2007 Thailand Constitution Question

[jbowman1993]

The powers that be keep talking about amending the current constitution, to see their way clear of the likelihood that their party will be dissolved due to violations of section xxx. My question concerns the ability of parliament to amend the constitution. I recall reading in the newspaper that it would take a 2/3rd majority vote of Thailand's lower house to amend the constitution, and the current ruling coalition is a few votes short of that. With the Democrats unlikely to support any amendment to save PPP's asses, why all the discussion, if the can't actually do it?

Can someone shed some light?

[jbowman1993]

I actually found the answer to my own question. Amazing yahoo!!

CHAPTER XV

Amendment of the Constitution

Section 291. An amendment of the Constitution may be made only under the rules and procedure as follows:

(1) a motion for amendment must be proposed either by the Council of Ministers or members of the House of Representatives of not less than one-fifth of the total number of the existing members of the House of Representatives or members of both Houses of not less than one-fifth of the total number of the existing members thereof or persons having the right to votes of not less than fifty thousand in number under the law on the public submission of a bill;

A motion for amendment which has the effect of changing the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State or changing the form of State shall be prohibited;

(2) a motion for amendment must be proposed in the form of a draft Constitution Amendment and the National Assembly shall consider it in three readings;

(3) the voting in the first reading for acceptance in principle shall be by roll call and open voting, and the amendment must be approved by votes of not less than one-half of the total number of the existing members of both Houses;

(4) in the consideration section by section in the second reading, consultation with the people who submit a draft Constitution Amendment shall be held;

The voting in the second reading for consideration section by section shall be decided by a simple majority of votes;

(5) at the conclusion of the second reading, there shall be an interval of fifteen days after which the National Assembly shall proceed with its third reading;

(6) the voting in the third and final reading shall be by roll call and open voting, and its promulgation as the Constitution must be approved by votes of more than one-half of the total number of the existing members of both Houses;

(7) after the resolution has been passed in accordance with the above rules and procedure, the draft Constitution Amendment shall be presented to the King, and the provisions of section 150 and section 151 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

[sriracha john]

must be approved by votes of more than one-half of the total number of the existing members of both Houses;

That might not be so easy in the Senate as it is in the House...