พระราชกฤษฎีกา

[DavidHouston]

What are the differences between the terms "พระราชกฤษฎีกา", "พระราชบัญญัติ", and "พระราชกําหนด"?

The RID has the following definition for the first two words:

พระราชกฤษฎีกา (กฎ) น. บทบัญญัติแห่งกฎหมายที่พระมหากษัตริย์ทรงตราขึ้นโดย

อาศัยอํานาจตามรัฐธรรมนูญ พระราชบัญญัติ หรือพระราชกําหนด

เพื่อใช้ในการบริหารราชการแผ่นดิน.

พระราชบัญญัติ (กฎ) น. บทบัญญัติแห่งกฎหมายที่พระมหากษัตริย์ทรงตราขึ้นโดย

คําแนะนําและยินยอมของรัฐสภา.

There is no entry for พระราชกําหนด in the RID. Note that the first word is defined, in part, by the use of the second two words.

Lexitron has the following for the first word: พระราชกฤษฎีกา - N. - royal decree and พระราชบัญญัติ - N. - act for the second. Not very helpful.

Thanks.

[stateman]

David,

You certainly have an interest deeper than an average Joe!

I think the easiest way to answer you will be to compare with US laws. Granted, the Thai system is more similar to the British system. But here we make some comparisons for the sake of easy comprehension.

In the US, there are 3 branches which make laws.

Legislative - statutory laws. Those U.S. Codes (U.S.C.).

Administrative agencies - administrative laws, and

Judicial branch - common laws.

I'll base my discussion on Thai Wikipedia, plus my own understanding.

Under the Thai constitution, there are laws under the constitution.

พระราชบัญญัติ (พ.ร.บ.) is like the US Legislative - statutory laws. It is enacted by the parliament. Hierarchy-wise, Constituton is the highest, followed by this พระราชบัญญัติ (พ.ร.บ.)., then พระราชกฤษฎีกา.

Of course, the King will have to sign them into law.

พระราชบัญญัติ (พ.ร.บ.) governs the behavior of government entities, officials, and other personnel.

Since the Constitution of 2540, there is also the “พระราชบัญญัติประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญ” which is like the ancillary law accompanying the Constitution. Example, the so-called "daughter law" governing the election as stipulated by the Constitution.

พระราชกฤษฎีกา is close to the US administrative laws. It is used to administer (or run the country) by the "Executive Branch". It typically is brought up by a minister, approved by the cabinet, and sent to the King for signature. It needs to not violate the Constitution, พระราชบัญญัติ and พระราชกำหนด.

พระราชกำหนด (พ.ร.ก.) is another type of law. Similar to พระราชบัญญัติ, it is however drafted by the Executive Branch, like administrative laws.

The application tends to be around the issues of national security, public safety, national economic security, national disaster assistance (like the law about FEMA).

The law may be drafted when the cabinet sees the issue as an emergency.

As a kind of stop-gap measure, this type of law must be submitted to the parliament in due time for approval. If found inadequate support, the law will die.

During the last admin. the PM attempted to enact one such law during the latter year of his admin, when he faced the mass calling for his resignation. It was written in the guise that it would be applicable to the southern provincial unrest, but would actually cover the entire country. It was a very severe law. The authority could kill any one, including the mob in Bkk, without any consequence. No one could sue them. However the public outcry caused them to tone it down.

If within the next two years, Thailand's finance tanks again, they may draft laws in this category to effect certain measures.

Hope this help!