council
shall be Regent pro tempore. In the case where the Throne becomes vacant
while the Regent has been appointed under section 18 or section 19 or while the
President of the Privy Council is acting as Regent under section 20 paragraph
one, such Regent, as the case may be, shall continue to be the Regent until the
proclamation of the name of the Heir or the Successor to ascend the Throne as
King.
In the case where the Regent who has been appointed and
continues to be the Regent under paragraph one is unable to perform his or her
duties, the President of the Privy council shall act as Regent pro tempore.
In the case where the President of the Privy Council is the Regent
under paragraph one or acts as Regent pro tempore under paragraph two, the
provisions of section 20 paragraph three shall apply.
Section 25. In the case where the Privy Council will have to
perform its duties under section 19 or section 23 paragraph two, or the President
of the Privy Council will have to perform his or her duties under section 20
paragraph one or paragraph two or section 24 paragraph two, and during that
time there is no President of the Privy Council or the President of the Privy
Council is unable to perform his or her duties, the remaining Privy Councillors
shall elect one among themselves to act as President of the Privy Council or to
perform the duties under section 20 paragraph one or paragraph two or section
24 paragraph three, as the case may be.
CHAPTER III
Rights and Liberties of the Thai People
____________
Section 26. In exercising powers of all State authorities, regard
shall be had to human dignity, rights and liberties in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution.
Section 27. Rights and liberties recognised by this Constitution
expressly, by implication or by decisions of the Constitutional Court shall be
protected and directly binding on the National Assembly, the Council of
Ministers, Courts and other State organs in enacting, applying and interpreting
laws.
Section 28. A person can invoke human dignity or exercise his or
her rights and liberties in so far as it is not in violation of rights and liberties of
other persons or contrary to this Constitution or good morals.
A person whose rights and liberties recognised by this Constitution
are violated can invoke the provisions of this Constitution to bring a lawsuit or to
defend himself or herself in the court.
Section 29. The restriction of such rights and liberties as
recognised by the Constitution shall not be imposed on a person except by virtue
of provisions of the law specifically enacted for the purpose determined by this
Constitution and only to the extent of necessity and provided that it shall not
affect the essential substances of such rights and liberties.
The law under paragraph one shall be of general application and
shall not be intended to apply to any particular case or person; provided that the
provision of the Constitution authorising its enactment shall also be mentioned
therein.
The provisions of paragraph one and paragraph two shall apply
mutatis mutandis to rules or regulations issued by virtue of the provisions of the
law.
Section 30. All persons are equal before the law and shall enjoy
equal protection under the law.
Men and women shall enjoy equal rights.
Unjust discrimination against a person on the grounds of the
difference in origin, race, language, sex, age, physical or health condition,
personal status, economic or social standing, religious belief, education or
constitutionally political view, shall not be permitted.
Measures determined by the State in order to eliminate obstacle to
or to promote persons' ability to exercise their rights and liberties as other
persons shall not be deemed as unjust discrimination under paragraph three.
Section 31. A person shall enjoy the right and liberty in his or her
life and person.
A torture, brutal act, or punishment by a cruel or inhumane means
shall not be permitted; provided, however, that punishment by death penalty as
provided by law shall not be deemed the punishment by a cruel or inhumane
means under this paragraph.
No arrest, detention or search of person or act affecting the right
and liberty under paragraph one shall not be made except by virtue of the law.
Section 32. No person shall be inflicted with a criminal
punishment unless he or she has committed an act which the law in force at the
time of commission provides to be an offence and imposes a punishment
therefor, and the punishment to be inflicted on such person shall not be heavier
than that provided by the law in force at the time of the commission of the
offence.
Section 33. The suspect or the accused in a criminal case shall be
presumed innocent.
Before the passing of a final judgement convicting a person of
having committed an offence, such person shall not be treated as a convict.
Section 34. A personís family rights, dignity, reputation or the
right of privacy shall be protected.
The assertion or circulation of a statement or picture in any manner
whatsoever to the public, which violates or affects a person's family rights,
dignity, reputation or the right of privacy, shall not be made except for the case
which is beneficial to the public.
Section 35. A person shall enjoy the liberty of dwelling.
A person is protected for his or her peaceful habitation in and for
possession of his or her dwelling place. The entry into a dwelling place without
consent of its possessor or the search thereof shall not be made except by virtue
of the law.
Section 36. A person shall enjoy the liberty of travelling and the
liberty of making the choice of his or her residence within the Kingdom.
The restriction on such liberties under paragraph one shall not be
imposed except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for maintaining the
security of the State, public order, public welfare, town and country planing or
welfare of the youth.
No person of Thai nationality shall be deported or prohibited from
entering the Kingdom.
Section 37. A person shall enjoy the liberty of communication by
lawful means.
The censorship, detention or disclosure of communication between
persons including any other act disclosing a statement in the communication
between persons shall not be made except by virtue of the provisions of the law
specifically enacted for security of the State or maintaining public order or good
morals.
Section 38. A person shall enjoy full liberty to profess a religion,
a religious sect or creed, and observe religious precepts or exercise a form of
worship in accordance with his or her belief; provided that it is not contrary to
his or her civic duties, public order or good morals.
In exercising the liberty referred to in paragraph one, a person is
protected from any act of the State, which is derogatory to his or her rights or
detrimental to his or her due benefits on the grounds of professing a religion, a
religious sect or creed or observing religious precepts or exercising a form of
worship in accordance with his or her different belief from that of others.
Section 39. A person shall enjoy the liberty to express his or her
opinion, make speeches, write, print, publicise, and make expression by other
means.
The restriction on liberty under paragraph one shall not be imposed
except by virtue of the provisions of the law specifically enacted for the purpose
of maintaining the security of the State, safeguarding the rights, liberties, dignity,
reputation, family or privacy rights of other person, maintaining public order
or good morals or preventing the deterioration of the mind or health of the
public.
The closure of a pressing house or a radio or television station in
deprivation of the liberty under this section shall not be made.
The censorship by a competent official of news or articles before
their publication in a newspaper, printed matter or radio or television
broadcasting shall not be made except during the time when the country is in a
state of war or armed conflict; provided that it must be made by virtue of the law
enacted under the provisions of paragraph two.
The owner of a newspaper or other mass media business shall be a
Thai national as provided by law.
No grant of money or other properties shall be made by the State as
subsidies to private newspapers or other mass media.
Section 40. Transmission frequencies for radio or television
broadcasting and radio telecommunication are national communication
resources for public interest.
There shall be an independent regulatory body having the duty to
distribute the frequencies under paragraph one and supervise radio or television
broadcasting and telecommunication businesses as provided by law.
In carrying out the act under paragraph two, regard shall be had to
utmost public benefit at national and local levels in education, culture, State
security, and other public interests including fair and free competition.
Section 41. Officials or employees in a private sector
undertaking newspaper or radio or television broadcasting businesses shall enjoy
their liberties to present news and express their opinions under the constitutional
restrictions without the mandate of any State agency, State enterprise or the
owner of such businesses; provided that it is not contrary to their professional
ethics.
Government officials, officials or employees of a State agency or
State enterprise engaging in the radio or television broadcasting business enjoy
the same liberties as those enjoyed by officials or employees under paragraph
one.
Section 42. A person shall enjoy an academic freedom.
Education, training, learning, teaching, researching and
disseminating such research according to academic principles shall be protected;
provided that it is not contrary to his or her civic duties or good morals.
Section 43. A person shall enjoy an equal right to receive the
fundamental education for the duration of not less than twelve years which shall
be provided by the State thoroughly, up to the quality, and without charge.
In providing education by the State, regard shall be had to
participation of local government organisations and the private sector as
provided by law.
The provision of education by professional organisations and the
private sector under the supervision of the State shall be protected as provided by
law.
Section 44. A person shall enjoy the liberty to assemble
peacefully and without arms.
The restriction on such liberty under paragraph one shall not be
imposed except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for the case of public
assembling and for securing public convenience in the use of public places or for
maintaining public order during the time when the country is in a state of war, or
when a state of emergency or martial law is declared.
Section 45. A person shall enjoy the liberty to unite and form an
association, a union, league, co-operative, farmer group, private organisation or
any other group.
The restriction on such liberty under paragraph one shall not be
imposed except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for protecting the
common interest of the public, maintaining public order or good morals or
preventing economic monopoly.
Section 46. Persons so assembling as to be a traditional
community shall have the right to conserve or restore their customs, local
knowledge, arts or good culture of their community and of the nation and
participate in the management, maintenance, preservation and exploitation of
natural resources and the environment in a balanced fashion and persistently as
provided by law.
Section 47. A person shall enjoy the liberty to unite and form a
political party for the purpose of making political will of the people and carrying
out political activities in fulfilment of such will through the democratic regime
of government with the King as Head of the State as provided in this
Constitution.
The internal organisation, management and regulations of a
political party shall be consistent with fundamental principles of the democratic
regime of government with the King as Head of the State.
Members of the House of Representatives who are members of a
political party, members of the Executive Committee of a political party, or
members of a political party, of not less than the number prescribed by the
organic law on political parties shall, if of the opinion that their political party's
resolution or regulation on any matter is contrary to the status and performance
of duties of a member of the House of Representatives under this Constitution or
contrary to or inconsistent with fundamental principles of the democratic regime
of government with the King as Head of the State, have the right to refer it to the
Constitutional Court for decision thereon.
In the case where the Constitutional Court decides that such
resolution or regulation is contrary to or inconsistent with fundamental principles
of the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the State, such
resolution or regulation shall lapse.
Section 48. The property right of a person is protected. The extent
and the restriction of such right shall be in accordance with the provisions of the
law.
The succession is protected. The right of succession of a person
shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Section 49. The expropriation of immovable property shall not be
made except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for the purpose of public
utilities, necessary national defence, exploitation of national resources, town and
country planning, promotion and preservation of the quality of the environment,
agricultural or industrial development, land reform, or other public interests, and
fair compensation shall be paid in due time to the owner thereof as well as to all
persons having the rights thereto, who suffer loss by such expropriation, as
provided by law.
The amount of compensation under paragraph one shall be fairly
assessed with due regard to the normal purchase price, mode of acquisition,
nature and situation of the immovable property, and loss of the person whose
property or right thereto is expropriated.
The law on expropriation of immovable property shall specify the
purpose of the expropriation and shall clearly determine the period of time to
fulfil that purpose. If the immovable property is not used to fulfil such purpose
within such period of time, it shall be returned to the original owner or his or her
heir.
The return of immovable property to the original owner or his
or her heir under paragraph three and the claim of compensation paid shall be in
accordance with the provisions of the law.
Section 50. A person shall enjoy the liberties to engage in an
enterprise or an occupation and to undertake a fair and free competition.
The restriction on such liberties under paragraph one shall not be
imposed except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for maintaining the
security and safety of the State or economy of the country, protecting the public
in regard to public utilities, maintaining public order and good morals,
regulating the engagement in an occupation, consumer protection, town and
country planning, preserving natural resources or the environment, public
welfare, preventing monopoly, or eliminating unfair competition.
Section 51. Forced labour shall not be imposed except by virtue
of the law specifically enacted for the purpose of averting imminent public
calamity or by virtue of the law which provides for its imposition during the time
when the country is in a state of war or armed conflict, or when a state of
emergency or martial law is declared.
Section 52. A person shall enjoy an equal right to receive
standard public health service, and the indigent shall have the right to receive
free medical treatment from public health centres of the State, as provided by
law.
The public health service by the State shall be provided thoroughly
and efficiently and, for this purpose, participation by local government
organisations and the private sector shall also be promoted insofar as it is
possible .
The State shall prevent and eradicate harmful contagious diseases
for the public without charge, as provided by law.
Section 53. Children, youth and family members shall have the
right to be protected by the State against violence and unfair treatment.
Children and youth with no guardian shall have the right to receive
care and education from the State, as provided by law.
Section 54. A person who is over sixty years of age and has
insufficient income shall have the right to receive aids from the State, as
provided by law.
Section 55. The disabled or handicapped shall have the right to
receive public conveniences and other aids from the State, as provided by law.
