Constitution of Thailand - 1932 Temporary Charter

1932 Temporary Charter

See also the Siamese Revolution of 1932

On 24 June 1932, the People's Party, a coalition of civil servants, princes, and army officers, seized power in a bloodless coup. A provisional constitution was sent to King Prajadhipok along with an ultimatum from Party leaders. On 26 June, the King met the Party leaders and refused to sign the charter. The next day, the King met the leaders again and signed the charter.

The People's Party leaders generally followed the British parliamentary structure for the temporary charter. However, there were key differences, particularly regarding the powers of the monarch.

The charter began by stating that sovereign power belongs to the people of Siam. Empowered to exercise power on behalf of the people were the People's Assembly (the legislature) a 70-member, all appointed by the Khana Ratsadon, a 15-member People's Committee of Siam (the executive), the courts of law (the judiciary), and the monarch. Members of the People's Assembly and the People's Committee were initially appointed. After 10 years or after half the population had completed primary education, the Assembly would be completely elected.

The monarch was not held to be infallible. He had a limited degree of sovereign immunity: although he could not be prosecuted in an ordinary court of law, the Assembly could impeach and try him. The monarch did not have the right to grant pardons.

Several other features would be mirrored in later constitutions. The monarch would not have an absolute veto - any law sent back to the Assembly, which could approve it with a simple majority. The charter followed the 1924 Palace Law with regards to succession - however, the Assembly reserved the right to formally approve the successor.

In practice, the People's Party made many concessions to the palace in putting together the new government. The Premiership and the Foreign Ministry were given to 2 hard-line royalists: Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada and Phraya Srivisan Vacha. A total of 4 members of the People's Committee were royalists who were not part of the People's Party. Of the 70 members of the legislature, less than half came from the People's Party, while the majority were high-ranking officials of the old regime.

Despite this, the charter provoked fierce resistance from the palace. The new government reduced the palace budget and passed a taxation law that burdened the Kingdom's largest landowners, who were mostly nobles. In September 1932, a senior prince threatened the King's abdication if a permanent constitution did not grant the palace greater power.