Senate of Thailand
Encyclopedia
The Senate of the Kingdom of Thailand is the upper house
of the National Assembly of Thailand
, (Thailand's legislative branch). In accordance with the 2007 Constitution of Thailand
, the Senate
is a non-partisan legislative chamber, composed of 150 members. 76 Senators are directly elected
from the 75 Provinces of Thailand
and Bangkok
, while the other 74 are appointed from various sectors by the Senate Selection Committee. The Senate operates under fixed terms of six years.
first permeated Thai Politics
with the Constitution of 1946, when the government of Pridi Panomyong introduced a senate modelled on the British House of Lords
. For the first time, an upper house
came into existence in Thailand. The Senate was to be fully elected, however, the elections would be indirect, as the House of Representatives
would elect the senators, for six-year terms. The 1946 Constitution was soon abrogated in a military coup. Subsequent constitutions saw only occasional bicameralism, and when it did exist, the Senate was always filled with appointees from the military and the elite. The 1997 Constitution saw a return to a fully elected Senate. That constitution was abrogated after the 2006 coup, and replaced with one calling for a half-elected/half-appointed Senate.
of Thailand
as well as being 40 years or older on the year of election or selection. The candidate must have graduated with at least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent. If the candidate is to be elected, he or she must be born, must have a home and be registered to vote in the province which the candidate intends to represent. The candidate must not be an ascendant, spouse or a child of a member of the House of Representatives or any person holding a political position. Must not have been a member of a political party for at least five years.
All other disqualifications are similar to that of the House, the individual must not be: addicted to drugs, been bankrupt, convicted felon, member of a local administration, a civil servant, a member of the judiciary or any other government agency. Being disenfranchised (being a member of the clergy
, felon
, or mentally infirm). If the candidate was a member of a local administration or a Minister he must have left his post for a period of at least five years before being eligible.
plus 1 Metropolitan district (Bangkok
). These members are elected using the First Past the Post electoral system. The election is a one-man-one vote, secret ballot
vote in which a province is counted as a single representative constituency. Multiple candidates may apply, however, all must be non-partisan candidates and cannot have any connection to a political party
.
See most recent election at: Thai Senate election, 2008
Within themselves they must elect a Chairman who will preside over the committee. The Committee will select members of the Senate based on 5 categories of profession:
The Constitution states that:
. Senators cannot hold more than one consecutive term, therefore senators cannot be re-elected. A Senator whose membership expires before a new Senator can be named shall continue his or her duties until such seats are occupied. If there is a vacancy the seat is immediately filled either by election or appointment.
these include:
Exclusive Powers:
and two Vice President
s. The President of the Senate is also the ex-officio Vice President of the National Assembly of Thailand. The election is done by secret ballot, after a resolution finalizing the selection the name is submitted to the King for formal appointment. There are no partisan
officers as the Senate of Thailand is a non-partisan chamber.
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of the National Assembly of Thailand
National Assembly of Thailand
The National Assembly of Thailand or the Parliament of Thailand is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...
, (Thailand's legislative branch). In accordance with the 2007 Constitution of Thailand
2007 Constitution of Thailand
A Permanent Constitution for the Kingdom of Thailand was drafted by a committee established by the military junta that abrogated the previous 1997 Constitution. On August 19, 2007, a referendum was held in which 59.3% of the voters voted in favor of the constitution...
, the Senate
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature or parliament. There have been many such bodies in history, since senate means the assembly of the eldest and wiser members of the society and ruling class...
is a non-partisan legislative chamber, composed of 150 members. 76 Senators are directly elected
Elected
Elected is the latest EP by Dutch Progressive metal project Ayreon. It was released on April 25, 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and on April 28 in the rest of Europe...
from the 75 Provinces of Thailand
Provinces of Thailand
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, while the other 74 are appointed from various sectors by the Senate Selection Committee. The Senate operates under fixed terms of six years.