Section 56. The right of a person to give to the State and
communities participation in the preservation and exploitation of natural
resources and biological diversity and in the protection, promotion and
preservation of the quality of the environment for usual and consistent survival in
the environment which is not hazardous to his or her health and sanitary c
ondition, welfare or quality of life, shall be protected, as provided by law.
Any project or activity which may seriously affect the quality of
the environment shall not be permitted, unless its impacts on the quality of the
environment have been studied and evaluated and opinions of an independent
organisation, consisting of representatives from private environmental
organisations and from higher education institutions providing studies in the
environmental field, have been obtained prior to the operation of such project or
activity, as provided by law.
The right of a person to sue a State agency, State enterprise, local
government organisation or other State authority to perform the duties as
provided by law under paragraph one and paragraph two shall be protected.
Section 57. The right of a person as a consumer shall be
protected as provided by law.
The law under paragraph one shall provide for an independent
organisation consisting of representatives of consumers for giving opinions on
the enactment and issuance of law, rules and regulations and on the
determination of various measures for consumer protection.
Section 58. A person shall have the right to get access to public
information in possession of a State agency, State enterprise or local government
organisation, unless the disclosure of such information shall affect the security of
the State, public safety or interests of other persons which shall be protected as
provided by law.
Section 59. A person shall have the right to receive information,
explanation and reason from a State agency, State enterprise or local government
organisation before permission is given for the operation of any project or
activity which may affect the quality of the environment, health and sanitary
conditions, the quality of life or any other material interest concerning him or her
or a local community and shall have the right to express his or her opinions on
such matters in accordance with the public hearing procedure, as provided by
law.
Section 60. A person shall have the right to participate in the
decision-making process of State officials in the performance of administrative
functions which affect or may affect his or her rights and liberties, as provided by law.
Section 61. A person shall have the right to present a petition and
to be informed of the result of its consideration within the appropriate time, as
provided by law.
Section 62. The right of a person to sue a State agency, State
enterprise, local government organisation or other State authority which is a
juristic person to be liable for an act or omission done by its Government
official, official or employee shall be protected, as provided by law.
Section 63. No person shall exercise the rights and liberties
prescribed in the Constitution to overthrow the democratic regime of government
with the King as Head of the State under this Constitution or to acquire the
power to rule the country by any means which is not in accordance with the
modes provided in this Constitution.
In the case where a person or a political party has committed the
act under paragraph one, the person knowing of such act shall have the right to
request the Prosecutor General to investigate its facts and submit a motion to the
Constitutional Court for ordering cessation of such act without, however,
prejudice to the institution of a criminal action against such person.
In the case where the Constitutional Court makes a decision
compelling the political party to cease to commit the act under paragraph two,
the Constitutional Court may order the dissolution of such political party.
Section 64. Members of the armed forces or the police force,
Government officials, officials or employees of State agencies, State enterprises
or local government organisations shall enjoy the same rights and liberties under
the Constitution as those enjoyed by other persons, unless such enjoyment is
restricted by law, by-law or regulation issued by virtue of the law specifically
enacted in regard to politics, efficiency, disciplines or ethics.
Section 65. A person shall have the right to resist peacefully any
act committed for the acquisition of the power to rule the country by a means
which is not in accordance with the modes provided in this Constitution.
CHAPTER IV
Duties of the Thai People
____________
Section 66. Every person shall have a duty to uphold the Nation,
religions, the King and the democratic regime of government with the King as
Head of the State under this Constitution.
Section 67. Every person shall have a duty to obey the law.
Section 68. Every person shall have a duty to exercise his or her
right to vote at an election.
The person who fails to attend an election for voting without
notifying the appropriate cause of such failure shall lose his or her right to vote
as provided by law.
The notification of the cause of failure to attend an election and the
provision of facilities for attendance thereat shall be in accordance with the
provisions of the law.
Section 69. Every person shall have a duty to defend the country,
serve in armed forces, pay taxes and duties, render assistance to the official
service, receive education and training, protect and pass on to conserve and the
national arts and culture and local knowledge and conserve natural resources and
the environment, as provided by law.
Section 70. A Government official, official or employee of a
State agency, State enterprise or local government organisation and other State
official shall have a duty to act in compliance with the law in order to protect
public interests, and provide convenience and services to the public.
In performing the duty and other acts relating to the public, the
persons under paragraph one shall be politically impartial.
In the case where the persons under paragraph one neglect or fail
to perform the duties under paragraph one or paragraph two, the interested
person shall have the right to request the persons under paragraph one or their
superiors to explain reasons and request them to act in compliance with the
provisions of paragraph one or paragraph two.
CHAPTER V
Directive Principles of Fundamental State Policies
____________
Section 71. The State shall protect and uphold the institution of
kingship and the independence and integrity of its territories.
Section 72. The State shall arrange for the maintenance of the
armed forces for the protection and upholding of its independence, security of
the State, institution of kingship, national interests and the democratic regime of
government with the King as Head of the State, and for national development.
Section 73. The State shall patronise and protect Buddhism and
other religions, promote good understanding and harmony among followers of
all religions as well as encourage the application of religious principles to create
virtue and develop the quality of life.
Section 74. The State shall promote friendly relations with other
countries and adopt the principle of non-discrimination.
Section 75. The State shall ensure the compliance with the law,
protect the rights and liberties of a person, provide efficient administration of
justice and serve justice to the people expediently and equally and organise an
efficient system of public administration and other State affairs to meet people's
demand.
The State shall allocate adequate budgets for the independent
administration of the Election Commission, the Ombudsmen, the National
Human Rights Commission, the Constitutional Court, the Courts of Justice, the
Administrative Courts, the National Counter Corruption Commission and the
State Audit Commission. readiness
Section 76. The State shall promote and encourage public
participation in laying down policies, making decision on political issues,
preparing economic, social and political development plans, and inspecting the
exercise of State power at all levels.
Section 77. The State shall prepare a political development plan,
moral and ethical standard of holders of political positions, Government
officials, officials and other employees of the State in order to prevent corruption
and create efficiency of the performance of duties.
Section 78. The State shall decentralise powers to localities for
the purpose of independence and self-determination of local affairs, develop
local economics, public utilities and facilities systems and information
infrastructure in the locality thoroughly and equally throughout the country as
well as develop into a large-sized local government organisation a province
ready for such purpose, having regard to the will of the people in that province.
Section 79. The State shall promote and encourage public
participation in the preservation, maintenance and balanced exploitation of
natural resources and biological diversity and in the promotion, maintenance and
protection of the quality of the environment in accordance with the persistent
development principle as well as the control and elimination of pollution
affecting public health, sanitary conditions, welfare and quality of life.
Section 80. The State shall protect and develop children and the
youth, promote the equality between women and men, and create, reinforce and
develop family integrity and the strength of communities.
The State shall provide aids to the elderly, the indigent, the
disabled or handicapped and the underprivileged for their good quality of life and
ability to depend on themselves.
Section 81. The State shall provide and promote the private
sector to provide education to achieve knowledge alongside morality, provide
law relating to national education, improve education in harmony with economic
and social change, create and strengthen knowledge and instil right awareness
with regard to politics and a democratic regime of government with the King as
Head of the State, support researches in various sciences, accelerate the
development of science and technology for national development, develop the
teaching profession, and promote local knowledge and national arts and culture.
Section 82. The State shall thoroughly provide and promote
standard and efficient public health service.
Section 83. The State shall implement fair distribution of
incomes.
Section 84. The State shall organise the appropriate system of the
holding and use of land, provide sufficient water resources for farmers and
protect the interests of farmers in the production and marketing of agricultural
products to achieve maximum benefits, and promote the assembling of farmers
with a view to laying down agricultural plans and protecting their mutual
interests.
Section 85. The State shall promote, encourage and protect the
co-operatives system.
Section 86. The State shall promote people of working age to
obtain employment, protect labour, especially child and woman labour, and
provide for the system of labour relations , social security and fair wages.
Section 87. The State shall encourage a free economic system
through market force, ensure and supervise fair competition, protect consumers,
and prevent direct and indirect monopolies, repeal and refrain from enacting laws
and regulations controlling businesses which do not correspond with the
economic necessity, and shall not engage in an enterprise in competition with the
private sector unless it is necessary for the purpose of maintaining the security of
the State, preserving the common interest, or providing public utilities.
Section 88. The provisions of this Chapter are intended to serve
as directive principles for legislating and determining policies for the
administration of the State affairs.
In stating its policies to the National Assembly under section 211,
the Council of Ministers which will assume the administration of the State affairs
shall clearly state to the National Assembly the activities intended to be carried
out for the administration of the State affairs in implementation of the directive
principles of fundamental State policies provided in this Chapter and shall
prepare and submit to the National Assembly an annual report on the result of the
implementation, including problems and obstacles encountered.
Section 89. For the purpose of the implementation of this
Chapter, the State shall establish the National Economic and Social Council to
be charged with the duty to give advice and recommendations to the Council of
Ministers on economic and social problems.
A national economic and social development plan and other plans
as provided by law shall obtain opinions of the National Economic and Social
Council before they can be adopted and published.
The composition, source, powers and duties and the operation of
the National Economic and Social Council shall be in accordance with the
provision of law.
CHAPTER VI
The National Assembly
____________
Part 1
General Provisions
____________
Section 90. The National Assembly consists of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
Joint or separate sittings of the National Assembly shall be in
accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 91. The President of the House of Representatives is
President of the National Assembly. The President of the Senate is Vice-
President of the National Assembly.
In the case where there is no President of the House of
Representatives, or the President of the House of Representatives is not present
or is unable to perform his or her duties, the President of the Senate shall act as
President of the National Assembly in his or her place.
The President of the National Assembly shall have the powers and
duties as provided in this Constitution and shall conduct the proceedings of the
National Assembly at joint sittings in accordance with the rules of procedure.
The President of the National Assembly and the person who acts as
President of the National Assembly in his or her place shall be impartial in the
performance of duties.
The Vice-President of the National Assembly shall have the
powers and duties as provided in this Constitution and as entrusted by the
President of the National Assembly.
Section 92. A bill or an organic law bill may be enacted as law
only by and with the advice and consent of the National Assembly.
Section 93. After a bill or an organic law bill has already been
approved by the National Assembly, the Prime Minister shall present it to the
King for signature within twenty days as from the date of the receipt of such bill
from the National Assembly, and it shall come into force upon its publication in
the Government Gazette.
Section 94. If the King refuses His assent to a bill or an organic
law bill and either returns it to the National Assembly or does not return it within
ninety days, the National Assembly must re-deliberate such bill. If the National
Assembly resolves to reaffirm the bill with the votes of not less than two-thirds
of the total number of existing members of both Houses, the Prime Minister shall
present such bill to the King for signature once again. If the King does not sign
and return the bill within thirty days, the Prime Minister shall cause the bill to be
promulgated as an Act in the Government Gazette as if the King had signed it .
Section 95. No person shall be a member of the House
Representatives or a senator simultaneously.
Section 96. Members of the House of Representatives or senators
of not less than one-tenth of the total number of the existing members of each
House have the right to lodge with the President of the House of which they are
members a complaint asserting that the membership of any member of such
House has terminated under section 118 (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), or
(12) or section 133 (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), or (10), as the case may be, and the
President of the House with whom the complaint is lodged shall refer it to the
Constitutional Court for decision as to whether the membership of such person
has terminated.
When the Constitutional Court has made a decision, it shall notify
the President of the House with which the complaint is lodged under paragraph
one of such decision.
Section 97. The vacation of the office of a member of the House
of Representatives or a senator after the day on which his or her membership
terminates or the day on which the Constitutional Court decides that the
membership of any member terminates does not affect any act done by such
member in the capacity as member including the receipt of emolument or other
remuneration by such member before he or she vacates office or the President of
the House of which such person is a member has been notified of the decision of
the Constitutional Court, as the case may be, except that in the case of vacation
of office on the ground of his or her being elected in violation of the organic law
on the election of members of the House of Representatives and senators,
emolument and other remuneration received from being in office shall be
returned.
Part 2
The House of Representatives
____________
Section 98. The House of Representatives consists of five
hundred members, one hundred of whom are from the election on a party-list
basis under section 99 and four hundred of whom are from the election on a
constituency basis under section 102.
In the case where the office of a member of the House of
Representatives becomes vacant for any reason and an election of a member of
the House of Representatives has not been held to fill the vacancy, the House of
Representatives shall consist of the existing members of the House.
Section 99. In an election of members of the House of
Representatives on a party-list basis, a voter shall have the right to cast ballot
from the lists of candidates prepared by political parties; provided that only one
party-list may be voted for and the territory of Thailand shall be regarded as the
whole constituency.
The party-lists of candidates in the election under paragraph one
shall be prepared by political parties. Each party shall prepare one list which
shall contain not more than one hundred persons and be submitted to the Election
Commission before the date an application for candidacy in an election on the
constituency basis commences.
Names of persons in the party-list under paragraph one shall:
(1) consist of the names of candidates from equitably various
regions;
(2) not be repeated by the names in the lists prepared by other
political parties and names of candidates in the election on the constituency basis
under section 102 and;
(3) be placed in numerical order.
Section 100. The list of any political party receiving votes of less
than five percent of the total number of votes throughout the country shall be
regarded as one for which no person listed therein is elected and such votes shall
not be reckoned in the determination of the proportional number of the members
of the House of Representatives under paragraph two.
The determination of the proportion of votes received by the party-
list of each political party according to which the persons whose names are listed
therein shall be regarded as being elected in that proportion shall be in
accordance with rules, procedure and conditions provided by the organic law on
the election of members of the House of Representatives and senators.
It shall be deemed that the candidates whose names are in the list
of each political party are elected in respective order of the allocated numbers in
the list in accordance with such proportional number of the members of the
House of Representatives as determined for that list.
Section 101. Subject to section 119(1), in the case where there
occurs, during the term of the House of Representatives, any cause resulting in
the members elected from the election on a party-list basis being less than one
hundred in number, such members shall consist of the existing members.
Section 102. In the election of members of the House of
Representatives on a constituency basis, the person having the right to vote
shall cast ballot for one candidate in each constituency.
The determination of the ratio of the number of inhabitants to one
member shall be made by reference to the division of such number of inhabitants
throughout the country as evidenced in the census announced in the year
preceding the year of election by the number of four hundred members of the
House of Representatives.
The number of members of the House of Representatives of each
Changwat shall be determined by the division of the number of inhabitants in
that Changwat by such number of inhabitants per one member as determined
under paragraph two. Any Changwat with inhabitants below the number of
inhabitants per one member under paragraph two shall have one member of the
House of Representative. Any Changwat with more inhabitants than the number
of inhabitants per one member shall have an additional member of the House of
Representatives for every such number of inhabitants as representing the number
of inhabitants per one member.
Upon the number of members of the House of Representatives of
each Changwat being obtained under paragraph three, if the number of members
of the House of Representatives is still less than four hundred, any Changwat
with the largest fraction remaining from the determination under paragraph
three shall have an additional member of the House of Representatives and the
addition of the members of the House of Representatives in accordance with
such procedure shall be made to Changwats in respective order of fractions
remaining from the determination under paragraph three until the number of
four hundred is obtained.
Section 103. In a Changwat where the number of members of the
House of Representatives to be elected is not more than one, the area of that
Changwat shall be regarded as the constituency and in a Changwat where the
number of members of the House of Representatives is more than one, such
Changwat shall be divided into constituencies in the number equal to such
number of members of the House of Representatives as may be elected therein
and, for this purpose, each constituency shall have one member of the House of
Representatives.
In a Changwat which is divided into more constituencies than one,
the boundary of each constituency shall be adjoining and the number of
inhabitants in each constituency must be closely apportioned.
Section 104. In a general election, a voter shall have the right to
cast ballot for only one list of candidates prepared by the political party and, in
an election on a constituency basis, for one candidate in that constituency.
In an election of a member of the House of Representatives to
replace the member of the House of Representatives elected on a constituency
basis whose office becomes vacant under section 119(2), a voter shall have the
right to cast ballot for one candidate in that constituency.
The election shall be by direct suffrage and secret ballot.
In each constituency, the counting of votes from every polling
station altogether shall be conducted and the result of the vote-counting shall be a
nnounced publicly at any single place in that constituency as designated by the
Election Commission, except that in the case where necessity arises in a
particular locality, the Election Commission may provide otherwise in
accordance with the organic law on the election of members of the House of
Representatives and senators.
The provisions of paragraph four shall apply mutatis mutandis to
the counting and announcement of votes received by each party-list in each
constituency under section 103.
Section 105. A person having the following qualifications has the
right to vote at an election:
(1) being of Thai nationality; provided that a person who has
acquired Thai nationality by naturalisation must hold the Thai nationality for not
less than five years;
(2) being not less than eighteen years of age on 1st January of the
year of the election; and
(3) having his or her name appear on the house register in the
constituency for not less than ninety days up to the date of the election.
A voter who has a residence outside the constituency under section
103 within which his or her name appear in the house register, or who has his or
her name appear in the house register in the constituency for the period of less
than ninety days up to the date of the election, or who has a residence outside the
Kingdom of Thailand shall have the right to cast ballot in an election in
accordance with rules, procedure and conditions provided by the organic law on
the election of members of the House of Representatives and senators.
Section 106. A person under any of the following prohibitions on
the election day is disfranchised:
(1) being of unsound mind or of mental infirmity;
(2) being a Buddhist priest, novice, monk or clergy;
(3) being detained by a warrant of the Court or by a lawful order;
(4) being under suspension of the right to vote .
Section 107. A person having the following qualifications has the
right to be a candidate in an election of members of the House of
Representatives:
(1) being of Thai nationality by birth;
(2) being not less than twenty five years of age on the election day;
(3) having graduated with not lower than a Bachelorís degree or its
equivalent except for the case of having been a member of the House of
Representatives or a senator before;
(4) being a member of any and only one political party, for a
consecutive period of not less than ninety days, up to the date of applying for
candidacy in an election;
(5) a candidate in an election on a constituency basis shall also
possess any of the following qualifications:
(a) having his or her name appear in the house register in
Changwat where he or she stands for election for a consecutive period of not less
than one year up to the date of applying for candidacy;
(b) having been a member of the House of Representatives
in Changwat where he or she stands for election, a member of a local assembly
or a local administrator of such Changwat before;
(c) being born in Changwat where he or she stands for
election;
(d) having studied in an education institution situated in
Changwat where he or she stands for election for a consecutive period of not less
than two academic years before;
(e) having served in the official service before or having had
his or her name appear in the house register in Changwat where he or she stands
for election for a consecutive period of not less than two years before.
Section 108. A political party sending member to stand for
election in any constituency shall send only one member in such constituency.
Section 109. A person under any of the following prohibitions
shall have no right to be a candidate in an election of members of the House of
Representatives:
(1) being addicted to drugs;
(2) being an undischarged bankrupt;
(3) being disfranchised under section 106(1), (2) or (4);
(4) having been sentenced by a judgement to imprisonment and
being detained by a warrant of the Court;
(5) having been discharged for a period of less than five years on
the election day after being sentenced by a judgement to imprisonment for a term
of two years or more except for an offence committed through negligence;
(6) having been expelled, dismissed or removed from the official
service, a State agency or a State enterprise on the ground of dishonest
performance of duties or corruption;
(7) having been ordered by a judgement or an order of the Court
that his or her assets shall dissolve on the State on the ground of unusual
wealthiness or an unusual increase of his or her assets;
(8) being a Government official holding a permanent position or
receiving salary except a political official;
(9) being a member of a local assembly or a local administrator;
(10) being a senator;
(11) being an official or employee of a State agency, State
enterprise or local government organisation, or other State official;
(12) being an Election Commissioner, an Ombudsman, a member
of the National Human Right Commission, a judge of the Constitutional Court, a
judge of an Administrative Court, a member of the National Counter Corruption
Commission or a member of the State Audit Commission;
(13) being under the prohibition from holding a political position
under section 295;
(14) having been removed from office by the resolution of the
Senate under section 307; provided that, from the date of the resolution to the
election day, the period of five years has not elapsed.
Section 110. A member of the House of Representatives shall
not:
(1) hold any position or have any duty in any State agency or State
enterprise, or hold a position of member of a local assembly, local administrator
or local government official except other political official other than Minister;
(2) receive any concession from the State, a State agency or State
enterprise, or become a party to a contract of the nature of economic monopoly
with the State, a State agency or State enterprise, or a become partner or
shareholder in a partnership or company receiving such concession or becoming
a party to the contract of that nature;
(3) receive any special money or benefit from any State agency or
State enterprise apart from that given by the State agency or State enterprise to
other persons in the ordinary course of business.
The provisions of this section shall not apply in the case where a
member of the House of Representatives receives military pensions, gratuities,
pensions, annuities or any other form of payment of the same nature, and shall
not apply in the case where a member of the House of Representatives accepts or
holds a position of committee member of the National Assembly, the House of
Representatives or the Senate, or committee member appointed as a qualified
member under the provisions of law or committee member appointed in the
course of the administration of the State affairs in case he or she holds a position
of other political official other than Minister.
Section 111. A member of the House of Representatives shall not,
through the status or position of member of the House of Representatives,
interfere or intervene in the recruitment, appointment, reshuffle, transfer,
promotion and elevation of the salary scale of a Government official holding a
permanent position or receiving salary and not being a political official, an
official or employee of a State agency, State enterprise or local government
organisation, or cause such persons to be removed from office.
Section 112. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, rules
and procedure for an election of members of the House of Representatives shall
be in accordance with the organic law on the election of members of the House
of Representatives and senators.
Section 113. In the interest of honesty and fairness of an election
of members of the House of Representatives, the State shall provide support for
the election in the following matters:
(1) preparing places for posting notices and posters relating to the
election in public places owned by the State;
(2) publishing and supplying to persons having the right to vote
documents relating to the election;
(3) providing places for election campaigns to candidates in the
election;
(4) allocating radio and television broadcasting time to political
parties;
(5) other activities specified by Notifications of the Election
Commission.
The activities under (1), (4) and (5) by candidates in the election,
political parties or other persons other than the State shall not be permitted.
Rules, conditions and procedure for carrying out the acts under this
section shall be in accordance with the organic law on the election of members of
the House of Representatives and senators, which shall afford equal
opportunities.
Section 114. The term of the House of Representatives is four
years from the election day.
Section 115. Upon the expiration of the term of the House of
Representatives, the King will issue a Royal Decree calling for a general election
of members of the House of Representatives in which the election day must be
fixed within forty five days as from the date of the expiration of the term of the
House of Representatives and the election day must be the same throughout the
Kingdom.
Section 116. The King has the prerogative to dissolve the House
of Representatives for a new election of members of the House.
The dissolution of the House of Representatives shall be made in
the form of a Royal Decree in which the day for a new general election must be
fixed within sixty days and such election day must be the same throughout
the Kingdom.
The dissolution of the House of Representatives may be made only
once under the same circumstance.
Section 117. Membership of the House of Representatives
commences on the election day .
