Senate of Thailand

Upper house of the National Assembly of Thailand

Senate of Thailand

วุฒิสภา

Wutthisapha

12th Senate of Thailand

Seal of the National Assembly

Type
Type|

Upper house

of the National Assembly of Thailand

Leadership

President

Pornpetch Wichitcholchai
since 28 May 2019

First Vice-President

Singsuk Singpai
since 28 May 2019

Second Vice-President

Suphachai Somcharoen
since 28 May 2019

Structure
Seats| 250

Political groups

| Acting composition:

* Appointed (248)

* Vacant (3)

Length of term

| 5 years, non-renewable
Elections

Voting system

| Indirect limited voting with self-nomination

Last election

| 30 March 2014

Next election

| 26 June 2024
Meeting place
Chandra Chamber
Sappaya-Sapasathan
Dusit District
Bangkok, Thailand
Website
www.senate.go.th

Politics of Thailand

Constitution

* History
* Laws
* Human rights
* LGBT rights

Monarchy

* The King (List)

Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)

* Heir presumptive

Dipangkorn Rasmijoti

* * *

* Head of the Royal Armed Forces
* Royal family
* Succession
* Regent
* Privy Council
* Bureau of the Royal Household
* Royal Security Command
* Crown Property Bureau

Executive

* Prime Minister (list)

Srettha Thavisin (PTP)

* Deputy Prime Ministers

Phumtham Wechayachai (PTP)
Somsak Thepsuthin (PTP)
Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara (PTP)
Anutin Charnvirakul (BTP)
Patcharawat Wongsuwan (PPRP)
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (UTN)

* * *

63rd Council of Ministers

* * *

Cabinet

Ministries
Independent agencies

Legislature

* President

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (PCC)

* Vice President

Vacant

* * *

* Senate

* President

Vacant

* Vice Presidents

Vacant

* * *

* House of Representatives

* Speaker

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (PCC)

* Deputy Speakers

Padipat Suntiphada (FA)
Pichet Chuamuangphan (PTP)

* Leader of the Opposition

Chaithawat Tulathon (MFP)

* * *

* 12th Senate of Thailand
* 26th Thai House of Representatives

Judiciary

* Supreme Court

President: Anocha Chevitsophon

* Administrative Court

President: Vorapot Visrutpich

* Constitutional Court

President: Nakarin Mektrairat

* * *

* Criminal Court
* Military Courts

Elections & referendums

Recent elections & referendums

* General Elections

* 2014
* 2019
* 2023
* next

* * *

* Senate Elections

* 2006
* 2008
* 2014
* 2024

* * *

* Referendums

* 2007
* 2016

* * *

* Local elections

* Bangkok
* Pattaya
* Provincial
* Subdistrict
* Municipalities
* Village

* * *

* Election Commission
* Political Parties

Administrative divisions

Ministry of Interior

* Provincial

* Provinces (Governors)
* Districts
* Subdistrict
* Village

* * *

* Local

* Provincial Administrative Organisation
* City Municipality
* Town Municipality
* Subdistrict Municipality
* Subdistrict Administrative Organisation

* * *

* Special

* Bangkok (Governor)
* Pattaya

Foreign relations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

* * *

Diplomatic missions of / in Thailand

* * *

Passport Visa requirements Visa policy

* * *

Borders : Cambodia Laos Malaysia Myanmar (Maritime : India Indonesia Vietnam)

* * *

Foreign aid

* * *

* UN
* ASEAN
* ACD
* BIMSTEC
* MRC
* EAS
* RCEP
* APEC
* MNNA
* G77
* IPEF
* MGC

Political unrest

After reunited in 1767

* Political crisis

* Front Palace Crisis (1874–1875)
* Peace Rebellion (1952)
* 1970s peasant revolts
* 1973 popular uprising
* 6 October 1976 massacre
* Black May (1992)
* 2005–2006 political crisis
* 2008 political crisis
* 2009 political unrest
* 2010 political protests
* 2013–2014 political crisis
* 2020–2021 protests