History
The idea of BicameralismBicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
first permeated Thai Politics
Politics of Thailand
The politics of Thailand are currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches.Thai kingdoms and late...
with the Constitution of 1946, when the government of Pridi Panomyong introduced a senate modelled on the British House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. For the first time, an upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
came into existence in Thailand. The Senate was to be fully elected, however, the elections would be indirect, as the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Thailand
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai Government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. The system of the Thai...
would elect the senators, for six-year terms. The 1946 Constitution was soon abrogated in a military coup. Subsequent constitutions saw only occasional bicameralism, and when it did exist, the Senate was always filled with appointees from the military and the elite. The 1997 Constitution saw a return to a fully elected Senate. That constitution was abrogated after the 2006 coup, and replaced with one calling for a half-elected/half-appointed Senate.
- 1947- First Thai Senate established with 100 members, all royally appointed.
- 1952- Establishment of a unicameral National Assembly with 123 members.
- 1968- Re-establishment of the Senate with 164 royally-appointed members.
- 1972- The Thai Legislature is banned by Thanom KittikachornThanom KittikachornField Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn was a military dictator of Thailand. A staunch anti-Communist, Thanom oversaw a decade of military rule in Thailand from 1963 to 1973, until public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down...
. - 1974- Return of the royally-appointed Senate.
- 1976- Re-establishment of a unicameral National Assembly with 360 members, all royally appointed.
- 1978- Return of a Senate with 225 royally-appointed members.
- 1991- Establishment of a unicameral National Assembly with 292 royally-appointed members.
- 1997- Establishment for the first time of a fully and directly elected Senate with 200 members for a 6 year term.
- 2006- Following the coup, an interim charter was signed establishing a 250 member National Legislative Assembly.
- 2007-Present system established, by referendum under the 2007 Constitution of Thailand2007 Constitution of ThailandA Permanent Constitution for the Kingdom of Thailand was drafted by a committee established by the military junta that abrogated the previous 1997 Constitution. On August 19, 2007, a referendum was held in which 59.3% of the voters voted in favor of the constitution...
. Half of the Senate is appointed.
Qualifications
The qualifications for the membership of the Senate can be found in section 115, Part 3, Chapter 6 of the 2007 Constitution. A candidate intent on being a member of the Senate must be a natural born citizenNatural-born citizen
Status as a natural-born citizen of the United States is one of the eligibility requirements established in the United States Constitution for election to the office of President or Vice President...
of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
as well as being 40 years or older on the year of election or selection. The candidate must have graduated with at least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent. If the candidate is to be elected, he or she must be born, must have a home and be registered to vote in the province which the candidate intends to represent. The candidate must not be an ascendant, spouse or a child of a member of the House of Representatives or any person holding a political position. Must not have been a member of a political party for at least five years.
All other disqualifications are similar to that of the House, the individual must not be: addicted to drugs, been bankrupt, convicted felon, member of a local administration, a civil servant, a member of the judiciary or any other government agency. Being disenfranchised (being a member of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, felon
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
, or mentally infirm). If the candidate was a member of a local administration or a Minister he must have left his post for a period of at least five years before being eligible.
Elections
Out of the 150 Senators, 76 are directly elected from the 75 Provinces of ThailandProvinces of Thailand
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
plus 1 Metropolitan district (Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
). These members are elected using the First Past the Post electoral system. The election is a one-man-one vote, secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
vote in which a province is counted as a single representative constituency. Multiple candidates may apply, however, all must be non-partisan candidates and cannot have any connection to a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
See most recent election at: Thai Senate election, 2008
Thai Senate election, 2008
Senate elections were held in Thailand on 2 March 2008 for the first time under the new constitution. Voter turnout was 56%. Results were expected on 9 March 2008....
Selection
The remaining 74 members are to be selected by a Senators Selection Committee. The Committee is established in Section 113, Part 3 and Chapter 6 of the Constitution. The Committee is composed of:- President of the Constitutional CourtConstitutional Court of ThailandThe Constitutional Court of Thailand is an independent Thai court originally established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding...
- Chairman of the Election Commission
- Chairman of the State Audit Commission
- A Judge in the Supreme Court of Justice holding office not lower in rank than Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice as entrusted by the general assembly of the Supreme Court of Justice.