Section 118. Membership of the House of Representatives
terminates upon:
(1) expiration of the term or dissolution of the House of
Representatives;
(2) death;
(3) resignation;
(4) being disqualified under section 107;
(5) being under any prohibition provided in section 109(1), (2), (3),
(5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13) or (14);
(6) acting in contravention of any prohibition under section 110 or
section 111;
(7) being appointed Prime Minister or Minister;
(8) resignation from membership of his or her political party or his
or her political party passing a resolution, with the votes of not less than three-
fourths of the joint meeting of the Executive Committee of that political party
and members of the House of Representatives belonging to that political party,
terminating his or her membership of the political party. In such cases, his or her
membership shall be deemed to have terminated as from the date of the
resignation or the resolution of the political party except where such member of
the House of Representatives appeals to the Constitutional Court within thirty
days as from the date of the resolution of the political party for raising an
objection that such resolution is of such nature as specified in section 47
paragraph three. If the Constitutional Court decides that the said resolution is
not of the nature as specified in section 47 paragraph three, his or her
membership shall be deemed to have terminated as from the date of the decision
of the Constitutional Court. If the Constitutional Court decides that the said
resolution is of such nature as specified in section 47 paragraph three, that
member of the House of Representatives may become a member of another
political party within thirty days as from the date of the decision of the
Constitutional Court;
(9) loss of membership of the political party in the case where the
political party of which he or she is a member is dissolved by an order of the
Constitutional Court and he or she is unable to become a member of another
political party within sixty days as from the date on which the Constitutional
Court issues its order. In such case, his or her membership shall be deemed to
have terminated as from the day following the date on which such period of sixty
days has elapsed;
(10) the Senate passing a resolution under section 307 removing
him or her from office or the Constitutional Court having a decision terminating
his or her membership under section 96. In such case, his or her membership
shall be deemed to have terminated as from the date on which the Senate passes
a resolution or the Constitutional Court has a decision, as the case may be;
(11) having been absent for more than one-fourth of the number of
days in a session the length of which is not less than ninety days without
permission of the President of the House of Representatives;
(12) having been imprisoned by a final judgement to a term of
imprisonment except for an offence committed through negligence or a petty
offence.
The termination of membership of the House of Representatives
under (7) shall be effective as from the day following the date on which the
period of thirty days, from the date of the appointment by the Royal Command,
has elapsed.
Section 119. When the office of member of the House of
Representatives becomes vacant for any reason other than the expiration of the
term or the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the following actions
shall be taken:
(1) in the case where the vacancy is that of the office of a member
of the House of Representatives listed in the list prepared by a political party
under section 99, the President of the House of Representatives shall, by
publication in the Government Gazette within seven days as from the date of the
vacancy, elevate the person whose name in the list of that political party is placed
in the next order to be a replacing member of the House of Representatives;
(2) in the case where the vacancy is that of the office of a member
of the House of Representatives elected from the election on a constituency basis
under section 102, an election of a member of the House of Representatives to
fill the vacancy shall be held within forty five days as from the date of the
vacancy unless the remainder of the term of the House of Representatives is less
than one hundred and eighty days.
Membership of the replacing member of the House of
Representatives under (1) shall commence as from the day following the date of
the publication of the name of the replacing member, while membership of the
replacing member of the House of Representatives under (2) shall commence as
from the day on which the election to fill the vacancy is held. The replacing
member of the House of Representatives may serve only for the remainder of the
term of the House.
Section 120. After the Council of Ministers has assumed the
administration of the State affairs, the King will appoint as Leader of the
Opposition in the House of Representatives a member of the House who is the
leader of the political party having its members holding no ministerial positions
and having the largest number of members among the political parties having
their members holding no ministerial positions, provided that such number must
not be less than one-fifth of the total number of members of the House of
Representatives at the time of the appointment.
In the case where no political party in the House of Representatives
meets the condition as prescribed under paragraph one, the leader of the political
party, who receives a majority of supporting votes from the members of the
House who belong to the political parties having their members holding no
ministerial positions, shall be the Leader of the Opposition in the House. In case
of an equality of supporting votes, it shall be decided by lot.
The President of the House of Representatives shall countersign
the Royal Command appointing the Leader of the Opposition in the House of
Representatives.
The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives shall
vacate office upon being disqualified as specified in paragraph one or paragraph
two, and section 152 shall apply mutatis mutandis, and in such case, the King
will appoint a new Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives to
fill the vacancy.
Part 3
The Senate
____________
Section 121. The Senate shall consist of two hundred members to
be elected by the people.
In the case where the office of the senator becomes vacant for any
reason whatsoever and an election of a senator to fill the vacancy has not yet
been held, the Senate shall consist of the remaining senators.
Section 122. In an election of senators, the area of Changwat shall
be regarded as one constituency.
The number of senators each Changwat can have shall be
determined in accordance with the procedure provided in section 102 paragraph
two, paragraph three and paragraph four mutatis mutandis.
Section 123. The person having the right to vote at an election of
senators may cast ballot, at the election, for one candidate in that constituency.
The election shall be by direct suffrage and secret ballot.
In the case where a Changwat can have more than one senator, the
candidates who receive the highest number of votes in respective order in the
number of senators that Changwat can have shall be elected as senators .
Section 124. The provisions of section 105 and section 106 shall
apply mutatis mutandis to the qualifications and prohibitions to which a person
having the right to be a candidate in an election of senators shall be subjected.
Section 125. A person having the following qualifications has the
right to be a candidate in an election of senators:
(1) being of Thai nationality by birth;
(2) being of not less than forty years of age on the election day;
(3) having graduated with not lower than a Bachelor's degree or its
equivalent;
(4) having any of the qualifications under section 107(5).
Section 126. A person under any of the following qualifications
shall have no right to be a candidate in an election of senators:
(1) being a member of or holder of other position of a political
party;
(2) being a member of the House of Representatives or having
been a member of the House of Representatives and his or her membership has
terminated for not yet more than one year up to the date of applying for the
candidacy;
(3) being or having been a senator in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution during the term of the Senate preceding the
application for the candidacy;
(4) being disfranchised under section 109(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6),
(7), (8), (9), (11), (12), (13) or (14).
Section 127. A senator shall not be a Minister or other political
official.
The person having held office of senator with membership having
terminated for not more than one year, shall not be a Minister or other political
official unless the membership has terminated under section 133(1).
Section 128. The provisions of section 110 and section 111 shall
also apply mutatis mutandis to the prohibitions to which a senator shall be
subjected.
Section 129. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, rules
and procedure for an election of senators shall be in accordance with the organic
law on the election of members of the House of Representatives and senators.
For the purpose of equal introduction of candidates in the election,
the State shall carry out the following acts:
(1) causing notices and posters relating to the election and
candidates in the election to be posted;
(2) publishing and furnishing to persons having the right to vote
documents relating to the election and candidates in the election;
(3) providing places and allocating radio and television
broadcasting time for introducing candidates in the election;
(4) carrying out other acts as prescribed by the Election
Commission.
Rules and procedure for carrying out the acts under paragraph two
shall be in accordance with the organic law on the election of members of the
House of Representatives and senators.
The introduction of candidates by themselves or other persons is
permitted only insofar as provided in the organic law on the election of members
of the House of Representatives and senators.
Section 130. The term of the Senate is six years as from the
election day.
Section 131. Upon expiration of the term of the Senate, the King
will issue a Royal Decree calling for a new general election of senators in which
the election day must be fixed within thirty days as from the date of the
expiration of the term of the Senate and the election day must be the same
throughout the Kingdom.
For the purpose of proceeding under section 168, the senators
holding office on the day on which the term of the Senate terminates under
paragraph one shall continue to perform their duties until newly elected senators
assume their duties.
Section 132. Membership of the Senate commences on the election
day.
Section 133. Membership of the Senate terminates upon:
(1) expiration of the term of the Senate;
(2) death;
(3) resignation;
(4) being disqualified under section 125;
(5) being under any of the prohibitions under section 126;
(6) being under any of the prohibitions under section 127;
(7) acting in contravention of any of the prohibitions under section
128;
(8) the Senate passing a resolution under section 307 removing him
or her from office or the Constitutional Court having a decision terminating his
or her membership under section 96; in such case, his or her membership shall be
deemed to have terminated as from the date of the resolution of the Senate or the
decision of the Constitutional Court, as the case may be;
(9) having been absent for more than one-fourth of the number of
days in a session the length of which is not less than one hundred and twenty
days without permission of the President of the Senate;
(10) having been imprisoned by a final judgment to a term of
imprisonment except for an offence committed through negligence or a petty
offence.
Section 134. When the office of senator becomes vacant for any
reason other than the expiration of term of the Senate, an election of a senator
to fill the vacancy shall be held within forty five days as from the date of the
vacancy unless the remainder of the term of the Senate is less than one hundred
and eighty days.
The replacing senator may serve only for the remainder of the term
of the Senate.
Section 135. In considering the selection, appointment,
recommendation or approval of a person to hold any position under section 138,
section 143, section 196, section 199, section 257, section 261, section 274(3),
section 277, section 278, section 279(3), section 297, section 302 and section
312, the Senate shall appoint a committee for examining past records and
behaviours of the person nominated for holding such position as well as
gathering necessary facts and evidence to be reported to the Senate for its further
consideration.
The proceeding by the committee under paragraph one shall be in
accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Senate.
Part 4
Election Commission
____________
Section 136. The Election Commission consists of a Chairman and
other four Commissioners appointed, by the King with the advice of the Senate,
from persons of apparent political impartiality and integrity.
The President of the Senate shall countersign the Royal Command
appointing the Chairman and Commissioners under paragraph one.
Section 137. An Election Commissioner shall have the
qualifications and shall not be under any prohibition as follows:
(1) being of Thai nationality by birth;
(2) being of not less than forty years of age on the nomination day;
(3) having graduated with not lower than a Bachelor's degree or its
equivalent;
(4) not being under any of the prohibitions under section 106 or
section 109 (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (13) or (14);
(5) not being a member of the House of Representatives or the
Senate, a political official, a member of a local assembly or a local administrator;
(6) not being or having been a member of or holder of other
position in a political party throughout the period of five years preceding the
holding of office;
(7) not being an Ombudsman, a member of the National Human
Right Commission, a judge of the Constitutional Court, a judge of the
Administrative Court, a member of the National Counter Corruption
Commission or a member of the State Audit Commission.
Section 138. The selection and election of Chairman and Election
Commissioners shall be proceeded as follows:
(1) there shall be a Selective Committee of ten members consisting
of the President of the Constitutional Court as Chairman, President of the
Supreme Administrative Court, Rectors of all State higher education institutions
which are juristic persons, being elected among themselves to be four in number,
and representatives of all political parties having a member who is a member of
the House of Representatives, provided that each party shall have one
representative and all such representatives shall elect among themselves to be
four in number, to be in charge of the consideration and selection of five persons,
who have the qualifications under section 137 and who are suitable to be
Election Commissioners, for making nomination to the President of the Senate
upon consent of the nominated persons. The resolution making such nomination
must be passed by votes of not less than three-fourths of the number of all
existing members of the Selective Committee;
(2) the Supreme Court of Justice shall, at its general meeting,
consider and select five persons who are suitable to be Election Commissioners
for making nomination to the President of the Senate upon consent of the
nominated persons;
(3) the nominations under (1) and (2) shall be made within thirty
days as from the date when a ground for the selection of persons to be in such
office occurs. In the case where the Selective Committee under (1) is unable to
make nomination, or unable to make nomination in the complete number, within
the prescribed time, the Supreme Court of Justice shall, at its general meeting,
make nomination to obtain the complete number within fifteen days as from the
date of the expiration of the nomination time under (1);
(4) the President of the Senate shall convoke the Senate for
passing, by secret ballot, a resolution electing the nominated persons under (1),
(2) and (3). For this purpose, the first five persons who receive the highest votes
which are more than one half of the total number of the existing senators shall be
elected as Election Commissioners, but if the number of the said elected persons
is less than five, the name-list of those not elected in that first occasion shall be
submitted to the senators for voting on another occasion and consecutively. In
such case, the persons receiving the highest number of votes in respective order
up to five shall be deemed to be elected as Election Commissioner. On this
occasion, if there are persons receiving equal votes in any order which result in
having more than five elected persons, the President of the Senate shall draw lots
to determine who are elected persons;
(5) the elected persons under (4) shall meet and elect among
themselves Chairman of the Election Commission and, then, notify the President
of the Senate of the result. The President of the Senate shall report to the King
for further appointment.
Section 139. An Election Commissioner shall not:
(1) be a Government official holding a permanent position or
receiving salary;
(2) be an official or employee of a State agency, State enterprise or
local government organisation;
(3) hold any position in a partnership, a company or an
organisation carrying out businesses for sharing profits or incomes, or be an
employee of any person;
(4) engage in any other independent profession.
