Political
da Amanda Whitaker
1. Foreign Relations
1.1. Border disputes with Cambodia over parts of the boundary
1.1.1. Went to arms over Preah Vihear temple ruins in 2011, even though the ICJ awarded them to Cambodia in 1962
1.1.2. Relations with Cambodia relaxed in 2012
1.2. Talks about completion of demarcation with Laos, but there are disputes over several islands in the Mekong River
1.3. Talks about partnering with China to build the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River
1.4. Relations with Malaysia are generally good
2. Structure
2.1. Prime Minister Yinglak Chinnawat
2.2. Five Deputy Prime Ministers
2.3. Cabinet: Council of Masters
2.4. Privy Council (other advisers to the king)
2.5. Constitution: August 24, 2007
2.6. Many political parties
3. Current Policies
4. Legislative Branch
4.1. Bicameral
4.1.1. Senate: 77 members
4.1.2. House of Representatives: 500 members
5. Opposition to Government
5.1. 18 military coups since 1932
5.1.1. Last one took place in 2006
5.1.1.1. Political uncertainty since
5.2. Power struggle between the traditional elite (royalists, the military and the bureaucracy) and the highly factionalised opposition
5.3. May 2010-violence in Bangkok (political unrest)
6. Type of Government
6.1. Constitutional monarchy established in 1932 after a bloodless revolution
6.1.1. Monarchy is hereditary
6.2. Elite-dominated system
6.3. Democracy has been developing since 1978
7. Leader
7.1. King Phumiphon Adunyadet
7.1.1. Since Jun 9, 1946
8. Elections
8.1. Senate (Wuthisapha)
8.1.1. Elected by popular vote
8.1.2. 73 appointed by judges and independent government bodie
8.1.3. Six-year terms
8.2. House of Representatives (Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon)
8.2.1. 375 members elected from constituencies
8.2.2. 125 elected on proportional party-list basis
8.2.3. Four-year terms
8.3. Must be 18 years old to vote
9. Judiciary
9.1. Three courts (all judges appointed by king)
9.1.1. Constitutional Court
9.1.2. Supreme Court of Justice
9.1.3. Supreme Administrative Court