Thailand - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Thailand, it was Land of the Tai [People]"; the meaning of "tai" is uncertain, but may originally have meant "human beings," "people," or "free people''. The Government system in this country is the constitutional monarchy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
National symbols
Garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant; national colors: red, white, blue.
The flag
The National flag of Thailand has five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of life, white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism, and blue stands for the monarchy.
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note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed
The National Anthem
| Title | "Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG |
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note: music adopted 1932, lyrics adopted 1939; by law, people are required to stand for the national anthem at 0800 and 1800 every day; the anthem is played in schools, offices, theaters, and on television and radio during this time; "Phleng Sanlasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
More about the government of Thailand
| Date of Independence | 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952) |
| Legal system | civil law system with common law influences |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017 |
| Amendments | Amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king; Thailand's 2017 constitution was amended in November 2021 to increase the number of constituency members of parliament (MPs) from 350 to 400, reduce the number of party-list MPs from 150 to 100, and change the election to a two-ballot system |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | King WACHIRALONGKON; also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister PHAETHONGTHAN Chinnawat; also spelled PAETONGTARN Shinawatra (since 18 August 2024) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king |
| Elections/appointments | the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister candidate approved by the House of Representatives and Senate and appointed by the king; starting in 2024, approval of prime minister needed only by the House of Representatives |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral National Assembly or Ratthasapha consists of: Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members indirectly elected in a three-step process (district, provincial, and national) from 20 eligible groups of professionals and then certified by Election Commission for a single 5-year term) House of Representatives or Saphaphuthan Ratsadon (500 seats; 400 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) |
| Elections | Senate - last election dates 9, 16, and 26 June 2024; certified on 10 July 2024 (next to be held in June 2029) House of Representatives - last held on 14 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2027) |
| Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party - independents; seats by party - NA; composition - NA House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - MFP 36.2%, PTP 27.7%, UTN 11.9%, BJT/PJT 2.9%, DP 2.3%, PPRP 1.4%, PCC 1.5%, other 16%; seats by party - MFP 152, PTP 141, BJT/PJT 71, PPRP 41, UTN 36, DP 24, PCC 9, CTP 10, Thai Sang Thai 6, other 11; composition - 403 men, 97 women, percentage women 19.4% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Dr. SURIYA Chindawongse (since 17 June 2024) |
| Chancery | 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 944-3600 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 944-3611 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/index |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Robert F. GODEC (since 7 October 2022) |
| Embassy | 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 |
| Mailing address | 7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC 20521-7200 |
| Telephone | [66] 2-205-4000 |
| FAX | [66] 2-205-4103 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://th.usembassy.gov/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Chiang Mai |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 7 (4 cultural, 3 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic City of Ayutthaya (c); Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c); Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n); Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c); Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n); Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n); The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (n) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Thailand
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Thailand
Want to know more about Thailand? Check all different factbooks for Thailand below.