In the case where the Senate has elected a person in (1), (2), (3)
or (4) with the consent of that person, the elected person can commence the
performance of duties only when he or she has resigned from the position in (1),
(2), (3) or has satisfied that his or her engagement in such independent
profession has ceased to exist. This must be done within fifteen days as from the
date of election. If that person has not resigned or ceased to engage in the
independent profession within the specified time, it shall be deemed that that
person has never been elected to be an Election Commissioner and the provisions
of section 138 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 140. Election Commissioners shall hold office for a term
of seven years as from the date of their appointment by the King and shall serve
for only one term.
The Election Commissioners who vacate office upon the expiration
of the term shall remain in office to continue to perform their duties until the
newly appointed Election Commissioners take office.
Section 141. In addition to the vacation of office upon the
termination of the term, an Election Commissioner vacates office upon:
(1) death;
(2) resignation;
(3) being disqualified or being under any of the prohibitions under
section 137 or section 139;
(4) having been imprisoned by a final judgment to a term of
imprisonment except for an offence committed through negligence or a petty
offence;
(5) the Senate passing a resolution under section 307 removing him
or her from office.
When a case under paragraph one occurs, the remaining Election
Commissioners may continue to perform their duties.
Section 142. Members of the House of Representatives, senators,
or members of both Houses of not less than one-tenth of the total number of the
existing members of the two Houses have the right to lodge with the President of
the National Assembly a complaint that any Election Commissioner is
disqualified or is under any of the prohibitions under section 137 or has acted in
contravention of any of the prohibitions under section 139 and the President shall
refer that complaint to the Constitutional Court for its decision as to whether that
Election Commissioner has vacated his or her office.
When the Constitutional Court has passed a decision, it shall notify
the President of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Election
Commission of such decision.
The provisions of section 97 shall also apply mutatis mutandis to
the vacation of office of Election Commissioners.
Section 143. In the case where the Election Commissioners have
vacated office in toto, actions under section 138 shall be taken within forty five
days as from the date of the vacation.
In the case where Election Commissioners vacate office for any
reason other than the expiration of term, section 138 shall apply mutatis mutandis
to the selection and election of Election Commissioners to fill the vacancies. In
this case, persons, in the twice number of the outgoing persons, who are suitable
to be Election Commissioners shall be nominated to the Presidents of the Senate
for election by a resolution of the Senate; provided that this procedure shall be
completed within forty five days as from the date of the vacation, and the elected
persons shall serve only for the remainder of the term of the replaced
Commissioners.
Section 144. The Election Commission shall control and hold, or
cause to be held, an election of members of the House of Representatives,
senators, members of a local assembly and local administrators including the
voting in a referendum for the purpose of rendering it to proceed in an honest
and fair manner.
The Chairman of the Election Commission shall have the charge
and control of the execution of the organic law on the election of members of the
House of Representatives and senators, the organic law on political parties, the
organic law on the voting in a referendum and the law on the election of
members of local assemblies or local administrators and shall be the political-
party registrar.
Section 145. The Election Commission shall have the following
powers and duties:
(1) to issue Notifications determining all activities necessary for
the execution of the laws referred to in section 144 paragraph two;
(2) to give orders instructing Government officials, officials or
employees of a State agency, State enterprise or local government organisation
or other State officials to perform all necessary acts under the laws referred to in
section 144 paragraph two;
(3) to conduct investigations and inquiries for fact-finding and
decision on arising problems or disputes under the laws referred to in section
144 paragraph two;
(4) to order a new election or a new voting at a referendum to be
held in any or all polling stations when there occurs convincing evidence that the
election or the voting at a referendum in that or those polling stations has not
proceeded in an honest and fair manner;
(5) to announce the result of an election and the voting in a
referendum;
(6) to perform other acts as provided by law.
In the performance of duties, the Election Commission has the
power to summon any relevant document or evidence from any person, or
summon any person to give statements as well as to request the Courts, public
prosecutors, inquiry officials, State agencies, State enterprises or local
government organisations to take action for the purpose of performing duties,
investigating, conducting inquiries and passing decisions.
The Election Commission has the power to appoint persons, a
group of persons or representatives of private organisations to perform such
duties as entrusted.
Section 146. Government officials, officials or employees of a
State agency, State enterprise or local government organisation or other State
officials shall have the duty to comply with orders of the Election Commission
given under section 145.
Section 147. The Election Commission shall forthwith conduct an
investigation and inquiry for finding facts in any of the following cases;
(1) an objection by a voter, a candidate in an election or a political
party a member of which stood for the election in any of the constituencies has
been raised that the election in that constituency has proceeded inappropriately or
unlawfully;
(2) convincing evidence has appeared that any member of the
House of Representatives, senator, member of a local assembly or local
administrator, before being elected, had committed any dishonest act to enable
him or her to be elected, or has dishonestly been elected as a result of an act
committed by any person or political party in violation of the organic law on the
election of members of the House of Representatives and senators, the organic
law on political parties or the law on the election of members of local assemblies
and local administrators;
(3) convincing evidence has appeared that the voting in a
referendum did not proceed lawfully or an objection has been raised by a voter
that the voting in a referendum in any polling station proceeded inappropriately
or unlawfully;
Upon completion of actions under paragraph one, the Election
Commission shall pass a decision forthwith.
Section 148. During the period in which a Royal Decree calling for
an election of members of the House of Representatives or senator or a
Notification calling for the voting in a referendum is effective, no Election
Commissioner shall be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant for inquiry
except in the case where permission of the Election Commission is obtained or
where the arrest is made in flagrante delicto.
In the case where an Election Commissioner has been arrested in
flagrante delicto, or where an Election Commissioner is arrested or detained in
other cases, it shall be forthwith reported to the Chairman of the Election
Commission and the Chairman may order a release of the person so arrested.
Part 5
Provisions Applicable to both Houses
____________
Section 149. Members of the House of Representatives and
senators are representatives of the Thai people, and shall honestly perform the
duties for the common interest of the Thai people.
Section 150. Before taking office, a member of the House of
Representatives and a senator shall make a solemn declaration at a sitting of the
House of which he or she is a member in the following words:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will perform
my duties in accordance with the honest dictates of my conscience for the
common interest of the Thai people. I will also uphold and observe the
Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
Section 151. The House of Representatives and the Senate shall
each have one President and one or two Vice-Presidents who are appointed by
the King from the members of such House in accordance with its resolution.
Section 152. The President and the Vice-Presidents of the House
of Representatives hold office until the expiration of the term or the dissolution
of the House.
The President and the Vice-Presidents of the Senate hold office
until the day preceding the date of the election the new President and Vice-
Presidents.
The President and the Vice-Presidents of the House of
Representatives and the President and the Vice-Presidents of the Senate vacate
office before the expiration of the term of office under paragraph one or
paragraph two, as the case may be, upon:
(1) loss of membership of the House of which he or she is a
member;
(2) resignation;
(3) holding a position of Prime Minister, Minister or other political
official;
(4) being sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment.
Section 153. The President of the House of Representatives and
the President of the Senate shall have the powers and duties to carry out the
business of each House in accordance with its rules of procedure. The Vice-
presidents have the powers and duties as entrusted by the President and act on
behalf of the President when the President is not present or unable to perform his
or her duties.
The President of the House of Representatives, the President of the
Senate and the persons who act on behalf of the President shall be impartial in
the performance of duties.
Section 154. When the President and the Vice-Presidents of the
House of Representatives or the President and the Vice-Presidents of the Senate
are not present at any sitting, the members of each House shall elect one among
themselves to preside over such sitting.
Section 155. At a sitting of the House of Representatives or the
Senate, the presence of not less than one-half of the total number of the existing
members of each House is required to constitute a quorum, except that in the
case of considering the agenda on interpellation under section 183 and section
184, the House of Representatives and the Senate may otherwise prescribe a
quorum in the rules of procedure.
Section 156. A resolution on any issue shall be made by a
majority of votes, unless it is otherwise provided in this Constitution.
In casting a vote, each member has one vote. In case of an equality
of votes, the presiding member shall have an additional vote as a casting vote.
The President of the National Assembly, the President of the
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall cause the voting
of each member to be recorded and disclose such record in a place where the
public entry for its inspection is possible, except for the case of the voting by
secret ballot.
The casting of votes to elect or give approval to a person for
holding office shall be secret, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, and
members shall have autonomy and shall not be bound by resolutions of their
political parties or any other mandate.
Section 157. At a sitting of the House of Representatives or the
Senate or at a joint sitting of the National Assembly, words expressed in giving
statements of fact or opinions or in casting the vote by any member are
absolutely privileged. No charge or action in any manner whatsoever shall be
brought against such member.
The privilege under paragraph one does not extend to a member
who expresses words at a sitting which is broadcast through radio or television if
such words appear out of the precinct of the National Assembly and the
expression of such words constitutes a criminal offence or a wrongful act against
any other person, who is not a Minister or member of that House.
In the case of paragraph two, if the words expressed by the member
cause damage to other person who is not a Minister or member of that House, the
President of that House shall cause explanations to be published as requested by
that person in accordance with procedure and within such period of time as
prescribed in the rules of the procedure of that House, without prejudice to the
personís right to bring the case before the Court .
Section 158. The privilege provided in section 157 extends to
printers and publishers of the minutes of sittings in accordance with the rules of
procedure of the House of Representatives, the Senate or the National Assembly,
as the case may be, and to persons permitted by the presiding member to give
statements of fact or opinions at such sitting as well as to persons who broadcasts
the sitting through radio or television with the permission of the President of
such House mutatis mutandis.
Section 159. The National Assembly shall, within thirty days as
from the date of the election of members of the House of Representatives, be
summoned for the first sitting.
Each year, there shall be general ordinary session and a legislative
ordinary session.
The day on which the first sitting under paragraph one is held shall
be considered as the first day of the general ordinary session, and the first day of
the legislative ordinary session shall be fixed by the House of Representatives. In
the case where the first sitting under in paragraph one has less than one hundred
and fifty days up to the end of a calendar year, the legislative ordinary session
may be omitted in that year.
During the legislative ordinary session, the National Assembly
shall hold a sitting only in such cases as prescribed in Chapter 2 or in cases of the
consideration of bills or organic law bills, the approval of an Emergency Decree,
the approval of the declaration of war, the approval of a treaty, the election or
approval of a person for holding office, the removal of a person from office, the
interpellation and the amendment of the Constitution, unless the National
Assembly has passed a resolution, by the votes of more than one-half of the total
number of the existing members of both Houses, for considering other matters.
Section 160. An ordinary session of the National Assembly shall
last one hundred and twenty days but the King may prolong it.
An ordinary session may be prorogued before the end of one
hundred and twenty days only with the approval of the National Assembly.
Section 161. The King convokes the National Assembly, opens
and prorogues its session.
The King may be present to perform the opening ceremony of the
first general ordinary session under section 159 paragraph one or may command
the Heir to the Throne who is sui juris or any person to perform the ceremony as
His Representative.
Section 162. When it is necessary for the interests of the State,
the King may convoke an extraordinary session of the National Assembly.
Section 163. Members of both Houses or members of the House
of Representatives of not less than one-third of the total number of the existing
members of both Houses have the right to present their petition to the King for
the issuance of a Royal Command convoking an extraordinary session of the
National Assembly.
The petition referred to in paragraph one shall be lodged with the
President of the National Assembly.
The President of the National Assembly shall present the petition
to the King and countersign the Royal Command.
Section 164. Subject to section 163, the convocation, the
prolongation of session and the prorogation of the National Assembly shall be
made by a Royal Decree.
Section 165. No member of the House of Representatives or
senator shall, during a session, be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant
for inquiry as the suspect in a criminal case unless permission of the House of
which he or she is a member is obtained or he or she is arrested in flagrante
delicto.
In the case where a member of the House of Representatives or a
senator has been arrested in flagrante delicto, it shall be forthwith reported to the
President of the House of which he or she is a member and such President may
order the release of the person so arrested.
