EP M.5 Unit 1 Political Regime 3

Political Regime

​

Unit 1

Learner's objectives

Explain Thailand's Government Organisation and Structure

Multiple Choice

Who is the Head of State of the Kingdom of Thailand?

• H. E Mr Don Pramudwinai

• H.E. Mr Jurin Laksanawisit

• His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua

• H.E. General (Ret.) Prayut Chan-o-cha

Multiple Choice

Who is the head of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand?

• His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua

• H.E. General (Ret.) Prayut Chan-o-cha

• H.E. Mr Jurin Laksanawisit

• H.E. Mr Don Pramudwinai

Multiple Choice

The King of Thailand has the power to approve or disapprove bills.

• yes

• no

• sometimes

• not relevant

Open Ended

What do you call to the provisions in the Constitution that will not take

full effect until after new elections are held

Role of the King

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, under which form of government the King serves the People of Thailand as "HEAD OF STATE", under the terms of the Constitution of Thailand. Thailand adopted a new Constitution in October of 1997, which is now in effect, although certain provisions of that Constitution will not take full effect until after new elections are held. (Those provisions are known as "Transitory Provisions", and some do not take effect for several years after its adoption, to give the parliament enough time to enact appropriate new laws.) Bills passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate become law upon approval of the bill by the King. The King has the power to approve or disapprove bills adopted by the Parliament; bills do not become effective as laws without the approval of the King, unless later re-approved by the Parliament. If the King disapproves a bill as a proposed law, the bill is returned to the Parliament to consider the King's objections. If the parliament nonetheless approves the law again, by at least a 2/3 vote of both houses of the parliament, the bill is returned to the King for reconsideration. If the King still declines to sign the bill into law, the Prime Minister is authorized to promulgate the bill as a law by publishing it in the Government Gazette, the official newspaper of the Government, as if the King had signed it.Role of the

THAI GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE

(Under Thailand's 1997 [B.E. 2540] Constitution)

Multiple Choice

How many branches of government does Thailand have?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Open Ended

What are the 3 branches of the government?

The three branches of government in Thailand

1. The Executive Branch of Government

2. The Legislative Branch of Government

3. The Executive Branch of Government

Open Ended

What are the composition of the Executive Branch of the Government?

Multiple Choice

Who submits the recommendation of appointment

of the Prime Minister to the King

• The People

• The President of the House of Representatives

• The Senate President

• The Cabinet Ministers

1. The Executive Branch

The executive branch of the Government is headed up by the Prime Minister. It consists of the Prime Minister, the ministers of the various ministries, deputy ministers, and the permanent officials of the various ministries of the government. The Prime Minister is selected by the House of Representatives, with the President of the House of Representatives submitting a recommendation to the King for appointment

The Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives. After the recommendation of the president of the House of Representatives is submitted to the King, the King appoints the Prime Minister.

He is responsible for the administration of all government agencies except the courts and the legislative bodies. The Prime Minister selects those persons, usually members of the House of Representatives, whom he wants named as Ministers or Deputy Ministers to head up the activities of each of the individual ministries of the government.

Multiple Choice

What will the members of the House of Representatives do if they will be appointed as Ministers or Deputy Ministers?

• They should resign

• They surrender their position in the House of Representatives

• They hold both position

• They don't do anything

Open Ended

Who are considered the "Cabinet"?

After the first election under the new Constitution, The Prime Minister and all appointed ministers will surrender their position as a member of the House of Representatives or of the Senate upon accepting appointment as a minister or deputy minister.

 

The Prime Minister and the other ministers (ministers or deputy ministers) collectively make up a body known as the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers, sometimes called the "Cabinet", are, in day to day control of the government and all of its activities, except those of the Parliament and those of the Courts. They set governmental policy and goals, and expect that the individual ministers and deputy ministers will carry out those policies and goals within their own designated ministries.

 

What is the role/function of the Executive Branch of the Government?

Functions of the Executive Branch of the Government

1. The Ministers give policy direction to the regular employees of the agency who are there on a permanent, long term basis, as part of the civil service; the permanent officials of the agency then give direction to the various supervisors and other leaders within their department, and they in turn supervise the employees who perform the actual "work" of the agency under their control.

2. All ministers meets once a week to establish government policy on any and all issues arising needing governmental attention.

3. The Council of Ministries has the power to submit urgent legislation to the King for immediate implementation by Royal Decree, to be followed by consideration by the Parliament within one year. Once such a proposal has been adopted by Royal Decree, it is the law of Thailand unless overturned by action of the Parliament.

4. The Council of Ministers also prepares a budget for consideration by the Parliament, and approves and submits to the Parliament bills desired by the prime minister or by individual ministers or ministries affecting governmental policy and procedures.

Multiple Choice

What is the other name for the Parliament?

• Dika Court

• Lower Court

• National Assembly

• The Council

Open Ended

What comprises The National Assembly?

Multiple Choice

How many members are there in the house of Representatives?