* * *

* Military coups

* Palace Revolt of 1912
* Revolution of 1932
* April 1933 coup d'état
* June 1933 coup d'état
* Boworadet rebellion (1933)
* Rebellion of the Sergeants (1935)
* Songsuradet Rebellion (1939)
* 1947 coup d'état
* 1948 coup d'état
* Army General Staff plot (1948)
* Palace Rebellion (1949)
* Manhattan Rebellion (1951)
* Silent Coup (1951)
* 1957 coup d'état
* 1958 coup d'état
* Rebellion of 1964
* 1971 coup d'état
* 1976 coup d'état
* March 1977 coup d'état attempt
* October 1977 coup d'état
* 1981 military rebellion
* 1985 coup d'état attempt
* 1991 coup d'état
* 2006 coup d'état
* 2014 coup d'état

* * *

* Terrorism

* Israeli Bangkok Embassy hostage crisis (1972)
* 1999 attack on the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok
* South insurgency (2004–present)
* 2012 Bangkok bombings
* 2015 Bangkok bombing
* 2019 Bangkok bombings

* * *

* Conflicts

* Taksin's reunification (1767–1771)
* Cambodian rebellion (1811–1812)
* Lao rebellion (1826–1828)
* Kedahan rebellion (1838–1839)
* Haw wars (1865–1890)
* Holy Man's Rebellion (1901–1936)
* Ngiao rebellion (1902)
* Dusun Nyor Rebellion (1948)
* Separatist Rebellion (1948)
* Communist insurgency (1965–1983)

* * *

* Foreign relations crisis

* Wars
* Blue Diamond Affair (1989–2019)
* 2003 Phnom Penh riots
* Cambodian–Thai border dispute (2008–2011)

Related topics

* History
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Crime
* Armed Forces
* Police
* Bank of Thailand

Thailand portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The Senate of Thailand (Thai: วุฒิสภา, RTGS: Wutthisapha, pronounced [wút.tʰí.sā.pʰāː]; formerly known as the Phruetthasapha, Thai: พฤฒสภา, RTGS: Phruetthasapha, pronounced [pʰrɯ́t.tʰá.sā.pʰāː]) is the upper house of the National Assembly of Thailand, Thailand's legislative branch. In accordance with the 2017 constitution of Thailand, the Senate is a non-partisan legislative chamber, composed of 200 members – all are selection by the candidates from 20 groups.[1] Senators serve five year terms in office.[2]

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives were abolished as a result of the 2014 Thai coup d'état. These were replaced with the unicameral National Legislative Assembly, a body of 250 members, selected by the National Council for Peace and Order. The 2017 constitution, which was approved by a referendum in 2016, provided for a 250-members Senate, which was not elected but rather appointed by a special committee, which was itself appointed by the military. As such, it has been often considered as a rubber stamp for decisions already taken by the higher-ups of the military junta.[3][4]

## History[edit]

The idea of bicameralism first permeated Thai politics with the Constitution of 1946, when the government of Pridi Banomyong 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. The 2007 Constitution was itself repealed in 2018 following the 2014 coup, and replaced with a new one which provided for a fully 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 120 royally-appointed members.
* 1972 – The Thai Legislature is banned by Thanom Kittikachorn.
* 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.
* 1992 – Return of a Senate with 270 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 military coup, an interim charter was signed establishing a 250-member National Legislative Assembly.
* 2007 – Half of the Senate is appointed, half is elected as established by referendum under the 2007 Constitution.
* 2014 – Following the military coup, an interim constitution was passed establishing a 220-member National Legislative Assembly.
* 2018 – After the signing of the 2017 Constitution, the National Assembly was reestablished and the NLA was dissolved
* 2019 – A new Senate, composed of 250 military-appointed members, was sworn in in the aftermath of the general elections held on that year.
* 2024 – After the Senate military-appointed terms expire, there will be an selected with 200 members from 20 groups.