Section 166. In the case where a criminal charge is brought
against a member of the House of Representatives or a senator, whether the
House is in session or not, the Court shall not try the case during a session,
unless permission of the House of which he or she is a member is obtained or it
is a case concerning the organic law on the election of members of the House of
Representatives and senators, the organic law on Election Commission or the
organic law on political parties; provided that the trial of the Court shall not
hinder such member from attending the sitting of the House.
The trial and adjudication of the Court conducted before it is
invoked that the accused is a member of either House are valid.
Section 167. If a member of the House of Representatives or a
senator is detained during the inquiry or trial before the beginning of a session,
when the session begins, the inquiry official or the Court, as the case may be,
must order his or her release as soon as the President of the House of which he or
she is a member has so requested.
The order of release under paragraph one shall be effective as from
the date of such order until the last day of the session.
Section 168. During the expiration of the term or the dissolution
of the House of Representatives, the Senate shall not hold its sitting except in the
following cases:
(1) a sitting at which the Senate shall act as the National Assembly
under section 19, section 21, section 22, section 23 and section 223, and the
votes taken shall be based on the number of senators;
(2) a sitting at which the Senator shall elect, appoint, recommend
or give approval to a person for holding any office under section 138, section
143, section 196, section 199, section 257, section 261, section 274(3),
section 277, section 278, section 279(3), section 297, section 302 and section 312;
(3) a sitting at which the Senate shall consider and pass a resolution
removing a person from office.
Section 169. Subject to section 170, a bill or an organic law bill
may be introduced only by members of the House of Representatives or the
Council of Ministers, but a money bill may be introduced by members of the
House of Representatives only with the endorsement of the Prime Minister.
A member of the House of Representatives may introduce a bill or
an organic law bill only if the political party of which he or she is a member has
passed a resolution approving the introduction thereof and the bill is endorsed by
not less than twenty members of the House of Representatives .
A money bill means a bill with provisions dealing with any of the
following matters:
(1) the imposition, repeal, reduction, alteration, modification,
remission, or regulation of taxes or duties;
(2) the allocation, receipt, custody, payment of the State funds, or
transfer of expenditure estimates of the State;
(3) the raising of loans, or guarantee or redemption of loans;
(4) currency.
In case of doubt as to whether a bill or an organic law bill is a
money bill which requires the endorsement of the Prime Minister or not, it shall
be the power of a joint sitting of the President of the House of Representatives
and Presidents of all its standing committees to make a decision thereon.
The President of the House of Representatives shall hold a joint
sitting to consider the case under paragraph four within fifteen days as from the
date such case occurs.
The resolution of the joint sitting under paragraph four shall be
decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes, the President of
the House of Representatives shall have an additional vote as a casting vote.
Section 170. The persons having the right to vote of not less than
fifty thousand in number shall have a right to submit a petition to the President of
the National Assembly to consider such law as prescribed in Chapter 3 and
Chapter 5 of this Constitution.
A bill must be attached to the petition referred to in paragraph one.
The rules and procedure for the petition and the examination
thereof shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Section 171. For any bill or any organic law bill introduced by
members of the House of Representatives which, at the stage of the adoption of
its principle, was not a money bill but was then amended by the House of
Representatives and, in the opinion of the President of the House, such
amendment has rendered it to exhibit the characteristic of a money bill, the
President of the House shall suspend the consideration of such bill and, within
fifteen days as from the day on which such case occurs, shall refer it to a joint
sitting of the President of the House of Representatives and Presidents of all its
standing committees to make a decision thereon. If the joint sitting decides that
the amendment resulted in such bill or organic law bill exhibiting the
characteristic of a money bill, the President of the House shall refer it to the
Prime Minister for endorsement. In the case where the Prime Minister does not
endorse it, the House of Representative shall amend it so as to prevent it from
being a money bill.
Section 172. A bill or an organic law bill shall be first submitted
to the House of Representatives.
Section 173. When a bill which has been specified by the
Council of Ministers, in its policies stated to the National Assembly under
section 211, as necessary for the administration of the State affairs or when any
organic law bill is not approved by a resolution of the House of Representatives
and the votes disapproving it are less than one-half of the total number of the
existing members of the House, the Council of Ministers may request the
National Assembly to hold a joint sitting for passing a resolution on another
occasion. If it is approved, the National Assembly shall appoint the persons,
being or not being its members, in such an equal number as proposed by the
Council of Ministers, to constitute a joint committee of the National Assembly
for considering such bill or organic law bill, and the joint committee of the
National Assembly shall prepare a report thereon and submit the bill or organic
law bill which it has already considered to the National Assembly. If such bill or
organic law bill is approved by the National Assembly, further proceedings
under section 93 shall be taken. If it is not approved, such bill or organic law bill
shall lapse.
Section 174. Subject to section 180, when the House of
Representatives has considered a bill or an organic law bill submitted under
section 172 and resolved to approve it, the House of Representatives shall
submit such bill or organic law bill to the Senate. The Senate must finish the
consideration of such bill or organic law bill within sixty days; but if it is a
money bill, the consideration thereof must be finished within thirty days;
provided that the Senate may, as a special case, resolve to extend the period for
not more than thirty days. The said period shall mean the period during a session
and shall be counted as from the day on which such bill or organic law bill
reaches the Senate.
The period referred to in paragraph one shall not include the period
during which the bill or the organic law bill is under the consideration of the
Constitutional Court under section 177.
If the Senate has not finished the consideration of the bill or the
organic law bill within the period referred to in paragraph one, it shall be deemed
that the Senate has approved it.
In the case where the House of Representatives submits a money
bill to the Senate, the President of the House of Representatives shall also advise
the Senate that the bill or the organic law bill so submitted is a money bill. The
advice of the President of the House of Representatives shall be deemed final.
In the case where the President of the House of Representatives
does not advise the Senate that the bill or the organic law bill is a money bill,
such bill shall not be deemed a money bill.
Section 175. Subject to section 180, after the Senate has finished
the consideration of a bill or an organic law bill,
(1) if it agrees with the House of Representatives, further
proceedings under section 93 shall be taken;
(2) if it disagrees with the House of Representatives, such bill or
organic law bill shall be withheld and returned to the House of Representatives;
(3) if there is an amendment, the amended bill or the amended organic law bill
shall be returned to the House of Representatives. If the House of
Representatives approves such amendment, further proceedings under section 93
shall be taken. In other cases, each House shall appoint persons, being or not
being its members, in such an equal number as may be fixed by the House of
Representatives, to constitute a joint committee for considering the bill or the
organic law bill and the joint committee shall prepare a report thereon and submit
the bill or the organic law bill which it has already considered to both Houses.
If both Houses approve the bill or the organic law bill already considered by the
joint committee, further proceedings under section 93 shall be taken. If either
House disapproves it, the bill or the organic law bill shall be withheld.
The joint committee has the power to demand documents from any
person or summon any person to give statements of fact or opinions in respect of
the consideration of the bill or the organic law bill and the privileges provided in
section 157 and section 158 shall also extend to the person performing his or her
duties under this section.
At a meeting of the joint committee, the presence of the members
of the joint committee appointed by both Houses of not less than one-half of the
total number of its members is required to constitute a quorum and the provisions
of section 194 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 176. A bill or an organic law bill withheld under section
175 may be reconsidered by the House of Representatives only after the lapse of
one hundred and eighty days as from the date the bill or the organic law bill is
returned to the House of Representatives by the Senate in case of withholding
under section 175(2) and as from the date either House disapproves it in case of
withholding under section 175(3). In such cases, if the House of Representatives
resolves to reaffirm the original bill or the bill considered by the joint committee
by the votes of more than one-half of the total number of the existing members
of the House of Representatives, such bill or organic law bill shall be deemed to
have been approved by the National Assembly and further proceedings under
section 93 shall be taken.
If the bill or the organic law bill withheld is a money bill,
the House of Representatives may forthwith proceed to reconsider it. In such case, if
the House of Representatives resolves to reaffirm the original bill or the bill
considered by the joint committee by the votes of more than one-half of the total
number of the existing members of the House of Representatives, such bill or
organic law bill shall be deemed to have been approved by the National
Assembly and further proceedings under section 93 shall be taken.
Section 177. While a bill or an organic law bill is being withheld
under section 175, the Council of Ministers or members of the House of
Representatives may not introduce a bill or an organic law bill having the same
or similar principle as that of the bill or the organic law bill so withheld.
In the case where the House of Representatives or the Senate is of
the opinion that the bill or the organic law bill so introduced or referred to for
consideration has the same or similar principle as that of the bill or the organic
law bill being withheld, the President of the House of Representatives or the
President of the Senate shall refer the said bill or organic law bill to the
Constitutional Court for decision. If the Constitutional Court decides that it is a
bill or an organic law bill having the same or similar principle as that of the bill
or the organic law bill so withheld, such bill or organic law bill shall lapse.
Section 178. In the case where the term of the House of
Representatives expires or the House of Representatives is dissolved, the draft
Constitution Amendment, or all bills or organic law bills to which the King has
refused His assent or which have not been returned by the King within ninety
days, shall lapse.
In the case where the term of the House of Representatives expires
or where the House of Representatives is dissolved, the National Assembly, the
House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, may, after a general
election of members of the House of Representatives, continue the consideration
of the draft Constitution Amendment, the bill or the organic law bill which has
not yet been approved by the National Assembly if the Council of Ministers
which is newly appointed after the general election so requests within sixty days
as from the first sitting day of the National Assembly after the general election
and the National Assembly approves it. If the Council of Ministers does not so
request within such period of time, such draft Constitution Amendment, bill or
organic law bill shall lapse.
The further consideration of the draft Constitution Amendment, the
bill or the organic law bill under paragraph two shall be in accordance with the rules
of procedure of the National Assembly.
Section 179. The expenditure estimates of the State shall be
made in the form of an Act. If the Annual Appropriations Act for the following
fiscal year is not enacted in time, the law on annual appropriations for the
preceding fiscal year shall apply for the time being.
Section 180. The House of Representatives must finish the
consideration of an annual appropriations bill, a supplementary appropriations
bill and a transfer of appropriations bill within one hundred and five days as from
the date the bill reaches the House of Representatives.
If the House of Representatives has not finished the consideration
of the bill within the period referred to in paragraph one, such bill shall be
deemed to have been approved by the House of Representatives and shall be
submitted to the Senate.
In the consideration by the Senate, the Senate must approve or
disapprove it without any amendment within twenty days as from the date the bill
reaches the Senate. Upon the lapse of such period, such bill shall be deemed to
have been approved; in such case and in the case where the Senate approves it,
further proceedings under section 93 shall be taken.
If the Senate disapproves the bill, the provisions of section 176
paragraph two shall apply mutatis mutandis.
In the consideration of the annual appropriations bill, the
supplementary appropriations bill and the transfer of appropriations bill, a
member of the House of Representatives shall not submit a motion adding any
item or amount to the bill, but may submit a motion reducing or abridging the
expenditures which are not expenditures according to any of the following
obligations:
(1) money for payment of the principal of a loan;
(2) interest on a loan;
(3) money payable in accordance with the law.
In the consideration by the House of Representatives or a
committee, any proposal, submission of a motion or commission of an act, which
results in direct or indirect involvement by members of the House of
Representatives, senators or members of a committee in the use of the
appropriations, shall not be permitted.
In the case where members of the House of Representatives or
senators of not less than one-tenth of the total number of the existing members of
each House are of the opinion that the violation of the provisions of paragraph
six has occurred, they shall refer it to the Constitutional Court for decision and
the Constitutional Court shall decide it within seven days as from the date of its
receipt. In the case where the Constitutional Court decides that the violation of
the provisions of paragraph six has occurred, such proposal, submission of the
motion, or commission of the act shall be ineffective.
Section 181. The payment of State funds shall be made only
when it has been authorised by the law on appropriations, the law on budgetary
procedure, the law on transfer of appropriations or the law on treasury balance,
except that it may be prepaid in the case of urgent necessity under the rules and
procedure provided by the law. In such case, the expenditure estimates for
reimbursement must be set aside in the Transfer of Appropriations Act, the
Supplementary Appropriations Act, or the Annual Appropriations Act for the
following fiscal year, or except it is the case under section 230 paragraph two.
