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, ...

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 sup ...

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 populati ...

. 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 studies ...

. 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 distinct ...

, 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 f ...

. General Prem was reappointed president of the privy council by the King Maha Vajiralongkorn 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 mo ...

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 Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

. 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 (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 A constitutional monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in decision making. Constitutional monarchies dif ...

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 Revolu ...

. 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 Grea ...

, with a name change to "Supreme Council of State" ( th, คณะอภิรัฐมนตรี; ). This council existed from 1947 to 1949 and was composed of: Rama IX at a meeting of the Privy Council

Rama IX at a meeting of the Privy Council

* Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi, 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,

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 nation ...

, judge of the Constitutional Court, 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 p ...

. Privy councillors are not prohibited from sitting on the boards of influential companies and, under Prem, some councillors are board members of Bangkok Bank,

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 establishe ...

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 o ...

. 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 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 r ...

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 pa ...

List of presidents of the Privy Council

Notable members

The Privy Council of Thailand (Rama IX)

* Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi * Prince

* Prince Alongkot * Plot Wichean na Songkhla * Adul Aduldejjarus * Prince Vivadhanajaya Jayanta * Prince Nakkhatra Mangala * Jit na Songkhla * Hun Huntagun *

Dej Snidvongs ''Mom Luang'' Dej Snidvongs ( th, เดช สนิทวงศ์; 18 February 1898 – 8 September 1975) was a Thai honorary academic. He was the President of the Privy Council of Thailand to King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Governor of the Bank ...

* Sak Senanarong * Laihud Tititlanon * Srisena Sombutsiri * Gumpan Utaravanit * Thongchai Chotikasatian * Chalermlap Tavivong *

Sanya Dharmasakti Sanya Dharmasakti ( th, สัญญา ธรรมศักดิ์, , ; 5 April 1907 – 6 January 2002) was a Thai jurist, university professor and politician. He served as the 12th Prime Minister of Thailand from 1973 to 1975. Sanya Dhar ...

* Vongsanuwat Devakula * Pragob Hutasing * Uttasit Sittisunton * Jinda Boonyakom * Prince Chakkapan Pensiri * Samran Padtayakul * Chao Na Sinwan * Thanin Kraivichien * 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 * Chulanop Snidvongs na Ayudhaya * Siddhi Savetsila * Adulakit Kitiyakara * Pichit Kullavanich * Umpon Senanarong * Jumrus Khemajaru *

Thawisan Ladawan Thawisan Ladawan ( th, ทวีสันต์ ลดาวัลย์; 26 January 1924 – 7 April 2006) was husband of Busba Kitiyakara (younger sister of Queen Sirikit), a member of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Privy Council, and for 26 years, ...

* Thepkamol Devakula * Sakda Mokamakkul * Kasem Wattanachai * Palakorn Suwannarat * Sawat Wattanayakon *

* Santi Thakral * Chumpol Patjusanon * Uttanit Ditumnat * Chanchai Likitjitta * Supachai Phungam *

Chalit Pukbhasuk Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk PC ( th, ชลิต พุกผาสุข) (5 April 1948 –) is a retired Thai air force officer, a commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, and the acting chairman of Council for National Security, the ...

The Privy Council of Thailand (Rama X)

On 2 December 2016, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reappointed General Prem Tinsulanonda president of the privy council. General Prem became ''regent pro tempore'' at the death of King

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 *

* Kasem Watanachai * Palakorn Suwannarat *

* 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 Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya (, , ; born 12 November 1942) is a Thai economist and court official. He has been the Director-General of the Crown Property Bureau and Grand Chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household since 1987 and become L ...

* Amphon Kittiamphon *

Chalermchai Sitthisart General Chalermchai Sitthisart PC ( th, เฉลิมชัย สิทธิสาท) is a retired Thai military officer and general within the Royal Thai Army. In September 2016, he was chosen to serve as the Commander in Chief of the Roy ...

* Johm Rungsawang * Nurak Mapraneet * Kasem Chankaew * Bundit Malaarisoon

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