## Composition[edit]

The 250-person Senate is composed of 194 members selected by the ruling junta. Fifty senators represent ten professional and forty social groups: bureaucrats, teachers, judges, farmers, and private companies. A shortlist of 200 were proposed to the NCPO which made the final selection of fifty. The remaining six Senate positions are reserved for the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, the defence permanent secretary, the national police chief, and the heads of the army, navy, and air force, who are all senators ex officio.[3] As of 2020[update], 104 out of the 250 senators are police or military officers.[5]

## Qualifications[edit]

The qualifications for the membership of the Senate could be found in section 115, Part 3, Chapter 6 of the 2007 Constitution. A candidate intent on being a member of the Senate had to be a natural born citizen 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. Elected candidates must have been born, must have had a home and had to be registered to vote in the province which the candidate intended to represent. The candidate must not have been an ascendant, spouse or a child of a member of the House of Representatives or any person holding a political position and must not have been a member of a political party for at least five years.

All other disqualifications were similar to that of the House, the individual must not have been: addicted to drugs, been bankrupt, a convicted felon, a 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.

## Appointment[edit]

Depending on the situation in each constitution.[3]

## Term[edit]

The term of the Senate is five years.[6] The term is fixed, therefore the Senate cannot be dissolved under any circumstances and would be re-elected in accordance with a Royal Decree issued thirty days after the expiration of the term.

## Membership[edit]

Members of the Senate are entitled use the title Senator in front of their names (Thai: สมาชิกวุฒิสภา or ส.ว.). Membership of an elected Senator began on the senate election day, while an appointed senator became a member after the publication of the election result by the Electoral Commission. Senators could not hold more than one consecutive term, therefore senators could not be re-elected. Senators continue to serve after their term is expired until a new Senator is confirmed. If there was a vacancy the seat was immediately filled either by election or appointment.

## Powers[edit]

The Senate shares many powers, if not more, than the House of Representatives; 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 Thailand
* Election Commissioners
* Ombudsmen
* Members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, State Audit Commission (including the Auditor General) and National Human Rights Commission.
* The Senate also advised 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[edit]

See also: List of Presidents of the Senate of Thailand

The Senate elected three presiding officers; one president and two vice presidents. The president of the Senate was also the ex-officio vice president of the National Assembly of Thailand. The election was done by secret ballot, after a resolution finalizing the selection the name was submitted to the king for formal appointment. There were no partisan officers as the Senate of Thailand was a non-partisan chamber.[7][8]

## See also[edit]

* Constitutions of Thailand
* 2007 Constitution of Thailand
* National Assembly of Thailand

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Thailand's Constitution of 2017" (PDF). Constitute Project. 4 February 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
2. ^ "The World Factbook; Thailand". US Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
3. ^ a b c Kendall, Dave (2019-01-28). "Explainer: The appointed Senate". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
4. ^ "Thailand election: Quick guide to the post-coup polls". BBC News. 2019-03-25. Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
5. ^ "Gen Prayut's brother appointed to military-dominated Tourism Committee". Prachatai English. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
6. ^ Sapsomboon, Somroutai (7 October 2018). "Elected govt to be at mercy of Senate". The Nation. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
7. ^ "Thai Governmental Structure (Under Thailand's 1997 [B.E. 2540] Constitution)". Thailand Law Forum. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
8. ^ "Senate list ready, some cabinet ministers believed on it". Bangkok Post. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.

## Further reading[edit]

* Nelson, Michael H. (April 2014). "Constitutional Contestation over Thailand's Senate, 1997 to 2014". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 36 (1): 51–76. doi:10.1355/cs36-1c. JSTOR 43281277. S2CID 144759585.

## External links[edit]

* Inter Parliamentary Affairs, NLA
* Thai Senate

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