The National Assembly of Thailand (Abrv: NAT; , lit. 'Sabha of the Thai Rashtra', ) is the bicameral legislative branch of the government of Thailand. It convenes in the Sappaya-Sapasathan, Dusit District, Bangkok.
The National Assembly was established in 1932 after the adoption of Thailand's first constitution, which transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.
During the 2013 political crisis, the House of Representatives was dissolved by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who called for elections on 2 February 2014 until it was nullified by the Constitutional Court. After the 2014 coup d'état, the National Assembly was replaced by the military-backed, unicameral National Legislative Assembly according to the 2014 constitution.
After the promulgation of the 2017 Constitution in April 2017, the National Assembly was reestablished but the constitution allowed the military National Legislative Assembly to temporarily remain in place until the National Assembly was formed following the 2019 general election.
Composition
The Assembly is a bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Combined, the Assembly has 700 members, 500 of which were elected directly through a general election (500 MPs in the lower house). Others include all 200 members of the Senate being elected indirectly among the candidates. The majority of elections in Thailand follow the first-past-the-post system which is used in the elections for the 400 members of the House of Representatives. The remaining 100 members of the House are elected by party list proportional representation.
Thailand's parliament is overwhelmingly male, at 80.6%. Representation by women is 19.4%, below the Asian average is 20 percent, and the global average for female parliamentarians of 24 percent. All fall short of the 30 percent considered satisfactory by United Nations Women.
Senate
The upper house is called the Senate of Thailand. The chamber is non-partisan and has limited legislative powers. The Senate is composed of 200 members indirectly voted by candidates from 20 professional and social groups. A term in the Senate is five years. It forbids members from holding any additional office or membership in political parties.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: The National Assembly, Part 3: The Senate
Even though the chamber is mandated to be nonpartisan, many media and analysts have categorized legislators into political factions:
+ Factions of the 13th Senate Faction Person Nominatated for President Seats (Estimated) Blue Group, with ties to Bhumjaithai Party Mongkol Surasatja(president) >150 New Breeds, which promote liberal and progressive agenda Nantana Nantavaropas <30 Unaffiliated/Others Premsak Piayura <30
Note: All of these numbers may not be 100% accurate.
House of Representatives
The lower house is called the House of Representatives of Thailand. The chamber is made up of 400 members from single constituency elections and 100 members from "proportional representation" by party lists, as codified in the 2007 Constitution of Thailand. Thailand's "proportional representation" is, in fact, parallel voting, often described as "mixed member majoritarian" (MMM). This is where the 100 seats are apportioned to political parties in accordance with the "proportional representation" popular vote each party receives. Every eligible voter in Thailand in a general election has two votes. The first is for constituency MP. The second vote is for the party the voter prefers. The second category is then added and the results divided into eight electoral areas. The other 400 seats are directly elected on a constituency basis. The House's term is four years, however, a dissolution can happen at any time.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: The National Assembly, Part 2: House of Representatives
Elections Elections in Thailand are held under universal suffrage; however, some restrictions apply: The voter must be a national of Thailand (if not by birth then by being a citizen for 5 years), must be over 18 years old before the year the election is held, and must have registered 90 days before the election. Those barred from voting in House elections are: members of the sangha or clergy, those suspended from the privilege for various reasons, detainees under legal or court orders, and those who are of unsound mind or of mental infirmity. Voting in Thailand is compulsory.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 4: Duties of the Thai People, Section 72
Officers The President of the National Assembly of Thailand is an ex officio position occupied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, who upon election as Speaker of the House, will automatically assume office as President of the National Assembly. The Vice President of the National Assembly of Thailand is also an ex officio position occupied by the President of the Senate of Thailand.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Part 1: General Provisions
Functions
Legislation The powers of the National Assembly are enshrined in Chapter 6, Part 7 of the 2007 Constitution of Thailand.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Part 7: Enactment of Acts The main powers of the National Assembly are its legislative powers. The procedure for an enactment of a bill is as follows:
