Dzongkhag
Encyclopedia
A dzongkhag is an administrative and judicial
district of Bhutan
. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewog
s. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhag
s (sub-districts), which themselves comprise two or more gewogs. The Parliament of Bhutan
passed legislation
in 2002 and 2007 on the status, structure, and leadership of local governments, including dzongkhags. Its most recent legislation regarding dzongkhags is the Local Government Act of 2009
.
, the Dzongkhag Tshogdu (District Council) is the non-legislative executive body of the Dzongkhag. The Dzongkhag Thromde is composed of the Gup and Mangmi (elected leaders) from each gewog
, one representative from that Dzongkhag Thromde
, and one representative from the Dxongkhag Yenlag Thromde
s.§§ 7–8 Dzongkhag Tshogdus are tasked with balancing socio-economic development; promoting business; protecting consumers; coordinating government agency activities; reviewing Gewog regulations and ordinances; and representing the Dzongkhags in national referenda. The Dzongkhag Tshogdus are empowered to enforce rules on health and public safety; to regulate environmental pollution, advertising in regard to environmental aesthetics; to regulate broadcast media in accordance with the Information, Communications, and Media Act; and to regulate gambling. Dzongkhag Tshogdus also bear the responsibility for their own finances.§§ 49–52, 216–229 The Dzongkhag Tshogdus also oversee Dzongdags (governors), royal appointees who are the executive of each Dzongkhag. Dzongdags, in turn, are responsible for maintaining law and order, and for enforcing the driglam namzha
laws.§§ 250–264
headed by the penlop
s: Byakar (centered in present day Bumthang), Dukye, Haa, Paro, Punakha, Dagana, Thimphu, Trongsa, and Wangdue Phodrang. Later, the country was reorganized into dzongkhags. Under the initiative of fourth Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the process of decentralisation of local administration started in 1981. the formation of the incipient Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (district development committee, "DYT") in each dzongkhag. The DYT of each dzongkhag consisted of all the Gups (headmen), Mangmis (deputies), and Chimis (National Assembly
representatives) of the dzongkhag. The Chairperson is elected from the DYT members by themselves. The DYT may also include the representatives of the municipalities and the towns within the dzonkhag. The DYTs also have non-voting members, which include the dzongdag, the dungpa (where a dungkhag exists) and the dzongkhag officials from various sectors such as the dzongkhag planning officer, the dzongkhag finance officer, the dzongkhag education officer, the dzongkhag chief engineer, the dzongkhag agriculture officer, the dzongkhag forestry officer, the dzongkhag animal husbandry officer, and the dzongkhag health officer.
In August 1987, the territory of Gasa dzongkhag
was divided between Punakha
and Thimphu
; Chhukha dzongkhag was formed by merging the parts of Samtse
, Paro
, and Thimphu
. In 1992, Gasa dzongkhag
was re-established and carved out from Punakha
; the same year, Trashi Yangtse dzongkhag was carved out from Trashigang.
Under the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu Chathrim of 2002, dzongkhags were already headed by Dzongdags assisted by a Dzongrabs (deputy district collectors) in carrying out the administrative activities the dzongdag. The dzongkhag administration coordinated all developmental activities within the district. Under the DYT, Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchungs consisted of people's representatives and government officials in the dzongkhags that assisted the dzongdags in the discharge their developmental activities. A dzongdag was also assisted by the Gups elected from constituent gewog
s.
The Constitution of 2008
laid basic provisions for an elected Dzongkhag Tshogdu (district council) in each dzongkhag. It further codified the appointment process of dzongdags and the role of Dzongkhag Court
s within the judicial system of Bhutan
.
Dzongkhag Court
The Dzongkhag Court exists in each of Bhutan's 20 Dzongkhags, and is the court of first instance of the Royal Court of Justice in 14 of the 20 Dzongkhags of Bhutan. In the remaining 6 Dzongkhags there exists a further subdivision, Dungkhag, which is the basic level of judicial administration in...
district of Bhutan
Districts of Bhutan
Bhutan comprises twenty districts .-Districts:-District Statistics:The results of the 2005 census appear below:...
. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewog
Gewog
A gewog, or geog refers to a group of villages in Bhutan. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts , and above thromde municipalities. Bhutan comprises 205 gewogs, which average 230 km² in area...
s. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhag
Dungkhag
A dungkhag is a sub-district of a dzongkhag of Bhutan. The head of a dungkhag is a Dungpa...
s (sub-districts), which themselves comprise two or more gewogs. The Parliament of Bhutan
Parliament of Bhutan
The Parliament of Bhutan consists of the King of Bhutan together with a bicameral parliament.Constitution: Art. 1, § 3; Art. 10 This bicameral parliament is made up of an upper house, the National Council and a lower house, the National Assembly.Constitution: Art. 11; Art...
passed legislation
Bhutanese legislation
Bhutanese legislation is created by the bicameral Parliament of Bhutan. Either the upper house National Council, the lower house National Assembly, or the Attorney General may author bills to be passed as acts, with the exception of money and financial bills, which are the sole purview of the...
in 2002 and 2007 on the status, structure, and leadership of local governments, including dzongkhags. Its most recent legislation regarding dzongkhags is the Local Government Act of 2009
Local Government Act of Bhutan 2009
The Local Government Act of Bhutan was enacted on September 11, 2009, by parliament of Bhutan in order to further implement its program of decentralization and devolution of power and authority.Local Gov't Act 2008: Preamble It is the most recent reform of the law on Bhutan's administrative...
.
Dzongkhag administration
Under the Local Government Act of 2009Local Government Act of Bhutan 2009
The Local Government Act of Bhutan was enacted on September 11, 2009, by parliament of Bhutan in order to further implement its program of decentralization and devolution of power and authority.Local Gov't Act 2008: Preamble It is the most recent reform of the law on Bhutan's administrative...
, the Dzongkhag Tshogdu (District Council) is the non-legislative executive body of the Dzongkhag. The Dzongkhag Thromde is composed of the Gup and Mangmi (elected leaders) from each gewog
Gewog
A gewog, or geog refers to a group of villages in Bhutan. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts , and above thromde municipalities. Bhutan comprises 205 gewogs, which average 230 km² in area...
, one representative from that Dzongkhag Thromde
Thromde
A thromde is a third-level administrative division in Bhutan. The legal administrative status of thromdes was most recently codified under the Local Government Act of 2009, and the role of thromdes in elections in Bhutan was defined in the Election Act of 2008.-Thromde administration:Thromde...
, and one representative from the Dxongkhag Yenlag Thromde
Thromde
A thromde is a third-level administrative division in Bhutan. The legal administrative status of thromdes was most recently codified under the Local Government Act of 2009, and the role of thromdes in elections in Bhutan was defined in the Election Act of 2008.-Thromde administration:Thromde...
s.§§ 7–8 Dzongkhag Tshogdus are tasked with balancing socio-economic development; promoting business; protecting consumers; coordinating government agency activities; reviewing Gewog regulations and ordinances; and representing the Dzongkhags in national referenda. The Dzongkhag Tshogdus are empowered to enforce rules on health and public safety; to regulate environmental pollution, advertising in regard to environmental aesthetics; to regulate broadcast media in accordance with the Information, Communications, and Media Act; and to regulate gambling. Dzongkhag Tshogdus also bear the responsibility for their own finances.§§ 49–52, 216–229 The Dzongkhag Tshogdus also oversee Dzongdags (governors), royal appointees who are the executive of each Dzongkhag. Dzongdags, in turn, are responsible for maintaining law and order, and for enforcing the driglam namzha
Driglam namzha
The Driglam Namzha is the official behaviour and dress code of the Kingdom of Bhutan. It governs how citizens should dress in public and how they should behave in formal settings. It also regulates a number of cultural assets such as art and architecture...
laws.§§ 250–264
History
Until 1956, Bhutan had nine provincesProvinces of Bhutan
The Provinces of Bhutan were historical regions of Bhutan headed by penlops and dzongpens . Provincial lords gained power as the increasingly dysfunctional dual system of government eventually collapsed amid civil war...
headed by the penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
s: Byakar (centered in present day Bumthang), Dukye, Haa, Paro, Punakha, Dagana, Thimphu, Trongsa, and Wangdue Phodrang. Later, the country was reorganized into dzongkhags. Under the initiative of fourth Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the process of decentralisation of local administration started in 1981. the formation of the incipient Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (district development committee, "DYT") in each dzongkhag. The DYT of each dzongkhag consisted of all the Gups (headmen), Mangmis (deputies), and Chimis (National Assembly
National Assembly of Bhutan
The National Assembly is the elected lower house of Bhutan's new bicameral Parliament which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Council. It is the more powerful house.- Current National Assembly :...
representatives) of the dzongkhag. The Chairperson is elected from the DYT members by themselves. The DYT may also include the representatives of the municipalities and the towns within the dzonkhag. The DYTs also have non-voting members, which include the dzongdag, the dungpa (where a dungkhag exists) and the dzongkhag officials from various sectors such as the dzongkhag planning officer, the dzongkhag finance officer, the dzongkhag education officer, the dzongkhag chief engineer, the dzongkhag agriculture officer, the dzongkhag forestry officer, the dzongkhag animal husbandry officer, and the dzongkhag health officer.
