Cabinet of Thailand

The cabinet of Thailand or, formally, the Council of Ministers of Thailand (Thai: คณะรัฐมนตรี; RTGS: Khana Ratthamontri) 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 the King of Thailand. Most members are governmental department heads with the title of "minister of state" (Thai: รัฐมนตรี; RTGS: Ratthamontri). The cabinet is chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand. The cabinet is often collectively called "the government" or "the Royal Thai Government".

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History

Prior to the Revolution of 1932, the absolutist Chakri kings ruled Siam through a series of "krom" (Thai: กรม) and "senabodi" (Thai: เสนาบดี).[1] On 15 April 1874 King Chulalongkorn founded the King's Privy Council (Thai: สภาที่ปรึกษาในพระองค์) (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 14 July 1925 King Prajadhipok formed the Supreme Council of State of Siam (Thai: อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา; RTGS: Aphiratthamontrisapha) 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; RTGS: Khana Kammakan Ratsadon) led by a president. The privy council from then on became a royal advisory council.

With the promulgation 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 too communistic. The first cabinet of Thailand was led by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada. All government departments and agencies were then immediately transferred to its control. To date there have been 58 cabinets of Thailand.

Ministers of State
First Cabinet of Plaek Pibulsonggram or the Ninth Cabinet of Siam, active from 16 December 1938 – 7 March 1942.

Qualifications
Government House in 2009, the meeting place and office of the Cabinet

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

  • Be a Thai national by birth.
  • Be older than 35 years of age.
  • Have graduated with no less than a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
  • Not be a member of the Senate (former senators must wait two years after their term of office to be eligible)

The individual must also: not be addicted to drugs, not have been bankrupt, not be a monk or a member of the clergy, not be disenfranchised, not be mentally infirm, not be under indictment or conviction, not have 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. There are only 20 cabinet ministries, which means that 15 ministers are without portfolio. They can, however, 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. Ministers have the right to go in person to the national assembly to state and explain policies or opinions.

Each 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 on the advice of the prime minister.

The Cabinet

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 wedded to that of the Prime Minister. The Leader of the Opposition is allowed to create his own cabinet or the Shadow Cabinet of Thailand.

Cabinet of Thailand 2020

On 10 July 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a royal command to appoint a 36 member cabinet with Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister and defence minister. The cabinet was sworn in by the king on 16 July 2019. On 12 August 2020 reshuffle cabinet. As of 12 August 2020, the members of the cabinet of Thailand were as follows:[2]

Ministry/Office Incumbent
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha[3]
Deputy Prime Ministers Anutin Charnvirakul
Don Pramudwinai
Jurin Laksanawisit
Prawit Wongsuwan
Supattanapong Punmeechaow
Wissanu Krea-ngam[3]
Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister Anucha Nakasai
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chalermchai Sri-on[3]
Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mananya Thaiset
Thamanat Prompow
Prapat Pothasuthon[3]
Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit[3]
Deputy Minister of Commerce Weerasak Wangsupakitkosol[3]
Minister of Culture Ittipol Khunplome[3]
Minister of Defence Prayut Chan-o-cha[3]
Deputy Minister of Defence Chaichan Changmongkol[3]
Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta[3]
Minister of Education Nataphol Teepsuwan[3]
Deputy Ministers of Education Kalaya Sophonpanich
Kanokwan Wilawan[3]
Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow
Minister of Finance Predee Daochai
Deputy Minister of Finance Santi Promphat[3]
Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai[3]
Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Anek Laothamatas
Minister of Industry Suriya Juangroongruangkit[3]
Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda[3]
Deputy Ministers of Interior Nipon Bunyamanee
Songsak Thongsri[3]
Minister of Justice Somsak Thepsuthin[3]
Minister of Labour Suchat Chomklin
Deputy Minister of Labour Narumon Pinyosinwat
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Warawut Silpa-archa[3]
Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul[3]
Deputy Minister of Public Health Satit Pitutacha[3]
Minister of Social Development and Human Security Juti Krairiksh[3]
Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakan[3]
Minister of Transport Saksiam Chidchob[3]
Deputy Ministers of Transport Thaworn Senniam
Athirat Ratanaset[3]

Disclosure of interest

2014 asset disclosures

In October 2014 Thailand's National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) made public the assets of the prime minister and his cabinet. One-third of the ministers are worth more than 100 million baht.

The prime minister declared 128 million baht (US$4 million) in net assets and 645,754 baht (US$19,676) in debts. Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathon Devakula, the wealthiest cabinet member, declared 1,378 million baht (US$42 million) in assets with no debt. Next is Panadda Diskul, who runs the Office of the Prime Minister, who declared 1,315 million baht (US$40 million) in assets and no debt. The least wealthy cabinet member is Education Minister Narong Pipatanasai with 6.95 million baht (US$211,696) in assets and 2.92 million baht (US$88,000) in debt.[4]

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See also

References
  1. Glenn S., ed. (2013-08-17). "เสนาบดี" (Dictionary). Royal Institute Dictionary, 1982. Thai-language.com. Retrieved 2013-08-03. เสนาบดี /เส-นา-บอ-ดี/ [นาม] (การใช้: โบราณ) แม่ทัพ. [นาม] (การใช้: โบราณ) ข้าราชการชั้นผู้ใหญ่. [นาม] (การใช้: โบราณ) เจ้ากระทรวง. definition: secretary of state; minister; commander in chief
  2. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/TH.html%5B%5D
  3. "New cabinet ministers appointed". Bangkok Post. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  4. "Assets of PM and Cabinet Revealed". Khaosod English. 2014-10-31. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-19.


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