Election Commission of Nepal
Encyclopedia
The Election Commission of Nepal is the body responsible for monitoring elections, as well as registering parties and candidates and reporting election outcomes, in Nepal
. It was born out of the 1950 revolution in Nepal, and was established in law in 1951, although it has been changed somewhat by law over time. It has six members who serve for six-year terms, as established by the Interim Constitution of Nepal. During the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, it was criticized for not fully upholding its duties, but was acknowledged to have managed the elections well nonetheless.
, the commission oversaw approximately 10,000 polling places, 10,000 candidates, and 234,000 election workers. It requires candidates to take its own specified oath of office
. It also oversees the political parties registered in elections: all parties must register with the commission, or they cannot run. Parties are also required to submit their list of candidates for review, and the commission releases the final list of people running for office. In 2008, in the race for the Constituent Assembly, 55 parties registered candidates for seats in the assembly, and 7 parties registered a candidate for all 335 available seats. The commission also reports on election outcomes.
: in that year, the Rana dynasty
, which had controlled the government for more than 100 years, was overthrown. The coup d'état
marked Nepal's first attempt at democracy; one of the primary goals of the revolution was to eventually establish the Nepalese Constituent Assembly
. The democratic experiment was short-lived; in less than ten years, King Mahendra
dissolved the government in favor of the Panchayat
system. However, another major accomplishment was the establishment of the National Election Commission in 1951.
The commission was declared by law to be independent of the government in 1966. This has been confirmed by Nepal's interim constitution in 2007.
When the commission was established, the members were chosen by the King. In 1989, King Birendra's
constitution declared that the Chief Election Commissioner would still be appointed by the king, but the others would not. The interim constitution further amended the body's composition in 2006: all five members were made under appointment of the Prime Minister.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It was born out of the 1950 revolution in Nepal, and was established in law in 1951, although it has been changed somewhat by law over time. It has six members who serve for six-year terms, as established by the Interim Constitution of Nepal. During the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, it was criticized for not fully upholding its duties, but was acknowledged to have managed the elections well nonetheless.
Duties
The commission's responsibilities are many. Among other things, it is in charge of conducting elections. This includes monitoring elections: the commission also has the power to postpone them. The commission receives funding from the Danish International Development Agency for assistance in monitoring elections. In the race for the Nepalese Constituent AssemblyNepalese Constituent Assembly
The Nepalese Constituent Assembly is a unicameral body of 601 members formed as a result of the Constituent Assembly election that was held on April 10, 2008. The Constituent Assembly is tasked with writing a new constitution, and it will act as the interim legislature for a term of two years...
, the commission oversaw approximately 10,000 polling places, 10,000 candidates, and 234,000 election workers. It requires candidates to take its own specified oath of office
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
. It also oversees the political parties registered in elections: all parties must register with the commission, or they cannot run. Parties are also required to submit their list of candidates for review, and the commission releases the final list of people running for office. In 2008, in the race for the Constituent Assembly, 55 parties registered candidates for seats in the assembly, and 7 parties registered a candidate for all 335 available seats. The commission also reports on election outcomes.
History
The year 1950 was important in the history of NepalHistory of Nepal
The history of Nepal is characterized by its isolated position in the Himalayas and its two neighbors, India and China.Due to the arrival of disparate settler groups from outside through the ages, it is now a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multilingual country...
: in that year, the Rana dynasty
Rana dynasty
The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary...
, which had controlled the government for more than 100 years, was overthrown. The coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
marked Nepal's first attempt at democracy; one of the primary goals of the revolution was to eventually establish the Nepalese Constituent Assembly
Nepalese Constituent Assembly
The Nepalese Constituent Assembly is a unicameral body of 601 members formed as a result of the Constituent Assembly election that was held on April 10, 2008. The Constituent Assembly is tasked with writing a new constitution, and it will act as the interim legislature for a term of two years...
. The democratic experiment was short-lived; in less than ten years, King Mahendra
Mahendra of Nepal
Possibly no heir for the time period of 1911 through 1920. Previous Crown Prince: Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah, from 1906 to 1911....
dissolved the government in favor of the Panchayat
Panchayati Raj
The panchayat raj is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly of five wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages...
system. However, another major accomplishment was the establishment of the National Election Commission in 1951.
The commission was declared by law to be independent of the government in 1966. This has been confirmed by Nepal's interim constitution in 2007.
Composition
It has five members, consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and four others. The members serve for 6 years. In order to enforce its election guidelines, the commission employs a group of around 240,000 officials, mostly civil servants, to monitor elections.When the commission was established, the members were chosen by the King. In 1989, King Birendra's
Birendra of Nepal
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was a King of Nepal. The son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre...
constitution declared that the Chief Election Commissioner would still be appointed by the king, but the others would not. The interim constitution further amended the body's composition in 2006: all five members were made under appointment of the Prime Minister.