• 200

• 300

• 400

• 500

2. The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch of Government: (The Parliament, also called the National Assembly)

The Legislative Branch of the government is the law-making arm of the government, charged with primary responsibility for adoption of laws to govern Thai society. The full legal name of the legislative branch of government is The National Assembly. The legislative branch of government (National Assembly) consists of the two legislative bodies, each with its own responsibilities. These bodies are the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House of Representatives, which is also known as the "lower house of parliament", under the new constitution will consist of 400 members of parliament directly elected from single-member districts (constituencies) and 100 members selected from party lists with selection determined by the percentage of votes each of the major parties received in the elections.

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the provincial districts where the

members of the Senate is elected from

• Changwat

• Chiang Mai

• Chiang Rai

The Senate, the "upper house of Parliament", under the new constitution, will consist of 200 members elected from Changwat (provincial) districts, but without any political party affiliation. In those changwats (provinces) where the number of residents entitles the changwat to more than one elected senator, (based on population) Senators elected under the new Constitution will serve for a term of six years.

The Senate, under the new Constitution, has the duty to enact all of the required "organic laws" called for by the new Constitution if the National Assembly fails to enact those laws within the time limits specified. In such an event, the House of Representatives is disbanded (terminated), and the full law making authority then passes to the Senate to draft, pass and submit the organic bills meeting constitutional requirements to the King for approval. THIS APPEARS TO APPLY EVEN IF IT IS THE SENATE ITSELF WHICH IS DELAYING FINAL ADOPTION OF THE REQUIRED ORGANIC LAWS.

Multiple Choice

Who is the first to consider most new legislation?

• Senate

• House of Representatives

• Both the Upper and Lower House

Draw

Draw the sequence by which a law is made

Multiple Choice

What Branch of the government serve as the "check and balance"

• Executive Branch

• Judiciary Branch

• Legislative Branch

• All the 3 Brances of Government

  The judicial branch of the government consists of all the courts of Thailand. The courts are independent bodies, intended to serve as a "check and balance" on both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. The judiciary hears cases involving actual conflicts between individuals, between individuals and businesses, or between individuals or businesses and the government, and decides each case on its own merits. When a law applies to a case being considered, the court will apply the terms of the law, but if it feels the law may be contrary to the Constitution, it has the duty to refer the case to the Constitutional Court for a determination of whether there is such a conflict. Other than in cases of conflict with the Constitution, the courts apply the laws as enacted, and determine how the facts they find in hearing the evidence are affected by the laws. The courts also review executive actions of the government, how the executive branch carries out its functions, and can render judgments against the governmental bodies in appropriate cases.

The courts of Thailand basically consist of the trial courts (courts of the first instance), the appeal courts, and the Supreme Court (the Dika Court). In addition, a new Constitutional Court has been established to rule on the validity of laws, regulations and governmental decisions under the provisions of the new constitution. The court also considers the applicability of a law as applied, and whether it is applied in a manner consistent with the Constitution. Also, an Administrative Court is to be established, dealing with how the government administers the law and its policies.

  3. Judiciary Branch of Government

3.Judiciary Branch of Government

The judicial branch of the government consists of all the courts of Thailand. The courts are independent bodies, intended to serve as a "check and balance" on both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. The judiciary hears cases involving actual conflicts between individuals, between individuals and businesses, or between individuals or businesses and the government, and decides each case on its own merits. When a law applies to a case being considered, the court will apply the terms of the law, but if it feels the law may be contrary to the Constitution, it has the duty to refer the case to the Constitutional Court for a determination of whether there is such a conflict. Other than in cases of conflict with the Constitution, the courts apply the laws as enacted, and determine how the facts they find in hearing the evidence are affected by the laws. The courts also review executive actions of the government, how the executive branch carries out its functions, and can render judgments against the governmental bodies in appropriate cases.

Balance of Power

Each of the three branches of government has a degree of control over the actions of the other branches of government.

• The Executive Branch carries out most government activities, and establishes governmental policy. It also proposes most laws to be considered by the Legislative Branch, and proposes the annual governmental budget.

• The legislative branch can approve, amend or reject proposed bills, and it gives thorough review to the budget submitted to it, and can make changes to the budget within limitation specified in the Constitution.

 

• The Courts have a degree of control over legislation approved by the Parliament, in interpreting the law and, as to the Constitutional Court, in determining whether the law is consistent with the new constitution. Any law found to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court is rendered ineffective, and cannot be followed. The Courts also review governmental actions, and can require changes or reconsideration in appropriate cases, such as environmental reviews.

  The courts of Thailand basically consist of the trial courts (courts of the first instance), the appeal courts, and the Supreme Court (the Dika Court). In addition, a new Constitutional Court has been established to rule on the validity of laws, regulations and governmental decisions under the provisions of the new constitution. The court also considers the applicability of a law as applied, and whether it is applied in a manner consistent with the Constitution. Also, an Administrative Court is to be established, dealing with how the government administers the law and its policies.

​Any question?