Cabinet of Thailand

Thailand

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The Cabinet of Thailand or the Council of Ministers of Thailand (Thai: คณะรัฐมนตรีไทย: Khana Ratha Montri) is a body composed of thirty-five of the most senior members of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Cabinet is the primary organ of the executive branch of the Thai government. Members of the Cabinet are nominated by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by His Majesty the King of Thailand. Most members are heads a government department with the title of "Minister of State" (Thai: รัฐมนตรี: Ratha Montri). The Cabinet is chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand. The Cabinet is often collectively called "the Government" or "the Royal Thai Government".

History

Prior to the Revolution of 1932, the absolutist Chakri Kings ruled Siam through a series of "Krom" (Thai: กรม) and "Senabodi" (Thai: เสนาบดี). On the 15 April 1874 King Chulalongkorn founded the King's Privy Council (Thai: สภาที่ปฤกษาในพระองค์) (which still exists today) made up of 49 senior Princes and officials. For the first time the Kings of Siam exercised his powers through a council.

On the 14 July 1925 King Prajadhipok formed the Supreme Council of State of Siam (Thai: อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา) made up of 5 senior Princes (all of them his brothers and all of them Ministers of State) to help govern the country. However after the Revolution in 1932, the Khana Ratsadon decided to dissolve this council. Instead the New constitution created a direct precursor of the Cabinet called: the People’s Committee of Siam (Thai: คณะกรรมการราษฎร: Khana Kamakarn Ratsadon) lead by a President. The Privy Council from then on became a royal advisory council.

With the promulgating of "Permanent" Constitution at the end of that year; the name of the committee was changed to the "Council of Ministers" and the name of the chair to Prime Minister. After King Prajadhipok deemed the old names to communistic. The first Cabinet of Thailand was led by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada. All government departments and agencies were then immediately transferred to its control. There has so far been 58 Cabinets of Thailand.

Ministers of State

Qualifications

According to the 2007 Constitution the Cabinet is restricted to no more than 35 Members. Members of the cabinet unlike that of the Prime Minister does not need to be a member of the House of Representatives, however most of them often are. To be eligible to be a minister an individual must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a Thai national by birth.
• Being older than thirty-five years of age.
• Having graduated with not lower than a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
• Not be a member of the Senate (former Senators must wait 2 years after term to be eligible)

The individual must also: not be addicted to drugs, not having been bankrupt, not a monk or a member of the clergy, not be disenfranchised, not be mentally infirm, not be under indictment or conviction, not having been expelled by a state agency for corruption or incompetence, not be a paid civil servant or member of the judiciary and not ever been removed from any office by the Senate of Thailand.

Ministers of State are in theory appointed by the King, however in truth they are appointed at the advice of the Prime Minister to the King. 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."

Roles

The 2007 Constitution of Thailand calls the Cabinet: the Council of Ministers, the entire IXth Chapter is dedicated to it. Out of the 35 Ministers there are only 20 Cabinet Ministries; which means that 15 Ministers are without portfolios, they however can be appointed Deputy Prime Ministers or Deputy Ministers. According to the Constitution the Cabinet must within fifteen days of being sworn-in state its policies to the National Assembly of Thailand. The Ministers have the right to go in person to the National Assembly to state and explain his policies or opinions.

The Minister is responsible for his actions and the actions of his department and is therefore accountable to the National Assembly. Therefore the Assembly can compel the Minister to appear before it and explain his actions. The House of Representatives and the Senate can forcefully remove a sitting Minister by a vote of no confidence. A one-sixth of the chamber vote is needed to call a debate and a simple-majority is required for removal. A Minister can also be removed by the King at the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Cabinet

Government House, the meeting place and office of the Cabinet; with anti-government protesters during the 2008 Thai political crisis, August 2008

Function

As the primary government institution in the executive branch, the Cabinet is ultimately responsible for the administration and management of various government agencies and departments. It is also the primary institution for the formulation of policies with regards to all areas of politics and governing. Legislatively the Cabinet is one of the institutions allowed to submit bills to the National Assembly for consideration. The Cabinet is also allowed to call a joint sitting of the National Assembly to consider important bills or even join a joint sitting of the Assembly. The Cabinet is also allowed to call a national referendum.

The Cabinet is governed by the rule of collective responsibility, in which the members of the Cabinet must support all policies despite personal or private disagreement. As a result if the government fails or if the policies of the government fails then the entire Cabinet must take responsibility; and resign in its entirety. The Cabinet’s term is infused with that of the Prime Minister. The Leader of the Opposition is allowed to create his own Cabinet or the Shadow Cabinet of Thailand.

Present Cabinet

The Cabinet was announced after the appointment of Abhisit Vejjajiva as Prime Minister of Thailand on the 17 December 2008. The Cabinet line-up itself was announced on the 20 December, to the news media. The Cabinet was formally sworn in by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 22 December at the Klai Kangwon Villa in Hua Hin.^[1][2][3] This Cabinet is called "Abhisit One".

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References

• 2007 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand [1]

See also

• Prime Minister of Thailand
• King of Thailand
• List of ministries of Thailand
• Independent agencies of the Thai government
• Shadow Cabinet of Thailand

External links

• Official Webpage
• Thai Government - Cabinet Announcement
• Additional Members of the Cabinet
• BBC - Thai post-coup cabinet sworn in