Question #14

Many human rights were clearly recognized for the first time, and actions were established to increase the steadiness of elected governments.

The 2007 Constitution of Thailand was adopted in 2007.

Since 1932, Thailand has had numerous charters or constitutions, most of which were adopted following military coups because of the political unsteadiness Thailand had.

Each successful coup, military regimes repealed existing constitutions and proclaimed new ones.

The transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy began when King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) agreed to a organized constitution to resolve the coup of 1932.

He signed a temporary charter on June 27, 1932, which began by announcing that: "the highest power in the land belongs to all people."

Prior to the poll, the military junta passed a law making it illegal to publicly criticize the draft.

Heated descriptions in the constitution included a partly appointed Senate and amnesty for the leaders of the 2006 coup.

The 1997 Constitution of Thailand, or the "People's Constitution," was considered a landmark in terms of the degree of public participation involved in its drafting as well as the democratic nature of its articles.

It stipulated a bicameral legislature, both houses of which were elected.

Who was the 2007 Constitution of Thailand written by?

was written by a group of drafters appointed by the army-led Council for National Security, but was approved by a public vote.

All of these called for a constitutional monarchy, but with widely differing separation of powers between the branches of government

Most of them stipulated parliamentary systems, but several of them also called for dictatorships, e.g., the 1957 Charter. To date Thailand has had seventeen charters and constitutions, reflecting a high degree of political instability.