| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Rathasapha / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Wuthisapha / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Saphaphuthan Ratsadon / House of Representatives
|
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
24 August 2007
2007 Constitution |
| Mode of designation |
directly elected 77
indirectly elected 73 |
| Constituencies |
- 77 single-member constituencies corresponding to the country's provinces for directly elected senators.
There is one elected senator for each province (Changwat). |
| Voting system |
Majority:
First-past-the post system.
Each voter casts his/her ballot for one candidate. The candidate with the highest number of votes is elected.
In cases where the number of provinces changes during the term of office of the elected senators, the Senate shall consist of the existing senators. The vacancies during the legislature are filled only if the total number of senators falls to below 95% of the statutory number (i.e., 142). In such a case, vacancies are filled within 180 days through by-elections or selections according to the mode of designation of the senators who vacated their seats.
Voting is not compulsory. However, persons failing to vote without reasonable cause as specified in the electoral law lose their right to vote and to stand for election to the House of Representatives, the Senate or a local assembly. |
| Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years old on 1 January of the year of the election
- Thai citizenship (including naturalized citizens, who must have acquired citizenship at least five years prior to election day)
- residence in the constituency for a minimum of 90 days prior to election day
- citizens overseas can vote under certain conditions at a Thai embassy or consulate (postal votes are organized for countries where the embassy or consulates are hard to reach and those with less than 500 registered voters)
- disqualifications: mental illness, Buddhist priest, novice, monk or clergy, persons detained by a warrant of the Court or by a lawful order, persons whose right to vote has been suspended |
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
- age: 40 years old on election day
- Thai citizenship by birth
- there is no residence requirement
- holder of a BA degree
Ineligibilities:
- imprisonment
- persons serving sentences of two years or more
- conviction for treason, bribery or a criminal or electoral offence
The disqualifications above are valid for five years after they first take effect.
- insanity/mental illness
- persons under guardianship/wards
- holders of temporary entry permits
- undocumented immigrants
- executives of the Electoral Commission
- members of the Electoral Commission |
| Incompatibilities |
- Head of State
- ministers of State
- outgoing senators (no consecutive election is allowed)
- former members of the House of Representatives, unless their term of office ended more than one year before they entered the Senate election
- members of a political party
- national or local government officials
- holders of public posts
- holders of judicial offices (judges)
- civil servants
- executives of the Electoral Commission
- members of the Electoral Commission
- executives of a public (State) coporation
- staff members of a public (State) corporation
- members of the armed forces
- members of the police forces
- clergymen |
| Candidacy requirements |
- candidatures must be submitted by individuals within the period of application specified in the Government Gazette
- a non-reimbursable deposit of 10,000 Thai baths |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