A bill can be introduced to the National Assembly for consideration by the Cabinet of Thailand; by a minimum of twenty members of the House of Representatives; by a court (the judiciary); by constitutional independent organs (but only in respect to laws that concern that organization); and by persons who have the right to vote submitting a petition of no fewer than ten thousand in number (a form of direct democracy). If the bill is a money bill its introduction can only be made with the endorsement of the prime minister.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 142 The bill is then introduced to the House of Representative for debate, amendment, and vote. When the House of Representatives has considered the bill and passed a resolution approving it, the House of Representatives shall submit the bill to the Senate. The Senate must finish the consideration of such bill within 60 days, unless it is a money bill, when consideration must be finished within 30 days.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 146 After the Senate has finished consideration of a bill, and if it agrees with the House of Representatives, the bill will then proceed to the next stage. If the Senate disagrees with the House of Representatives, then the bill will be withheld and returned to the House of Representatives. If there is an amendment, the amended bill will then be returned to the House of Representatives. If the House of Representatives approves the amendment, the bill will proceed to the next stage. In other cases, each house will appoint representatives (who may or may not be members of the Assembly) in equal number (as may be fixed by the House of Representatives), to constitute a joint committee to consider the bill. The joint committee will then prepare a report and resubmit the bill to both houses. If both houses approve the bill already considered by the joint committee, the bill will proceed to the next stage. If either house disapproves it, the bill will be withheld.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 147-149 After a bill has been approved by the National Assembly, the prime minister presents it to the monarch for royal assent within 20 days from the date of the receipt of the bill from the National Assembly. It shall come into force upon its publication in the Royal Gazette.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 150 If the monarch refuses royal assent, by withholding his signature to a bill and either returns it to the National Assembly or does not return it within 90 days, (a veto), the National Assembly must re-deliberate that bill. If the National Assembly resolves to reaffirm the bill with the vote of not less than two-thirds of the total number of existing members of both houses, the prime minister shall again present the bill to the monarch for signature. If the monarch still does not sign and return the bill within 30 days, the prime minister can cause the bill to be promulgated as an act in the Royal Gazette as if the monarch had signed it. This gives the National Assembly the power to overturn a royal veto.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Section 151
Relationship with the Government
The Government of Thailand, particularly the Cabinet of Thailand is answerable directly to the National Assembly. The constitution mandates that within 15 days of being sworn in, the Cabinet must state its policies to the National Assembly.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 176 The National Assembly has the authority to call any minister to appear before it at any time to explain policies or answer questions. This power of scrutiny is important as some members of the Cabinet need not be members of the National Assembly. If they are a member, they can only be from the lower house or the House of Representatives, as the constitution expressly forbids members of the Senate from being members of the Cabinet.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 6: National Assembly of Thailand, Part 9: Scrutiny of Administration of the State Affairs
As the prime minister is selected from the ranks of the House of Representatives and elected by the house, the prime minister is therefore directly responsible to the legislature. The National Assembly can compel him to appear before it like any other minister, and force him to explain policies and answer questions, just like any other member of the Cabinet. In reverse the Cabinet also has some powers over the National Assembly. The Cabinet can, according to the constitution, call an emergency session of the National Assembly at any time.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 171-196
Appointment Apart from its legislative and oversight functions, the National Assembly has the power of appointment and removal. The house is given exclusive right to elect the Prime Minister of Thailand. First the candidate must receive the support of one-fifth of all members. Afterwards, a simple majority vote will confirm his appointment which will be made officially by the monarch. The royal assent is then countersigned by the President of the National Assembly.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 171-173
The Senate is given exclusive powers to advise on the appointment of members of the judiciary and members of independent government organizations. These include judges of the Constitutional Court of Thailand; members of the Election Commission; members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 11: Constitutional organs, Section 229-251 However, the power to appoint members of the State Audit Commission (including the Auditor General) belongs to the monarch, with a counter signature of the President of the Senate.Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007. Chapter 9: Council of Ministers, Section 252