Section 182. The House of Representatives and the Senate are,
by virtue of this Constitution, vested with the power to control the administration
of the State affairs.
Section 183. Every member of the House of Representatives or
senator has the right to interpellate a Minister on any matter within the scope of
his or her authority, but the Minister has the right to refuse to answer it if the
Council of Ministers is of the opinion that the matter should not yet be disclosed
on the ground of safety or vital interest of the State.
Section 184. In the administration of the State affairs on any
matter which involves an important problem of public concern, affects national
or public interest, or requires urgency, a member of the House of Representatives
may notify the President of the House of Representatives in writing prior to the
commencement of the sitting of the day, that they will interpellate the Prime
Minister or the Minister responsible for the administration of the State affairs on
that matter without specifying the question, and the President of the House of
Representatives shall place such matter on the agenda of the meeting of that day.
The interpellation and the answer to the interpellation under
paragraph one may be made once a week, and a verbal interpellation by a
member of the House of Representatives on a matter involving the
administration of the State affairs may be made not exceeding three times on
each matter in accordance with the rules of procedure of the House of
Representatives.
Section 185. Members of the House of Representatives of not
less than two-fifths of the total number of the existing members of the House
have the right to submit a motion for a general debate for the purpose of passing
a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister. Such motion must nominate the
suitable next Prime Minister who is also a person under section 201 paragraph
two and, when the motion has been submitted, the dissolution of the House of
Representatives shall not be permitted, except that the motion is withdrawn or
the resolution is passed without being supported by the vote in accordance with
paragraph three.
In the submission of the motion for a general debate under
paragraph one, if it is concerned with the behaviour of the Prime Minister, which
involves circumstances of unusual wealthiness, exhibits a sign of malfeasance in
office or intentionally violates the provisions of the Constitution or law, it shall
not be submitted without the petition under section 304 having been presented.
Upon the submission of the petition under section 304, it may be proceeded with
without awaiting the outcome of the proceedings under section 305.
If the general debate is concluded with a resolution not to pass over
the agenda of the general debate, the House of Representatives shall pass a vote
of confidence or no-confidence. Voting in such case shall not take place on the
date of the conclusion of the debate. The vote of no-confidence must be passed
by more than one-half of the total number of the existing members of the House
of Representatives.
In the case where a vote of no-confidence is passed by not more
than one-half of the total number of the existing members of the House of
Representatives, the members of the House of Representatives who submit the
motion for the general debate shall no longer have the right to submit another
motion for a general debate for the purpose of passing a vote of no-confidence in
the Prime Ministers throughout the session.
In the case where a vote of no-confidence is passed by more than
one-half of the total number of the existing members of the House of
Representatives, the President of the House of Representatives shall submit the
name of the person nominated under paragraph one to the King for further
appointment and section 202 shall not apply.
Section 186. Members of the House of Representatives of not
less than one-fifth of the total number of the existing members of the House of
Representatives have the right to submit a motion for a general debate for the
purpose of passing a vote of no-confidence in an individual Minister.
The provisions of section 185 paragraph two, paragraph three and
paragraph four shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 187. Senators of not less than three-fifths of the total
number of the existing members of the Senate have the right to submit a motion
for a general debate in the Senate for the purpose of requesting the Council of
Ministers to give statements of fact or explain important problems in connection
with the administration of the State affairs without a resolution to be passed.
The motion for the general debate under this section may be
submitted only once in each session.
Section 188. A sitting of the House of Representatives and of the
Senate and a joint sitting of the National Assembly are public under the
conditions stipulated in the rules of procedure of each House. A sitting in
camera shall be held at the request of the Council of Ministers or members of not
less than one-fourth of the total number of the existing members of each House
or of both Houses, as the case may be.
Section 189. The House of Representatives and the Senate have
the power to select and appoint members of each house to constitute a standing
committee and have the power to select and appoint persons, being or not being
its members, to constitute an ad hoc committee in order to perform any act,
inquire into or study any matter within the powers and duties of the House and
report its findings to the House. The resolution appointing such ad hoc
committee must specify the activity or the matter concerned clearly and without
repetition or duplication.
The committees under paragraph one have the power to demand
documents from any person or summon any person to give statements of fact or
opinions on the act or the matter under its inquiry or study.
In the case where the person under paragraph two is a Government
official, official or employee of State agency, State enterprise or local
government organisation, the Chairman of the committee shall notify the
Minister who supervises and controls the agency to which such person is
attached in order to instruct him or her to act as prescribed in paragraph two,
except that, in the case of the safety or benefit of importance to the State, it shall
be deemed as a ground of an exemption to the compliance with paragraph two.
The privileges provided in section 157 and section 158 shall also
extend to the persons performing their duties under this section.
The number of members of a standing committee appointed solely
from members of the House of Representatives shall be in proportion to or in
close proportion to the number of members of the House of Representatives of
each political party or group of political parties in the House of Representatives.
In the absence of the rules of procedure of the House of
Representatives under section 191, the President of the House of Representatives
shall determine the proportion under paragraph five.
Section 190. In considering a bill the substance of which is
decided by the President of the House of Representatives to be concerned with
children, women, the elderly, the disabled or handicapped, if the House of
Representatives does not consider it by its full committee, the House of
Representatives shall appoint an ad hoc committee consisting of representatives,
from private organisations concerned with the respective types of persons, of not
less than one-third of the total number of members of the committee.
Section 191. The House of Representatives and the Senate have
the power to make the rules of procedure governing the election and performance
of duties of the President, Vice-Presidents, matters or activities which are within
the powers and duties of each standing committee, performance and quorum of
committees, sittings, submission and consideration of bills and organic law bills,
submission of motions, consultation, debate, passing of a resolution, recording
and disclosure of the passing of a resolution, interpellation, general debate,
observation of the rules and orders, codes of ethics of members and committee
members, and other matters for the execution of this Constitution.
Section 192. The fundamental substance of the organic laws on
various matters as prescribed in the Transitory Provisions shall necessarily be
contained in the organic law on such matter in accordance with this Constitution.
Part 6
Joint Sittings of the National Assembly
____________
Section 193. The National Assembly shall hold a joint sitting in
the following cases:
(1) the approval of the appointment of the Regent under section
19;
(2) the making of a solemn declaration by the Regent before the
National Assembly under section 21;
(3) the acknowledgment of an amendment of the Palace Law on
Succession, B.E. 2467 under section 22;
(4) the acknowledgment or approval of the succession to the
Throne under section 23;
(5) the reconsideration of a bill or an organic law bill under
section 94;
(6) the passing of a resolution for the consideration by the
National Assembly of other matters during a legislative ordinary session under
section 159;
(7) the approval of the prorogation of a session under section 160;
(8) the opening of the session of the National Assembly under
section 161;
(9) the approval of the further consideration of a bill or an organic
law bill under section 173;
(10) the approval of the further consideration of a Constitution
Amendment, a bill or an organic law bill under section 178 paragraph two;
(11) the making of the rules of procedure of the National Assembly
under section 194;
(12) the announcement of policies under section 211;
(13) the holding of a general debate under section 213;
(14) the approval of the declaration of war under section 223;
(15) the approval of a treaty under section 224;
(16) the amendment of the Constitution under section 313;
Section 194. At a joint sitting of the National Assembly, the
rules of procedure of the National Assembly shall apply. While the rules of
procedure of the National Assembly has not yet been issued, the rules of
procedure of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 195. The provisions applicable to both Houses shall
apply mutatis mutandis to the joint sitting of the National Assembly, except that,
for the appointment of a committee, the number of committee members
appointed from the members of each House must be in proportion to or in close
proportion to the number of members of each House.
Part 7
Ombudsmen
____________
Section 196. The Ombudsmen shall not be more than three in
number, who shall be appointed, by the King with the advice of the Senate, from
the persons recognised and respected by the public, with knowledge and
experience in the administration of the State affairs, enterprises or activities of
common interest of the public and with apparent integrity.
The President of the Senate shall countersign the Royal Command
appointing the Ombudsmen.
The qualifications, prohibitions, selection and election of the
Ombudsmen shall be in accordance with the organic law on Ombudsmen.
The Ombudsmen shall hold office for a term of six years as from
the date of their appointment by the King and shall serve for only one term.
Section 197. The Ombudsmen have the powers and duties as
follows:
(1) to consider and inquire into the complaint for fact-findings in
the following cases:
(a) failure to perform in compliance with the law or
performance beyond powers and duties as provided by the law of a Government
official, an official or employee of a State agency, State enterprise or local
government organisation;
(b) performance of or omission to perform duties of a
Government official, an official or employee of a State agency, State enterprise
or local government organisation, which unjustly causes injuries to the
complainant or the public whether such act is lawful or not;
(c) other cases as provided by law;
(2) to prepare reports and submit opinions and suggestions to the
National Assembly.
Section 198. In the case where the Ombudsman is of the opinion
that the provisions of the law, rules, regulations or any act of any person under
section 197(1) begs the question of the constitutionality, the Ombudsman shall
submit the case and the opinion to the Constitutional Court or Administrative
Court for decision in accordance with the procedure of the Constitutional Court
or the law on the procedure of the Administrative Court, as the case may be.
The Constitutional Court or Administrative Court, as the case may
be, shall decide the case submitted by the Ombudsman under paragraph one without delay.
Part 8
The National Human Rights Commission
____________
Section 199. The National Human Rights Commission consists
of a President and ten other members appointed, by the King with the advice of
the Senate, from the persons having apparent knowledge and experiences in the
protection of rights and liberties of the people, having regard also to the
participation of representatives from private organisations in the field of human
rights.
The President of the Senate shall countersign the Royal Command
appointing the President and members of the National Human Rights
Commission.
The qualifications, prohibitions, selection, election, removal and
determination of the remuneration of members of the National Human Rights
Commission shall be as provided by law.
The members of the National Human Rights Commission shall
hold office for a term of six years as from the date of their appointment by the
King and shall serve for only one term.
Section 200. The National Human Rights have the powers and
duties as follows:
(1) to examine and report the commission or omission of acts
which violate human rights or which do not comply with obligations under
international treaties to which Thailand is a party, and propose appropriate
remedial measures to the person or agency committing or omitting such acts for
taking action. In the case where it appears that no action has been taken as
proposed, the Commission shall report to the National Assembly for further
proceeding;
(2) to propose to the National Assembly and the Council of
Ministers policies and recommendations with regard to the revision of laws, rules
or regulations for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights;
(3) to promote education, researches and the dissemination of
knowledge on human rights;
(4) to promote co-operation and co-ordination among Government
agencies, private organisations, and other organisations in the field of human
rights;
(5) to prepare an annual report for the appraisal of situations in the
sphere of human rights in the country and submit it to the National Assembly;
(6) other powers and duties as provided by law.
In the performance of duties, the National Human Rights
Commission shall also have regard to the interests of the country and the public.
The National Human Rights Commission has the power to demand
relevant documents or evidence from any person or summon any person to give
statements of fact including other powers for the purpose of performing its duties
as provided by law.
CHAPTER VII
The Council of Ministers
____________
Section 201. The King appoints the Prime Minister and not more
than thirty-five other Ministers to constitute the Council of Ministers having the
duties to carry out the administration of the State affairs.
The Prime Minister must be appointed from members of the House
of Representatives or persons who have been members of the House of
Representatives whose membership has terminated under section 118 (7) during
the term of the same House.
The President of the House of Representatives shall countersign
the Royal Command appointing the Prime Minister.
Section 202. The House of Representatives shall complete its
consideration and approval of the person suitable to be appointed as Prime
Minister within thirty days as from the day the National Assembly is convoked
for the first sitting under section 159.
The nomination of a person who is suitable to be appointed as
Prime Minister under paragraph one shall be endorsed by members of the House
of Representatives of not less than one-fifth of the total number of the existing
members of the House.
The resolution of the House of Representatives approving the
appointment of a person as Prime Minister shall be passed by the votes of more
than one-half of the total number of the existing members of the House of
Representatives. The passing of the resolution in such case shall be by open votes.