In August 1987, the territory of Gasa dzongkhag
Gasa District
Gasa District or Gasa Dzongkhag is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. Its capital is Gasa Dzong near Gasa. It is located in the far north of the county and spans the Middle and High Himalayas. The dominant language of the district is Dzongkha, the national language...
was divided between Punakha
Punakha District
Punakha District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Thimphu, Gasa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts...
and Thimphu
Thimphu District
Thimphu District is a dzongkhag of Bhutan. Thimphu is also the capital of Bhutan and the largest city in the whole kingdom.-Languages:...
; Chhukha dzongkhag was formed by merging the parts of Samtse
Samtse District
Samtse District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan.-History and culture:...
, Paro
Paro District
Paro District is the name of a district , valley, river and town in Bhutan. It is one of the most historic valleys in Bhutan. Both trade goods and invading Tibetans came over the pass at the head of the valley, giving Paro the closest cultural connection with Tibet of any Bhutanese district...
, and Thimphu
Thimphu District
Thimphu District is a dzongkhag of Bhutan. Thimphu is also the capital of Bhutan and the largest city in the whole kingdom.-Languages:...
. In 1992, Gasa dzongkhag
Gasa District
Gasa District or Gasa Dzongkhag is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. Its capital is Gasa Dzong near Gasa. It is located in the far north of the county and spans the Middle and High Himalayas. The dominant language of the district is Dzongkha, the national language...
was re-established and carved out from Punakha
Punakha District
Punakha District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Thimphu, Gasa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts...
; the same year, Trashi Yangtse dzongkhag was carved out from Trashigang.
Under the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu Chathrim of 2002, dzongkhags were already headed by Dzongdags assisted by a Dzongrabs (deputy district collectors) in carrying out the administrative activities the dzongdag. The dzongkhag administration coordinated all developmental activities within the district. Under the DYT, Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchungs consisted of people's representatives and government officials in the dzongkhags that assisted the dzongdags in the discharge their developmental activities. A dzongdag was also assisted by the Gups elected from constituent gewog
Gewog
A gewog, or geog refers to a group of villages in Bhutan. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts , and above thromde municipalities. Bhutan comprises 205 gewogs, which average 230 km² in area...
s.
The Constitution of 2008
Constitution of Bhutan
The Constitution of Bhutan was enacted July 18, 2008 by the Royal Government. The Constitution was thoroughly planned by several government officers and agencies over a period of almost seven years amid increasing democratic reforms in Bhutan...
laid basic provisions for an elected Dzongkhag Tshogdu (district council) in each dzongkhag. It further codified the appointment process of dzongdags and the role of Dzongkhag Court
Dzongkhag Court
The Dzongkhag Court exists in each of Bhutan's 20 Dzongkhags, and is the court of first instance of the Royal Court of Justice in 14 of the 20 Dzongkhags of Bhutan. In the remaining 6 Dzongkhags there exists a further subdivision, Dungkhag, which is the basic level of judicial administration in...
s within the judicial system of Bhutan
Judicial system of Bhutan
The judicial system of Bhutan is the purview of the Royal Court of Justice, the judicial branch of the government of Bhutan under the Constitution of 2008...
.
See also
- DungkhagDungkhagA dungkhag is a sub-district of a dzongkhag of Bhutan. The head of a dungkhag is a Dungpa...
- GewogGewogA gewog, or geog refers to a group of villages in Bhutan. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts , and above thromde municipalities. Bhutan comprises 205 gewogs, which average 230 km² in area...
- ThromdeThromdeA thromde is a third-level administrative division in Bhutan. The legal administrative status of thromdes was most recently codified under the Local Government Act of 2009, and the role of thromdes in elections in Bhutan was defined in the Election Act of 2008.-Thromde administration:Thromde...
- Chiwog
- Districts of BhutanDistricts of BhutanBhutan comprises twenty districts .-Districts:-District Statistics:The results of the 2005 census appear below:...
- Dzongkhag CourtDzongkhag CourtThe Dzongkhag Court exists in each of Bhutan's 20 Dzongkhags, and is the court of first instance of the Royal Court of Justice in 14 of the 20 Dzongkhags of Bhutan. In the remaining 6 Dzongkhags there exists a further subdivision, Dungkhag, which is the basic level of judicial administration in...
- Local Government Act of Bhutan 2009Local Government Act of Bhutan 2009The Local Government Act of Bhutan was enacted on September 11, 2009, by parliament of Bhutan in order to further implement its program of decentralization and devolution of power and authority.Local Gov't Act 2008: Preamble It is the most recent reform of the law on Bhutan's administrative...
- List of terms for country subdivisions