Constitutional organizations of Thailand


The constitutional organizations of Thailand are executive branch agencies of the Government of Thailand, that exist and function outside the Cabinet Ministries of Thailand.
Most of these agencies were constitutionally mandated and were created in the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, they were re-affirmed in the 2007 Constitution of Thailand. Apart from their constitutional requirements, the agencies are governed by statute laws and regulations.

Overview

Constitutional organizations are executive branch agencies of the Government of Thailand that exist and function outside of cabinet ministries. Most of these agencies were constitutionally mandated and were created in the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, the "people's constitution", and re-affirmed in the 2007 constitution.
Before 1997 cabinet ministries were the primary operating units of the executive branch. However, the need for independent agencies with regulatory powers were needed as a check on corrupt elected officials and civil servants. This, and the desire to include the electorate in the political process, prompted the framers of the 1997 Constitution of Thailand to create the new "constitutional organs". These agencies are not considered part of the executive, although they carry executive power and members of these agencies are civil servants. They more closely resemble the judicial branch. This is due to their semi-judicial nature, such as decisions which carry and force of law and their impartial nature.
Most of the agencies use the word "commission" in their titles, and are run by a committee of appointed officials. Appointed by the King of Thailand with the advice of a selection committee or the Senate of Thailand. Very little of the initial structure of these agencies was changed with the promulgation of the 2007 Constitution of Thailand.

Agencies