Section 203. In the case where the period of thirty days as from
the date the National Assembly is convoked for the first sitting of its members
has elapsed and no one has been approved for appointment as Prime Minister
under section 202 paragraph three, the President of the House of Representatives
shall, within fifteen days as from the lapse of such period, present to the King for
the issuance of a Royal Command appointing the person who has received the
highest votes as Prime Minister.
Section 204. No Prime Minister and Ministers shall be members
of the House of Representatives or senators simultaneously.
A member of the House of Representatives who has been
appointed as Prime Minister or Minister shall vacate office on the day following
the date on which thirty days have elapsed as from the date of the
issuance of the appointing Royal Command.
Section 205. Before taking office, a Minister must make a solemn
declaration before the King in the following words:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal
to the King and will faithfully perform my duties in the interests of the country
and of the people. I will also uphold and observe the Constitution of the
Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
Section 206. A Minister must possess the qualifications and must
not be under any of the prohibitions as follows:
(1) being of Thai nationality by birth;
(2) being not less than thirty five years of age;
(3) having graduated with not lower than a Bachelor's degree or its
equivalent;
(4) not being under any of the prohibitions under section 109 (1),
(2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (12), (13) or (14);
(5) having been discharged for a period of less than five years
before the appointment after being sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment for
a term of two years or more, except for an offence committed through
negligence;
(6) not being a senator or having been a senator whose membership
has terminated for not more than one year up to the date of the appointment as
Minister except for the termination of membership under section 133 (1).
Section 207. A Minister shall not be a Government official
holding a permanent position or receiving a salary except political official.
Section 208. A Minister shall not hold a position or perform any
act provided in section 110, except the position required to be held by the
operation of law, and shall not hold any other position in a partnership, company
or any organisation which engages in a business with a view to sharing profits or
incomes or be an employee of any person.
Section 209. A Minister shall not be a partner or shareholder of a
partnership or a company or retain his or her being a partner or shareholder of a
partnership or a company up to the limit as provided by law. In the case where
any Minister intends to continue to receive benefits in such cases, such Minister
shall inform the President of the National Counter Corruption Commission
within thirty days as from the date of the appointment and shall transfer his or
her shares in the partnership or company to a juristic person which manages
assets for the benefit of other persons as provided by law.
The Minister shall not do any act which, by nature, amounts to the
administration or management of shares or affairs of such partnership or
company.
Section 210. A Minister has the right to attend and give statements
of fact or opinions at a sitting of the House but has no right to vote. In the case
where the House of Representatives or the Senate has passed a resolution
requiring Ministers to attend a sitting for any matter, they shall attend the sitting.
The provisions of section 157 and section 158 governing privileges
shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 211. The Council of Ministers which will assume the
administration of the State affairs must, within fifteen days as from the date it
takes office, state its policies to the National Assembly; provided that no vote of
confidence shall be passed.
Before stating policies to the National Assembly under paragraph
one, if there occurs a case of importance and necessary urgency which, if left
delayed, will affect material benefits of the State, the Council of Ministers which
has taken office may, for the time being, carry out such acts in so far as it is
necessary.
Section 212. Ministers shall carry out the administration of the
State affairs in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, laws and the
policies stated under section 211, and shall be responsible individually to the
House of Representatives for the performance of their duties and shall also be
responsible collectively to the National Assembly for the general policies of the
Council of Ministers.
Section 213. In the case where there is an important problem in
the administration of the State affairs in regard to which the Council of Ministers
deems it advisable to take opinion of members of the House of Representatives
and senators, the Prime Minister may give a notice to the President of the
National Assembly requesting that a general debate be held at a joint sitting of
the National Assembly. In such case, no resolution shall be passed by the
National Assembly on the issue put in the debate.
Section 214. In the case where the Council of Ministers is of the
opinion that any issue may affect national or public interests, the Prime Minister,
with the approval of the Council of Ministers, may consult the President of the
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate for the purpose of
publishing in the Government Gazette calling for a referendum.
A referendum shall be for the purpose of public consultation as to
whether the important issue under paragraph one, which is not the issue contrary
to or inconsistent with this Constitution, will be approved or not. A referendum
shall not be held on an issue specifically relating to any individual or group of
persons.
The publication under paragraph one shall fix the date of the
referendum, which shall not be earlier than ninety days and shall not be later than
one hundred and twenty days as from the date of its publication in the
Government Gazette, and the date of the referendum shall be the same
throughout the Kingdom.
While the publication under paragraph one is in force, the State
shall take action to ensure that persons who agree or disagree with such issue can
express their opinions equally.
The persons having the right to vote in an election of members of
the House of Representatives shall have the right to vote in a referendum.
If it appears from the referendum that the people voting in the
referendum are less than one-fifth of the persons having the right to vote, the
issue for which consultation is sought shall be deemed to be disapproved by a
majority of people. If the people voting in the referendum are more than one-fifth
of the persons having the right to vote and it appears that the people voting in the
referendum approve it by a majority of votes, the issue for which consultation is
sought shall be deemed to be approved by a majority of people.
The referendum under this section shall have the mere effect of
advice given to the Council of Ministers on that issue.
The rules and procedure for voting in a referendum shall be in
accordance with the organic law on referendum.
Section 215. Ministers vacate office en masse upon:
(1) the termination of ministership of the Prime Minister under
section 216;
(2) the expiration of the term or the dissolution of the House of
Representatives;
(3) the resignation of the Council of Ministers.
The outgoing Council of Ministers shall remain in office for
carrying out duties until the newly appointed Council of Ministers takes office
but, in the case of the vacation of office under (2), shall not exercise its power to
appoint, transfer or dismiss a Government official holding a permanent position
or receiving a salary or an official of a State agency or State enterprise, except
with the approval of the Election Commission.
The provisions of section 118(7) and paragraph two thereof and
section 204 shall not apply to the outgoing Council of Ministers which remains
in office for carrying out duties under paragraph two.
In the case where the ministership of the Prime Minister terminates
under section 216 (1), (2), (3), (4), (6) or (8), the procedure under section 202
and section 203 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 216. The ministership of an individual Minister terminates
upon:
(1) death;
(2) resignation;
(3) being disqualified or being under any of the prohibitions under
section 206;
(4) being sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment;
(5) the passing of a vote of no-confidence by the House of
Representatives under section 185 or section 186;
(6) having done an act prohibited by section 208 or section 209;
(7) the issuance of a Royal Command under section 217;
(8) being removed from office by a resolution of the Senate under
section 307.
The provisions of section 96 and section 97 shall apply to the
termination of the ministership under (2), (3), (4) or (6).
Section 217. The King has the prerogative to remove a Minister
from his or her office upon the advice of the Prime Minister.
Section 218. For the purpose of maintaining national or public
safety or national economic security, or averting public calamity, the King may
issue an Emergency Decree which shall have the force as an Act.
The issuance of an Emergency Decree under paragraph one shall
be made only when the Council of Ministers is of the opinion that it is the case of
emergency and necessary urgency which is unavoidable.
In the next succeeding sitting of the National Assembly, the
Council of Ministers shall submit the Emergency Decree to the National
Assembly for its consideration without delay. If it is out of session and it would
be a delay to wait for the opening of an ordinary session, the Council of
Ministers must proceed to convoke an extraordinary session of the National
Assembly in order to consider whether to approve or disapprove the Emergency
Decree without delay. If the House of Representatives disapproves it or approves
it but the Senate disapproves it and the House of Representatives reaffirms its
approval by the votes of not more than one-half of the total number of the
existing members of the House, the Emergency Decree shall lapse; provided that
it shall not affect any act done during the enforcement of such Emergency
Decree.
If the Emergency Decree under paragraph one has the effect of
amending or repealing any provisions of any Act and such Emergency Decree
has lapsed in accordance with paragraph three, the provisions of the Act in force
before the amendment or repeal shall continue to be in force as from the day the
disapproval of such Emergency Decree is effective.
If the House of Representatives and the Senate approve the
Emergency Decree, or if the Senate disapproves it but the House of
Representatives reaffirms its approval by the votes of more than one-half of the
total number of the existing members of the House, such Emergency Decree
shall continue to have the force as an Act.
The Prime Minister shall cause the approval or disapproval of the
Emergency Decree to be published in the Government Gazette. In case of
disapproval, it shall be effective as from the day following the date of its
publication in the Government Gazette.
The consideration of an Emergency Decree by the Senate and the
House of Representatives in case of reaffirmation of the Emergency Decree must
take place at the first opportunity when such Houses hold their sittings.
Section 219. Before the House of Representatives or the Senate
approves an Emergency Decree under section 218 paragraph three, members of
the House of Representatives or senators of not less than one-fifth of the total
number of the existing members of each House have the right to submit an
opinion to the President of the House of which they are members that the
Emergency Decree is not in accordance with section 218 paragraph one, and the
President of the House who receives such opinion shall then refer it to the
Constitutional Court for decision. After the Constitutional Court has given a
decision thereon, it shall notify its decision to the President of the House
referring such opinion.
When the President of the House of Representatives or the
President of the Senate has received the opinion from members of the House of
Representatives or senators under paragraph one, the consideration of such
Emergency Decree shall be deferred until the decision of the Constitutional
Court under paragraph one has been notified.
In the case where the Constitutional Court decides that any
Emergency Decree is not in accordance with section 218 paragraph one, such
Emergency Decree shall not have the force of law ab initio.
The decision of the Constitutional Court that an Emergency Decree
is not in accordance with section 218 paragraph one must be given by votes of
not less than two-thirds of the total number of members of the Constitutional
Court.
Section 220. If, during a session, it is necessary to have a law on
taxes, duties or currency, which, in the interests of the State, requires an urgent
and confidential consideration, the King may issue an Emergency Decree which
shall have the force as an Act.
The Emergency Decree issued under paragraph one must be
submitted to the House of Representatives within three days as from the day
following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette, and the
provisions of 218 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 221. The King has the prerogative to issue a Royal Decree
which is not contrary to the law.
Section 222. The King has the prerogative to declare and lift the
martial law in accordance with the conditions and manner under the Martial
Law.
In the case where it is necessary to declare the martial law in a
certain locality as a matter of urgency, the military authority may do so under the
Martial Law.
Section 223. The King has the prerogative to declare war with the
approval of the National Assembly.
The approval resolution of the National Assembly must be passed
by votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of the existing members
of both Houses.
During the expiration of the term or the dissolution of the House of
Representatives, the Senate shall perform the function of the National Assembly
in giving the approval under paragraph one, and the resolution shall be passed by
votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of the existing senators.
Section 224. The King has the prerogative to conclude a peace
treaty, armistice and other treaties with other countries or international
organisations.
A treaty which provides for a change in the Thai territories or the
jurisdiction of the State or requires the enactment of an Act for its
implementation must be approved by the National Assembly.
Section 225. The King has the prerogative to grant a pardon.
Section 226. The King has the prerogative to remove titles and
recall decorations.
Section 227. The King appoints and removes officials in the
military service and civil service who hold the positions of Permanent Secretary
of State, Director-General and their equivalents except in the case where they
vacate office upon death.
Section 228. A Government official holding a permanent position
or receiving a salary and not being a political official shall not be a political
official or hold other political position.
Section 229. Emoluments and other remuneration of Privy
Councillors, President and Vice-Presidents of the House of Representatives,
President and Vice-Presidents of the Senate, Leader of the Opposition in the
House of Representatives, members of the House of Representatives and
senators shall be prescribed by the Royal Decree.
Gratuities, pensions or other remuneration of Privy Councillors,
President and Vice-Presidents of the House of Representatives, President and
Vice-Presidents of the Senate, Prime Minister, Ministers, Leader of the
Opposition in the House of Representatives, members of the House of
Representatives and senators who vacate their office shall be prescribed by the
Royal Decree.
Section 230. The establishment of a new Ministry, Sub-Ministry
or Department which requires an increase of positions or the number of
Government officials or employees shall be made in the&nbs