2007 constitution of Thailand

The original copy of the 2007 constitution, written on a traditional folding book (samut thai). On the pages shown, King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed and applied his regnal seal (the seal of the garuda) and the three great seals (from left to right: the seal of the great mandate, the seal of the celestial elephant, and the seal of the phoenix castle). The copy is displayed at the National Assembly of Thailand along with the copies of the other constitutions.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, Buddhist Era 2550 (2007) (Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พุทธศักราช ๒๕๕๐; RTGS: Ratthathammanun Haeng Ratcha-anachak Thai Phutthasakkarat Song Phan Ha Roi Ha Sip) was the constitution of Thailand which was in effect from 2007 to 2014.

On 19 September 2006, the Royal Thai Armed Forces staged a coup d'état against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, abrogated the 1997 constitution and formed a junta called Council for Democratic Reform (CDR). The 2006 interim constitution was then promulgated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej upon advice of the CDR leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin. The interim constitution established a Constitutional Convention (CC) and charged it with the duty to draft a new constitution before presenting the draft to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), a legislature replacing the National Assembly abrogated by the CDR.[1] The CC set up a constituent committee to draw up the draft. The committee consisted of thirty five members, of whom 25 were selected by the CC itself and the other 10 were selected by the CC upon advice of the CDR.[2]

After the draft was approved by the CC and the NLA respectively, a national referendum was organised by the Election Commission on 19 August 2007, allowing the people to approve or deny the entire draft.[3] 56.69 percent of the voters voted in favor of the draft, 41.37 percent voted against it and 1.94 percent were invalid votes.[4] King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed it into law on 24 August 2007 and it came into force immediately.[5][6]

Two amendments were made to this constitution, both in 2011. The first amendment modified the composition of the House of Representatives.[7] The second revised the criteria governing the conclusion of treaties.[8]

On 22 May 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order, a military junta which staged a coup d'état against the caretaker government, repealed the constitution, save the second chapter which concerns the king.[9] The constitution was repealed and replaced by an interim constitution on 22 July 2014.[10]

  1. ^ รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย (ฉบับชั่วคราว) พุทธศักราช 2549 [Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim), Buddhist Era 2549 (2006)] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 123 (102A). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretary: 1. 1 October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  2. ^ ประกาศสภาร่างรัฐธรรมนูญ เรื่อง แต่งตั้งคณะกรรมาธิการยกร่างรัฐธรรมนูญ ลงวันที่ 22 มกราคม 2550 [Announcement of the Constitutional Convention on Appointment of Constituent Committee dated 22 January 2007] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 124 (17D). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretary: 20. 22 February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  3. ^ ประกาศสภาร่างรัฐธรรมนูญ เรื่อง กำหนดวันออกเสียงประชามติ ลงวันที่ 6 กรกฎาคม 2550 [Announcement of the Constitutional Convention on Determination of the Constitutional Referendum Date dated 6 July 2007] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 124 (82D). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretary: 11. 9 July 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  4. ^ สถิติการออกเสียงประชามติ เมื่อ 19 สิงหาคม 2550 [19 August 2007 referendum statistics] (in Thai). Election Commission of Thailand. 20 August 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  5. ^ รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พุทธศักราช 2550 [Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, Buddhist Era 2550 (2007)] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 124 (47A). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretary: 1. 24 August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2550 (2007)" (PDF). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Archived from the original (Unofficial translation) on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  7. ^ รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย แก้ไขเพิ่มเติม (ฉบับที่ 1) พุทธศักราช 2554 [Amendment to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (No. 1), Buddhist Era 2554 (2011)] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 128 (13A). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretary: 1. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  8. ^ รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย แก้ไขเพิ่มเติม (ฉบับที่ 2) พุทธศักราช 2554 [Amendment to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (No. 2), Buddhist Era 2554 (2011)] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 128 (13A). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretary: 7. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  9. ^ คสช. ประกาศให้อำนาจนายกฯ เป็นของประยุทธ์ - เลิก รธน. 50 เว้นหมวด 2 วุฒิฯ-ศาล ทำหน้าที่ต่อ [NPOMC announces the prime minister powers belong to Prayuth, repeals 2007 charter, except chapter 2 - senate and courts remain in office] (in Thai). Manager. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  10. ^ "King has endorsed interim charter, says Prayuth". Bangkok Post. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.