Parliament House of Thailand
From June 28, 1932 to 1974, the legislature met in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. After the first elections to the National Assembly in 1933, King Prajadhipok officially gave the Throne Hall for the legislature's use. However through the years the composition of the Assemblies increased and the Throne Hall became too small to accommodate all the legislators and its secretariat. Three attempts were made to build a new building, however each failed because the government in power was terminated before a budget could be appropriated.
The fourth time however was a success with the help of King Bhumibol Adulyadej who appropriated to the National Assembly, royal land immediately north of the Throne Hall for the site of the new Parliament House. Construction began on 5 November 1970, with a budget of 51,027,360 baht. The new Parliament House complex comprises three buildings:
- The First Building: or the Parliament House with 3 stories containing the meeting chamber for the National Assembly, the chamber is shared by both the Senate and the House. It also contain the offices of the President and Vice President of the National Assembly and other deputy presiding officers.
- The Second Building: a 7 story building contains the Secretariat and offices of the National Assembly as well as its official printing press.
- The Third Building: a 2 story building used as the Parliament club, with facilities for Assembly members.
The Parliament House was first used in 19 September 1974, as the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall became a national historic building and was returned to the king as part of the Dusit Palace. From then on the Parliament House became the primary building used for the National Assembly, only the State Opening ceremony is now held in the Throne Hall.
On 29 July 2008, the National Assembly appropriated new funds to construct a new and grander Parliament House. As of December 2008, a site belonging to the Royal Thai Army has been found but has not yet been confirmed.
Read more about this topic: National Assembly Of Thailand
Famous quotes containing the words parliament house, parliament and/or house:
“At the ramparts on the cliff near the old Parliament House I counted twenty-four thirty-two-pounders in a row, pointed over the harbor, with their balls piled pyramid-wise between them,—there are said to be in all about one hundred and eighty guns mounted at Quebec,—all which were faithfully kept dusted by officials, in accordance with the motto, “In time of peace prepare for war”; but I saw no preparations for peace: she was plainly an uninvited guest.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“A Parliament is that to the Commonwealth which the soul is to the body.... It behoves us therefore to keep the facility of that soul from distemper.”
—John Pym (1584–1643)
“The lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host, and then a master.”
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931)