It allows the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to appoint an eight to ten person panel who will choose Senators,[4] and includes six seats reserved for the heads of the Royal Thai Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police, plus the military's supreme commander, and defense permanent secretary.

[7]: 167–169 Since 1932, Thailand has had 20 charters or constitutions (as of 2015)—an average of one roughly every four years[1]—many adopted following military coups, which reflects a high degree of political instability.

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (PCC) Pichet Chuamuangphan (PTP) Paradorn Prissanananthakul (BTP) Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut (PP)

Based on the degree by which the legislature is elected, Thailand's 20 constitutions and charters can be categorized into three groups:[citation needed] On 24 June 1932, the People's Party, a coalition of civil servants, princes, and army officers, seized power in a bloodless coup.

[17] The People's Party, facing an internal power struggle and opposition from the king, promulgated a permanent constitution on 10 December 1932 that gave the monarchy a significant increase in authority compared to the temporary charter.

After two weeks of violent fighting, during which Bangkok was bombed and Sri Sitthi Songkhram was killed, the People's Party defeated the rebels.

The military overthrew the elected government of Rear Admiral Thamrong Navasavat on 8 November 1947, amid the political chaos that followed the official finding that the mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol was not due to suicide.

The coup leaders alleged that government corruption had demeaned the sacredness of King Ananda's 1946 Constitution, as proven by the appearance of vultures at the royal cremation ground.

[22] The king, who at the time was studying in Lausanne, endorsed the coup and the charter on 25 November, noting "Those who were involved in this operation do not desire power for their own good, but aim only to strengthen the new government which will administer for the prosperity of the nation and for the elimination of all the ills suffered presently.

[citation needed] On 29 November 1951, as the king was returning to Thailand from Switzerland via ship, the military seized power from Privy Council President Dhani, abrogated the 1949 constitution, and appointed Marshal Plaek as regent.

[19] In February 1969, the first democratic elections in over a decade were held, resulting in parties aligned with Thanom winning a majority in the house.

[14] Amid rising social and political conflict, on 17 November 1971, Thanom Kittikachorn and his deputy Praphas Charusathien overthrew their own government, dissolving parliament and the cabinet, declaring martial law, abrogating the constitution, and running the kingdom through a national executive council.

[32]: 273  The political tension finally exploded on 6 October 1976, when Village Scouts and Red Gaur joined with military and police to rape and massacre at least 46 students protesting at Thammasat University.

[19] Thanin made criminal cases the jurisdiction of military tribunals and gave police sweeping powers to detain people without charges for up to six months.

[36] All protests were banned (although royal rallies were allowed), the media was strictly censored, and the police scoured homes and schools to confiscate blacklisted books.

Most significantly, the constitution created a transitory period, to end on 21 April 1983, after which military and civil servants would be banned from appointment to the premiership and cabinet.

House elections, for which political parties were banned, were held in April 1979, resulting in a coalition government which continued to appoint Kriangsak as premier.

Prem noted that "The armed forces will play an important role in the defense of the country, national independence, and the democratic system under the monarchy.

On 23 February 1991, Army Commander Suchinda Kraprayoon led the military in seizing power from the Chatichai government, abrogating the 1978 constitution, and replacing it with a temporary charter.

The king intervened in his 4 December birthday speech, urging the public to accept the draft and noting that "procedures or principles that we have imported for use are sometimes not suitable to the conditions of Thailand or the character of Thai people.

"[14][44] The constitution allowed Suchinda Kraprayoon to be appointed as prime minister, which led to a violent public uprising in May 1992 that brought down the government.

Political scientists and jurists Chai-Anan Samudavanija, Amorn Chantarasomboon, Uthai Pimchaichon, and Borwornsak Uwanno played key roles in the assembly.

One of the members of the drafting committee, Amorn Chantarasomboon, claimed that an overly strong and stable government brought on a "tyranny of the majority" and a "parliamentary dictatorship.

[53] On the evening of 19 September 2006, less than a month before scheduled nationwide house elections, the Thai military staged a coup against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

In subsequent weeks, condemnation of the coup transformed into criticism of the junta-appointed government of General Surayud Chulanont and the constitution drafting process.

The draft interim charter allowed the junta, which would be transformed into a permanent Council for National Security (CNS), to appoint an extremely powerful executive branch.

On 20 May 2014, in what was described as a partial repeal of the 2007 constitution, Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, invoked the act proclaimed 27 August 2457 B.E.

On 29 May, Gen Prayut directly addressed public television audiences to announce plans for administering the country, emphasizing financial stability and transparency.

[68] Under the constitution, Parliament is bicameral, consisting of a 250-member nominated Senate and a 500-member House of Representatives of whom 350 are elected from single-member constituencies and 150 members from party lists.

[3] The proposed constitution also allows the NCPO to appoint an eight to ten person panel who will choose Senators,[4] to include six seats reserved for the heads of the Royal Thai Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police, plus the military's supreme commander, and defense permanent secretary.