Thailand Law Library

by Thailand Lawyer

There shall be the National Legislative Assembly, consisting of not more than two hundred and twenty members as appointed by the King from the persons of Thai nationality by birth of not less than forty years of age in accordance with the recommendation of the National Council for Peace and Order.

The National Legislative Assembly shall act as the House of Representatives, the Senate and the National Assembly.

In making of recommendation for the appointment of the members of the National Legislative Assembly, regard shall be had to knowledge, experience and varieties of persons from various groups in public sector, private sector, social sector, academic sector, professional sector and other sectors which may be beneficial to the performance of duties of the National Legislative Assembly.

A member of the National Legislative Assembly shall not be under the prohibitions as follows:

1. being or having been a person holding any position in a political party within three years prior to the date of appointment as a member of the National Legislative Assembly;
2. being a Buddhist priest, novice, monk or clergy;
3. being bankrupt or having been dishonestly bankrupt;
4. having been under suspension of the right to vote;
5. having been expelled, dismissed or removed from official service, State agency or State enterprise on the grounds of dishonest performance of duties or deemed as having committed dishonest acts or malfeasance in official service;
6. having been ordered by a judgment or an order of the Court that his assets shall vest in the State on the grounds of unusual wealth or an unusual increase of assets;
7. being under suspension of the right to hold political position or having been removed from office;
8. having been sentenced by a final and conclusive judgment for an offence related to malfeasance in office, an offence related to malfeasance in judicial office, an offence related to narcotics drugs or an offence related to gambling as he was a croupier or host;
9. having been sentenced by a final judgment to imprisonment except for an offence committed through negligence or a petty offence.

No member of the National Legislative Assembly shall be a member of the National Reform Council or a Minister at the same time.

A member of the National Legislative Assembly vacates office upon:

1. death;
2. resignation;
3. being disqualified under section 6 paragraph one or being under the prohibitions under section 8;
4. being removed from office by the resolution of the National Legislative Assembly under section 12;
5. failing to vote at the meeting of the National Legislative Assembly more than the number of votes as prescribed by the rule of the National Legislative Assembly on meeting.

A question related to vacating from office of a member of the National Legislative Assembly under paragraph one shall be decided by the National Legislative Assembly.

The King appoints, in accordance with the resolution of the National Legislative Assembly, a member of the National Legislative Assembly to be President of the National Legislative Assembly and not more than two members to be Vice-Presidents of the National Legislative Assembly.

The Head of the National Council for Peace and Order shall countersign the Royal Command appointing members, President and Vice-Presidents of the National Legislative Assembly.

The members of the National Legislative Assembly shall be representatives of Thai people and shall devote themselves to the performance of duties in good faith for public benefit of Thai people.

If a member of the National Legislative Assembly disgraces the dignity of members of the National Legislative Assembly or obstructs any member of the National Legislative Assembly in the performance of his duties, not less than twenty five members of the National Legislative Assembly may request the President of the National Legislative Assembly to remove that member from office.

The resolution of the National Legislative Assembly under paragraph one shall be made by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of the members.

At a meeting of the National Legislative Assembly, the presence of not less than one-half of the total number of the members shall constitute a quorum.

The National Legislative Assembly shall have the power to issue the rule on election and the performance of duties of the President, the Vice-Presidents and its Committee, meeting, introduction and deliberation of bills and Organic Law bills, submission of motions, discussion, making resolutions, interpellation, peace keeping and other related matters for the performance of its duties.

The King has the power to enact an Act by and with the advice and consent of the National Legislative Assembly.

A bill may be introduced by not less than twenty five members of the National Legislative Assembly, the Council of Ministers or the National Reform Council under section 31 paragraph two. A money bill shall be introduced only by the Council of Ministers.

A money bill under paragraph two means a bill with the provisions dealing with the imposition, repeal, reduction, alteration, modification, remission or regulation of taxes or duties, or the allocation, receipt, custody or payment of State funds, or the transfer of expenditures estimates of the State, or the raising of, or guaranteeing or redemption of, loans or any binding of State’s properties, or currency.

In case of doubt as to whether any bill introduced to the National Legislative Assembly is a money bill, the President of the National Legislative Assembly shall have the power to make decision thereon.

If a bill introduced by members of the National Legislative Assembly or the National Reform Council, the Council of Ministers may, before the National Legislative Assembly adopts the principle of that bill, draw that bill for its consideration.

An enactment of the Organic Act shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this section, but an introduction thereof shall be made only by the Council of Ministers or the person having charge and control of the execution of such Organic Act.