- May 4, 2021
- 2,953
Legislative Chamber | Government | Opposition |
Lower House | Thai Rak Thai Party (244) Eco-Socialist Alliance (110) Libertarian Socialist Front (42) Feminist Socialist Coalition (21) | Democrat Party (69) Conservative Party (58) Anarcho-Communist Federation (24) Marxist Unity Party (32) |
Upper House | Thai Rak Thai Party (49) Eco-Socialist Alliance (31) Libertarian Socialist Front (47) Feminist Socialist Coalition (20) | Democrat Party (17) Conservative Party (30) Anarcho-Communist Federation (22) Marxist Unity Party (34) |
The National Assembly of the Republic of Thailand is the supreme legislative body of Thailand where it meets at the Sappaya-Sapasathan in Bangkok. The National Assembly possesses legislative supremacy and thereby holds ultimate power over all other political bodies in Thailand, including the provincial assembly and community assemblies across the country. As a bicameral legislature, it is separated into the Lower House (Hall of the Sum) and the Upper House (Hall of the Moon).
The Hall of the Sun is the elected lower chamber of the National Assembly, with elections to 350 single-member constituencies and 250 party-list members held at least every four years under the mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system. By constitutional convention, all government ministers, including the prime minister, are members of the Hall of the Sun, or less commonly the Hall of the Moon, and are thereby accountable to the respective branches of the legislature. Most Cabinet ministers are from the Lower House, while junior ministers can be from either house.
The Hall of the Moon is the elected upper chamber of the National Assembly, with election to 250 party-list members under the proportional representation (PR) system held at least six months to one year after the lower chamber election. By constitutional conventions, the Upper House is responsible for scrutinizing the Lower House legislative and decision-making, while also maintaining a supreme authority over the provincial assemblies, thus acting as the de facto representative of provincial-based interests within the National Assembly. In exercising this authority, the Upper House can delay legislation and require changes to such a legislation if it is in conflict with the national interests or consensus among the affected provincial administration.
◤Legislative Process
◤Pre-Legislative Consultation
The legislative process of the National Assembly begins well before a bill is formally introduced, as each political party consults with various organizations within the country. The primary consultation occurs at the Worker Council Summit, a regular national gathering of representatives from worker cooperatives across various sectors. This summit identifies key issues and proposes legislative priorities.Additionally, the National Assembly maintains a website serving as its digital democracy platform where citizens can propose and vote on potential legislation. Bills receiving significant support must be considered by the National Assembly, with the Hall of the Moon responsible for formally introducing them. An annual economic planning conference also plays a crucial role in developing long-term economic strategies through collaboration between legislators, economic experts, worker representatives, and government officials.
◤Bill Drafting and Introduction
The bill drafting process in the National Assembly emphasizes collaboration and transparency, differing from traditional legislative systems. Guided by the Transparency and Information Act of 2003, the process follows the Open-Source Legislation (OSL) framework. Draft bills are published on a public digital platform, allowing citizens and experts to comment, suggest amendments, and propose alternative language. For draft bills with significant economic implications, the National Assembly must publish potential impacts on various sectors and regions. Predictive analysis, algorithm assessment methods, and AI-driven models are used to forecast these impacts. When draft bills propose substantial changes to the economic system, they require sponsorship from worker cooperatives and regional economic councils to ensure widespread support.
◤Committee Stage
The National Assembly’s legislative refinement process emphasizes consensus during the committee stage. Besides legislative members from both houses, randomly selected citizens, similar to a jury duty system, join rotating citizen panels to provide public input. For draft bills affecting multiple economic sectors, a special committee, the Cross-Section Integration Committee (CSIC), is formed to coordinate overall economic planning. By this stage, all National Assembly members have reviewed the draft bill in preparation for plenary debates. The Regional Impact Subcommittee (RIS) within the Hall of the Moon analyzes each bill’s potential regional impact to ensure equitable development.
◤Plenary Debates
After draft bills are formally introduced, typically by the Hall of the Sun, parliament members debate them before passing them to the Hall of the Moon. If the Hall of the Moon, or its members, introduces the draft bills, the National Assembly holds a joint session for debate. Instead of traditional for-and-against debates, the National Assembly uses a structured dialectical process to synthesize diverse viewpoints into cohesive policies. While opposition to proposed bills is common, the focus is on presenting alternative policies or implementation mechanisms. Each debate session includes a designated timeframe for experts and workers from relevant sectors to provide insights. Members of the public gallery can also pose questions or offer brief comments.
◤Voting and Passage
During the voting process on draft bills in the National Assembly, a tiered majority system is used for different types of bills. While a simple majority is the minimum threshold, some bills with specific characteristics require different levels of majority to reflect their importance and implications. For example, bills significantly altering the planned economy system require a supermajority of three-quarters of all sitting members of parliament. If there is a close split within a twelve-vote margin, a national referendum among worker cooperatives or the entire population is automatically triggered for final approval, depending on the specific bill. Once draft bills are approved by the National Assembly, the Prime Minister of Thailand must sign the legislation into law, as there is no veto mechanism in place.
The Hall of the Sun is the elected lower chamber of the National Assembly, with elections to 350 single-member constituencies and 250 party-list members held at least every four years under the mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system. By constitutional convention, all government ministers, including the prime minister, are members of the Hall of the Sun, or less commonly the Hall of the Moon, and are thereby accountable to the respective branches of the legislature. Most Cabinet ministers are from the Lower House, while junior ministers can be from either house.
