Legal System of Thailand

Thailand is located in East N Southeast Asia. It is geographically situated in southeastern asia, bordering the andaman sea and the gulf of thailand, southeast of burma. The country achieved independence on 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized). The capital is Bangkok.

Government Overview

Government Type: constitutional monarchy Chief of State: King WACHIRALONGKON; also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016) Head of Government: Prime Minister ANUTIN Charnvirakul (since 5 Sep 2025) Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king Administrative Divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon National Holiday: Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Legal System

The legal system of Thailand is described as civil law system with common law influences International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017 Amendment Process: amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts) Judge Selection: Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life Subordinate Courts: courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: House of Representatives (Saphaphuthan Ratsadon) (500 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): mixed system Upper Chamber: Senate (Wuthisapha)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Historical Background

Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai Kingdom, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer Empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhothai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na Kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai; the Burmese conquered Lan Na in the 16th century.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Thailand based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.