- A Judge of the Supreme Administrative Court as entrusted by the general assembly of judges of the Supreme Administrative Court.
Within themselves they must elect a Chairman who will preside over the committee. The Committee will select members of the Senate based on 5 categories of profession:
- The Academic Sector
- The Public Sector
- The Private Sector
- The Professional Sector
- And Others
The Constitution states that:
“In the selection of persons [for the Senate], particular regard shall be had to the knowledge, expertise or experience beneficial to the performance of duties of senators, and regard shall also be had to factors in relation to persons with varying knowledge and capability in varying fields, sexual opportunities and equality, a close proportion of persons in each sector…, and the provision of opportunities to the socially underprivileged persons”
Term
The term of the Senate is six years. The term is fixed, therefore the Senate cannot be dissolved under any circumstances and will be re-elected in accordance with a Royal Decree issued thirty days after the expiration of the term.Membership
Members of the Senate are entitled use the title Senator in front of their names (. Membership of an elected Senator begins on the senate election day, while an appointed senator becomes a member after the publication of the election result by the Electoral CommissionElection Commission (Thailand)
The Election Commission of the Kingdom of Thailand is an independent government agency and the sole Electoral Commission of Thailand tasked with overseeing Senate, House, local and district elections throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. Established by the Constitution, the Election Commission has...
. Senators cannot hold more than one consecutive term, therefore senators cannot be re-elected. A Senator whose membership expires before a new Senator can be named shall continue his or her duties until such seats are occupied. If there is a vacancy the seat is immediately filled either by election or appointment.
Powers
The Senate shares many powers with the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives of Thailand
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai Government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. The system of the Thai...
these include:
- Legislation
- Scrutiny
- Passing of annual Appropriations Bills
- Constitutional Amendments
Exclusive Powers:
- Creating and appointing committee to examine and investigate affairs.
- Passing approval resolutions advising the King in certain appointments.
- Judges of the Constitutional Court of ThailandConstitutional Court of ThailandThe Constitutional Court of Thailand is an independent Thai court originally established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding...
- Election CommissionersElection Commission (Thailand)The Election Commission of the Kingdom of Thailand is an independent government agency and the sole Electoral Commission of Thailand tasked with overseeing Senate, House, local and district elections throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. Established by the Constitution, the Election Commission has...
- Ombudsmen
- Members of the Counter Corruption Commission, State Audit Commission (including the Auditor General) and National Human Rights CommissionNational Human Rights Commission (Thailand)The Thai National Human Rights Commission was established on July 13, 2001 as a national human rights institution. From its inception to May 31, 2005, it received a total of 2,148 complaints of which 1,309 had already been investigated, 559 were still in the process of investigation, and 209 were...
.
- Judges of the Constitutional Court of Thailand
- The Senate also advise the selection and the actual selection of certain members of the Judiciary.
- Selection of its Officers.
- Expulsion of members.
- Determination of its own rules and procedures.
Leadership
The Senate elects three presiding officers; one PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and two Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
s. The President of the Senate is also the ex-officio Vice President of the National Assembly of Thailand. The election is done by secret ballot, after a resolution finalizing the selection the name is submitted to the King for formal appointment. There are no partisan
Partisan (political)
In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...
officers as the Senate of Thailand is a non-partisan chamber.
- President of the Senate of Thailand and Vice President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand: Teeradej Meepien
See also
- Constitutions of Thailand
- 2007 Constitution of Thailand2007 Constitution of ThailandA Permanent Constitution for the Kingdom of Thailand was drafted by a committee established by the military junta that abrogated the previous 1997 Constitution. On August 19, 2007, a referendum was held in which 59.3% of the voters voted in favor of the constitution...
- National Assembly of ThailandNational Assembly of ThailandThe National Assembly of Thailand or the Parliament of Thailand is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...
External links
- http://www.parliament.go.th
- http://www.senate.go.th/th_senate/English/Members.htm
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007
- Background Note: Thailand: U.S. State Department public domain documentPublic domainWorks are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...