The Hall of the Moon is the elected upper chamber of the National Assembly, with election to 250 party-list members under the proportional representation (PR) system held at least six months to one year after the lower chamber election. By constitutional conventions, the Upper House is responsible for scrutinizing the Lower House legislative and decision-making, while also maintaining a supreme authority over the provincial assemblies, thus acting as the de facto representative of provincial-based interests within the National Assembly. In exercising this authority, the Upper House can delay legislation and require changes to such a legislation if it is in conflict with the national interests or consensus among the affected provincial administration.
Padipat Suntipada Speaker of the House of Representatives President of the National Assembly | Wan Muhamad Noor Matha Speaker of the House of Senate Vice President of the National Assembly |
◤Legislative Process
◤Pre-Legislative Consultation
The legislative process of the National Assembly begins well before a bill is formally introduced, as each political party consults with various organizations within the country. The primary consultation occurs at the Worker Council Summit, a regular national gathering of representatives from worker cooperatives across various sectors. This summit identifies key issues and proposes legislative priorities.Additionally, the National Assembly maintains a website serving as its digital democracy platform where citizens can propose and vote on potential legislation. Bills receiving significant support must be considered by the National Assembly, with the Hall of the Moon responsible for formally introducing them. An annual economic planning conference also plays a crucial role in developing long-term economic strategies through collaboration between legislators, economic experts, worker representatives, and government officials.
◤Bill Drafting and Introduction
The bill drafting process in the National Assembly emphasizes collaboration and transparency, differing from traditional legislative systems. Guided by the Transparency and Information Act of 2003, the process follows the Open-Source Legislation (OSL) framework. Draft bills are published on a public digital platform, allowing citizens and experts to comment, suggest amendments, and propose alternative language. For draft bills with significant economic implications, the National Assembly must publish potential impacts on various sectors and regions. Predictive analysis, algorithm assessment methods, and AI-driven models are used to forecast these impacts. When draft bills propose substantial changes to the economic system, they require sponsorship from worker cooperatives and regional economic councils to ensure widespread support.
◤Committee Stage
The National Assembly’s legislative refinement process emphasizes consensus during the committee stage. Besides legislative members from both houses, randomly selected citizens, similar to a jury duty system, join rotating citizen panels to provide public input. For draft bills affecting multiple economic sectors, a special committee, the Cross-Section Integration Committee (CSIC), is formed to coordinate overall economic planning. By this stage, all National Assembly members have reviewed the draft bill in preparation for plenary debates. The Regional Impact Subcommittee (RIS) within the Hall of the Moon analyzes each bill’s potential regional impact to ensure equitable development.
◤Plenary Debates
After draft bills are formally introduced, typically by the Hall of the Sun, parliament members debate them before passing them to the Hall of the Moon. If the Hall of the Moon, or its members, introduces the draft bills, the National Assembly holds a joint session for debate. Instead of traditional for-and-against debates, the National Assembly uses a structured dialectical process to synthesize diverse viewpoints into cohesive policies. While opposition to proposed bills is common, the focus is on presenting alternative policies or implementation mechanisms. Each debate session includes a designated timeframe for experts and workers from relevant sectors to provide insights. Members of the public gallery can also pose questions or offer brief comments.
◤Voting and Passage
During the voting process on draft bills in the National Assembly, a tiered majority system is used for different types of bills. While a simple majority is the minimum threshold, some bills with specific characteristics require different levels of majority to reflect their importance and implications. For example, bills significantly altering the planned economy system require a supermajority of three-quarters of all sitting members of parliament. If there is a close split within a twelve-vote margin, a national referendum among worker cooperatives or the entire population is automatically triggered for final approval, depending on the specific bill. Once draft bills are approved by the National Assembly, the Prime Minister of Thailand must sign the legislation into law, as there is no veto mechanism in place.
Meeting place of the National Assembly of Thailand and world's largest parliament building, Sappaya-Sapasathan
◤Role of the Opposition
◤Structural Position of the Opposition
Unlike other parliamentary systems, the Opposition is a formally recognized by the 2003 Constitution of Thailand as an internal check and balance body within the legislative branch. Apart from acknowledging the existence of the Opposition, the constitution outlines its specific powers, responsibilities, and protections, cementing its role as an essential component of the democratic process. The Leader of the Opposition is a formally recognized position by the constitution to be elected by the non-governing parties. The office holder is tasked to form a Shadow Cabinet, mirroring the structure of the government, to provide alternative policies and scrutiny across all areas of governance. The constitution guarantees the Opposition the representation on all parliamentary committees, including the Cross-Section Integration Committee (CSIC) and the Regional Impact Subcommittee (RIS).
◤Functions and Powers
Within the structured dialectical process, the Opposition plays a crucial role in presenting and defending alternative policies. They are tasked with developing comprehensive policy proposals, not just critiquing government plans. The Opposition takes leadership in holding the government accountable through regular question periods in both Hall of the Sun and Hall of the Moon. It also has the ability to call for and lead investigative committees on the government while having access to government documents and data for thorough analysis. The Opposition has a formal role in engaging with the public through its participation in the Worker Council Summit, direct interactions on the digital democracy platform, and hosting of the town halls and public forums to gather citizens input on alternative policies. The Opposition also has a formalized role in the annual economic planning conference to present alterative economic strategies and critiquing government proposals.
◤Empowerment Mechanisms
The Opposition receives substantial public funding and resources, including staff, research facilities, and access to expert advisors so it can function effectively. The rationale for this resource allocation per national law is to ensure they can develop well-researched policy alternatives and effectively scrutinize government actions. The Opposition is guaranteed media time to present their views and alternative policies to ensure the public has access to diverse perspectives. In certain critical areas, such as constitutional changes or fundamental alterations to the economic system, the Opposition is granted a limited veto power through required higher threshold of vote to overrule. It also has the power to trigger national referendums on critical issues, subject to certain threshold and safeguard to prevent misuses.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of Thailand and one of the most influential figures in Thai politics
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