|
Thailand GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Party and Government: Constitutional monarchy
established 1932. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946- ) formally
reigns over highly centralized unitary state, but real decision
making in affairs of state rests with prime minister, in late
1987 General Prem Tinsulanonda. Prime minister need not be
elected member of National Assembly, the national legislature;
can assume position solely by assertion of leadership, with his
role subsequently legitimized through pro forma royal
appointment. Governmental system based on Constitution
promulgated in December 1978 and divided into executive,
bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate), and
judiciary. Multiparty system with sixteen parties participating
in 1986 election; partisan politics gaining in importance but
still largely a function of personalities. Practical politics
confined mostly to members of military-bureaucratic elites and
their supporters.
Administrative Divisions: Country divided into seventythree provinces (changwat); subdivisions include districts
(amphoe), subdistricts (king amphoe),
communes (tambon), villages (muban), and
municipalities (tesaban).
Judicial System: Judiciary consists of Supreme Court,
Court of Appeal, magistrates' courts, labor and juvenile courts,
and courts of first instance. Judges appointed and removed only
with approval of Judicial Service Commission, which exercises
jurisdiction over courts. Ministry of Justice appoints and
supervises administrative personnel and determines matters of
judicial procedure.
Foreign Affairs: Strong interest shown in development
of multilateral relations with neighboring countries through
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); in early 1987,
major concern of Thailand and ASEAN was continuing presence of
Vietnamese troops in Cambodia.
Data as of September 1987
|
