The Government of Bhutan - The World Countries

Bhutan - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Bhutan, it was named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; "Bod" is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name "Druk Yul" means "Land of the Thunder Dragon". The Government system in this country is the constitutional monarchy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

National symbols

Thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow.

The flag

The National flag of Bhutan has divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty.

The National Anthem

Title	"Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
Lyric/music	Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI

note: adopted 1953

More about the government of Bhutan

Constitution
Date of Independence	17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)
National holiday	National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Legal system	civil law based on Buddhist religious law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008
Amendments	Proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	the father must be a citizen of Bhutan
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	10 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)
Head of government	Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms
Elections/appointments	the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch
Description	Bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of: non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies in a two-round system; in the primary round, contesting political parties are directly selected by simple majority vote; in the main round, the two top parties in the primary round field candidates who are directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	National Council - last held on 20 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028) National Assembly - first round held on 30 November 2023 with a runoff on 9 January 2024 (next to be held in 2028)
Election results	National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents) and 5 appointed by the king; composition - men 22, women 3, percentage women 12% National Assembly - percent of vote by party in first round - PDP 42.5%, BTP 19.6%, DPT 14.9%, DNT 13.1% DTT 9.8%; percent of vote in second round - PDP 55%, BTP 45%; seats by party PDP 30, BTP 17; composition - men 45, women 2, percentage women 4.3%; total percentage women in Parliament 6.9%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters
Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier
Subordinate courts	High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Phuntsho NORBU (since October 2022); note - also serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN
Telephone	[1] (212) 682-2371
FAX	[1] (212) 661-0551
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/
Consulate(s) general	343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US
Embassy	None; frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embassy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN