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The Privy Council of Thailand ( th, คณะองคมนตรีไทย, khana ongkhamontri thai) is a body of appointed advisors to the
Monarchy of Thailand The monarchy of Thailand (whose monarch is referred to as the king of Thailand; th, พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย, or historically, king of Siam; th, พระมหากษัตริย์สยาม) refers to the c ...
. The council, as the
Constitution of Thailand The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand ( th, รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย; ) provides the basis for the rule of law in Thailand. Since the abolition of the absolute monarchy in 1932, T ...
stipulates, must be composed of no more than eighteen members. The council is led by the President of the Privy Council of Thailand, currently occupied by former Prime Minister
Surayud Chulanont Surayud Chulanont ( th, สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์, , ; born 28 August 1943) is a Thai politician. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand and head of Thailand's interim government between 2006 and 2008. He is a former supr ...
since 27 May 2019. The king alone appoints all members of the council. The council's offices are in the Privy Council Chambers, Phra Nakhon District,
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
. In recent years the council and its president in particular, have been accused of interfering in
politics Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studie ...
. This stems from the council's closeness to the
military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distin ...
, in particular during the
2006 Thai coup d'état The 2006 Thai ''coup d'état'' took place on 19 September 2006, when the Royal Thai Army staged a ''coup d'état'' against the elected caretaker government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The ''coup d'état'', which was Thailand's first ...
. General Prem was reappointed president of the privy council by the King
Maha Vajiralongkorn Vajiralongkorn ( th, วชิราลงกรณ; , ; born 28 July 1952) is the King of Thailand. He is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was made crown prince by his father. After his ...
on 2 December 2016, although in 2018 the office was stripped of some of its powers.


History

The first
privy council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
in Siam was established by a royal decree on 8 May 1874, by King
Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร� ...
(or Rama V). The king, educated by Westerners, was keen on copying the system of government of the absolute monarchs of Europe. At first he created two councils: the "Privy Council of Siam" ( th, ที่ปฤกษาในพระองค์; ) (49 members) and the "Council of State" ( th, สภาที่ปรึกษาราชการแผ่นดิน; ) (12 members, name later changed to "Council of Ministers" ( th, รัฐมนตรีสภา; )). The privy council was created to deal with legislative affairs while the latter became an early version of the cabinet. Chulalongkorn was succeeded by his son King
Vajiravudh Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...
(Rama VI) in 1910, who at the beginning of his reign appointed a 40-member "Privy Council of State" ( th, สภากรรมการองคมนตรี; ). The king, during his 15 years on the throne, would continue to appoint new members at
Thai New Year Songkran ( th, เทศกาลสงกรานต์, ) is the Thai New Year's national holiday. Songkran is on 13 April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April. In 2018 the Thai cabinet extended the festival ...
(or 4 April). When he died in 1925 the privy council was composed of 233 members. King
Prajadhipok Prajadhipok ( th, ประชาธิปก, RTGS: ''Prachathipok'', 8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941), also Rama VII, was the seventh monarch of Siam of the Chakri dynasty. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and ...
(Rama VII) who succeeded his brother in 1925, completely overhauled the system and created instead three councils: The "
Supreme Council of State of Siam The Supreme Council of State of Siam ( th, อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา) was an advisory and legislative council established by King Prajadhipok of Siam (Rama VII) that existed from 1925 to 1932. The Eton- and Sandhurst-educated m ...
" ( th, อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา; ) (composed of five senior princes, equivalent to the former Council of State); The "Council of Secretaries" ( th, เสนาบดีสภา; ) (former Council of Ministers); and the Privy Council of State. The role of the Privy Council was relegated to minor legislative affairs, while the Supreme Council became Prajadhipok's main body of advisors. On 24 June 1932, a group calling themselves the
Khana Ratsadon The People's Party, known in Thai as Khana Ratsadon ( th, คณะราษฎร, ), was a Siamese group of military and civil officers, and later a political party, which staged a bloodless revolution against King Prajadhipok's government an ...
(or People's Party), together with the military, seized power in Bangkok. They abolished the system of absolute monarchy, changing Siam into a parliamentary constitutional monarchy and demanding of Prajadhipok a constitution for the people of Siam. The king granted them a "temporary" constitution in the same month and a permanent one in December. The Khana Ratsadon, once in power, abolished the Supreme Council and the Privy Council. They replaced the Council of Secretaries with the
People's Committee of Siam The People's Committee of Siam, ( th, คณะกรรมการราษฎร) was the first constitutional Cabinet of Siam (now Thailand) or ( th, คณะรัฐมนตรีคณะที่ 1 ของไทย). After the Revolut ...
. It was not until fifteen years later that the 1947 constitution of Siam recreated the Privy Council under King
Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
, with a name change to "Supreme Council of State" ( th, คณะอภิรัฐมนตรี; ). This council existed from 1947 to 1949 and was composed of: * Prince
Rangsit Prayurasakdi Rangsit Prayurasakdi, Prince of Chai Nat ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้ารังสิตประยูรศักดิ์ กรมพระยาชัยนา� ...
, Prince of Chainat, President of the council * Prince
Dhani Nivat Dhani Nivat, the Prince Bidyalabh Bridhyakon ( th, พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าธานีนิวัต กรมหมื่นพิทยลาภพฤฒิยากร; 7 November 1885 – 8 Sept ...
, Prince Bidyalabh Bridhyakon * Prince Alongkot, Prince Adisorn Udomsak * Phraya Manavaratsevi (Plod Vichear na Songkhla) * Police General Adul Aduldejjarus Two years later, under the 1949 Constitution of Thailand, the council was renamed the "Privy Council of Thailand" ( th, สภาองคมนตรี; ) or ( th, คณะองคมนตรี; ). The Privy Council in its current form was created by the
2017 Constitution of Thailand The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand ( th, รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย; ) provides the basis for the rule of law in Thailand. Since the abolition of the absolute monarchy in 1932, T ...
.


Members

The present constitution stipulated that the council is composed of no more than eighteen members. The members of the Privy Council or Privy Councillors are appointed and removed at the pleasure of the king alone, but appointments must be countersigned by the President of the Privy Council. The councillors cannot be partisan and therefore cannot be members of the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
,
Senate of Thailand The Senate of Thailand ( th, วุฒิสภา, , ; formerly known as Phruetthasapha ( th, พฤฒสภา, , ) is the upper house of the National Assembly of Thailand, Thailand's legislative branch. In accordance with the 2017 Constitu ...
,
Election Commission An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
,
Ombudsman An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...
, member of the
National Human Rights Commission A human rights commission, also known as a human relations commission, is a body set up to investigate, promote or protect human rights. The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as nationa ...
, judge of the
Constitutional Court A constitutional court is a high court that deals primarily with constitutional law. Its main authority is to rule on whether laws that are challenged are in fact unconstitutional, i.e. whether they conflict with constitutionally established ...
, judge of an Administrative Court, member of the National Counter Corruption Commission, member of the State Audit Commission, a government official holding a permanent position or receiving a permanent salary, an official of a state enterprise, other state official or holder of other position of member or official of a political party, and must not manifest loyalty to any
political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or po ...
. Privy councillors are not prohibited from sitting on the boards of influential companies and, under Prem, some councillors are board members of
Bangkok Bank Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited ( th, ธนาคารกรุงเทพ, RTGS: Thanakhan Krung Thep) is one of the largest commercial banks in Thailand. Its branch network includes over 1,165 branches, As of September 2018 within Thail ...
,
Charoen Pokphand The Charoen Pokphand Group Company, Ltd. (CP) (; ) is a Thai conglomerate based in Bangkok. It is Thailand's largest private company and the largest privately held Royal Warrant holder of the Thai Royal Family. The company describes itself as havi ...
, the Boonrawd group, and the Charoen Siriwatanapakdi business group. After being appointed the councilors must take the following oath in the presence of the king to assume office:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal to His Majesty the King and will faithfully perform my duties in the interests of the country and of the people. I will also uphold and observe the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
A councillor vacates office upon death, resignation, or at royal command.


President

The President of the Privy Council of Thailand is the head and chief councillor of the privy council. The king retains the power to appoint and remove the president, however the President of the
National Assembly of Thailand The National Assembly of Thailand ( Abrv: NAT; th, รัฐสภา, , ) is the bicameral legislative branch of the government of Thailand. It convenes in the Sappaya-Sapasathan, Dusit District, Bangkok. The National Assembly was establis ...
must countersign presidential appointments and removals, unlike other councillors which the king alone decides.


Functions

The 2017 Constitution gave the privy council many roles and powers. These are mostly associated with the issues surrounding the head of state and the monarchy. A US ambassador described its duties thus, "Statutorily they exist to offer advice to the King if he solicits it, review petitions on his behalf, act as ceremonial stand-ins for the King at various royally-sponsored ceremonies, and play a critical role in succession."


Regency

If the king is incapacitated or for whatever reason and cannot appoint a
regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state ''pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy, ...
, the privy council will submit to the National Assembly the name of a suitable individual, who must then be approved by a vote. During the period where there is no regent the President of the Privy Council shall be the regent
pro tempore ''Pro tempore'' (), abbreviated ''pro tem'' or ''p.t.'', is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a ''locum tenens'' (placeholder) in the absence of ...
. This case is also applicable if the regent is incapacitated and cannot perform his duties. When this happens the President of the Privy Council shall be replaced in his duties to the council by a president pro tempore.


Palace Law of Succession

In regards to the amendment of the
1924 Palace Law of Succession The Palace Law of Succession, Buddhist Era 2467 (1924) ( th, กฎมณเฑียรบาลว่าด้วยการสืบราชสันตติวงศ์ พระพุทธศักราช ๒๔๖๗; ) governs suc ...
, the king must ask the privy council to draft an amendment. After the king's approval and signature, the President of the Privy Council will notify the president of the National Assembly that will then countersign such amendment.


Vacancy on the throne

When the throne becomes vacant it is the duty of the privy council to submit to the cabinet and to the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
the name of the successor to the throne. During this vacancy period (before the submission) the President of the Privy Council will be the regent pro tempore.


Other functions

Apart from these constitutionally mandated functions the privy councillors also perform other duties. For instance, they carry out other duties in the royal household and on royal projects. Several councillors are members of the Mahidol Foundation, while Dr. Chaovana Nasylvanta is the Director of the
Crown Property Bureau The Crown Property Bureau (CPB) ( th, สำนักงานทรัพย์สินพระมหากษัตริย์; ) is legally the administrative agency responsible for managing the property of the King of Thailand. It has no ...
. Councillors can, at royal command, attend official functions or carry out official duties on behalf of the king or the
royal family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term pap ...
.


List of presidents of the Privy Council


Notable members


The Privy Council of Thailand (Rama IX)

* Prince
Rangsit Prayurasakdi Rangsit Prayurasakdi, Prince of Chai Nat ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้ารังสิตประยูรศักดิ์ กรมพระยาชัยนา� ...
* Prince
Dhani Nivat Dhani Nivat, the Prince Bidyalabh Bridhyakon ( th, พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าธานีนิวัต กรมหมื่นพิทยลาภพฤฒิยากร; 7 November 1885 – 8 Sept ...
* Prince Alongkot * Plot Wichean na Songkhla * Adul Aduldejjarus * Prince Vivadhanajaya Jayanta * Prince
Nakkhatra Mangala Prince Nakkhatra Mangala, 2nd Prince of Chanthaburi ( th, พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้านักขัตรมงคล กรมหมื่นจันทบุรีสุรนาถ; ; 4 January 189 ...
* Jit na Songkhla * Hun Huntagun * Dej Snidvongs * Sak Senanarong * Laihud Tititlanon * Srisena Sombutsiri * Gumpan Utaravanit * Thongchai Chotikasatian * Chalermlap Tavivong * Sanya Dharmasakti * Vongsanuwat Devakula * Pragob Hutasing * Uttasit Sittisunton * Jinda Boonyakom * Prince Chakkapan Pensiri * Samran Padtayakul * Chao Na Sinwan *
Thanin Kraivichien Thanin Kraivichien (first name also spelled ''Tanin'', last name ''Kraivixien'' or ''Kraivichian''; th, ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร, , ; born 5 April 1927) is a Thai former judge, politician and law professor. He ...
* Gun Israsena na Ayudhya *
Usni Pramoj Admiral '' Mom Luang'' Usni Pramoj ( th, อัศนี ปราโมช ; 1 July 1934 – 2 April 2017) was a Thai musician and courtier. Education Usni was the son of '' Mom Rajawongse'' Seni Pramoj, twice Prime Minister and one of the ma ...
* Gumton Sintavanon *
Prem Tinsulanonda Prem Tinsulanonda ( th, เปรม ติณสูลานนท์, , ; 26 August 1920 – 26 May 2019) was a Thai military officer, politician, and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 3 March 1980 to 4 August 1988, ...
* Chulanop Snidvongs na Ayudhaya * Siddhi Savetsila *
Adulakit Kitiyakara ''Mom Rajawongse'' Adulakit Kitiyakara ( th, อดุลกิติ์ กิติยากร; : November 2, 1930 – May 5, 2004), was the chief-president of the supreme judicature of Thailand, and former member of the Privy Council of ...
* Pichit Kullavanich * Umpon Senanarong * Jumrus Khemajaru * Thawisan Ladawan * Thepkamol Devakula * Sakda Mokamakkul *
Kasem Wattanachai Kasem may refer to: Language * Kasem language, Gur language spoken in Burkina Faso and Ghana People * Casey Kasem (1932–2014), American radio personality and voice actor * Kazi Abul Kasem (1913–2003), Bengali painter and cartoonist * Kasim ...
* Palakorn Suwannarat * Sawat Wattanayakon *
Surayud Chulanont Surayud Chulanont ( th, สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์, , ; born 28 August 1943) is a Thai politician. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand and head of Thailand's interim government between 2006 and 2008. He is a former supr ...
*
Santi Thakral Santi Thakral ( th, สันติ ทักราล; ; 1942–2011) was a member of the Privy Council of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Prior to becoming Privy Councillor, he was President of the Supreme Court of Thailand. Early life and ...
* Chumpol Patjusanon * Uttanit Ditumnat * Chanchai Likitjitta * Supachai Phungam * Chalit Pukbhasuk


The Privy Council of Thailand (Rama X)

On 2 December 2016, King
Maha Vajiralongkorn Vajiralongkorn ( th, วชิราลงกรณ; , ; born 28 July 1952) is the King of Thailand. He is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was made crown prince by his father. After his ...
reappointed General
Prem Tinsulanonda Prem Tinsulanonda ( th, เปรม ติณสูลานนท์, , ; 26 August 1920 – 26 May 2019) was a Thai military officer, politician, and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 3 March 1980 to 4 August 1988, ...
president of the privy council. General Prem became ''regent pro tempore'' at the death of King
Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
on the 13 October 2016. After Vajiralongkorn accepted the invitation to become king he was able to appoint his own council. On 6 December 2016 the king appointed ten councillors, seven from his father's council and three new members. Eight members from the previous council were not reappointed. As of November 2022 the council was composed mostly of retired military leaders and members of the judiciary, with 22 members: *
Prem Tinsulanonda Prem Tinsulanonda ( th, เปรม ติณสูลานนท์, , ; 26 August 1920 – 26 May 2019) was a Thai military officer, politician, and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 3 March 1980 to 4 August 1988, ...
*
Surayud Chulanont Surayud Chulanont ( th, สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์, , ; born 28 August 1943) is a Thai politician. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand and head of Thailand's interim government between 2006 and 2008. He is a former supr ...
* Kasem Watanachai * Palakorn Suwannarat * Chalit Pukbhasuk * Supachai Phungam * Charnchai Likhitchittha * Atthaniti Disatha-Amnarj * Paiboon Koomchaya * Dapong Ratanasuwan * Teerachai Nakwanich * Wirach Chinvinitkul * Charunthada Karnasuta * Kampanat Ruddit * Pongthep Nuthep * Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya * Amphon Kittiamphon * Chalermchai Sitthisart * Johm Rungsawang * Nurak Mapraneet * Kasem Chankaew * Bundit Malaarisoon


See also

*
Monarchy of Thailand The monarchy of Thailand (whose monarch is referred to as the king of Thailand; th, พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย, or historically, king of Siam; th, พระมหากษัตริย์สยาม) refers to the c ...
*
Chakri Dynasty The Chakri dynasty ( th, ราชวงศ์ จักรี, , , ) is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand, the head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of th ...
*
Regent of Thailand In Thailand, the regent ( th, ผู้สำเร็จราชการแทนพระองค์) is a person who exercises the official functions of a monarch of Thailand when the monarch is incapable of functioning or during a period o ...
*
1924 Palace Law of Succession The Palace Law of Succession, Buddhist Era 2467 (1924) ( th, กฎมณเฑียรบาลว่าด้วยการสืบราชสันตติวงศ์ พระพุทธศักราช ๒๔๖๗; ) governs suc ...
*
Government of Thailand The Government of Thailand, or formally the Royal Thai Government ( Abrv: RTG; th, รัฐบาลไทย, , ), is the unitary government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The country emerged as a modern nation state after the foundation of t ...
*
Politics of Thailand Until 22 May 2014, the politics of Thailand were conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the prime minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is independent of the e ...
*
2006 Thai coup d'état The 2006 Thai ''coup d'état'' took place on 19 September 2006, when the Royal Thai Army staged a ''coup d'état'' against the elected caretaker government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The ''coup d'état'', which was Thailand's first ...
*
Supreme Council of State of Siam The Supreme Council of State of Siam ( th, อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา) was an advisory and legislative council established by King Prajadhipok of Siam (Rama VII) that existed from 1925 to 1932. The Eton- and Sandhurst-educated m ...


References


External links


Homepage of the Privy Council of Thailand (English)

Old Homepage of the Privy Council of Thailand (English)

List of Members of the Current Privy Council (English)

Privy Council History (English)
{{Thai royal agencies Thai monarchy
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
Royal agencies of Thailand Organizations established in 1874 1874 establishments in Siam Network monarchy