Constitution of Thailand (2007)/Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 : DIRECT POLITICAL PARTICIPATION BY THE PEOPLE

Section 163. The persons having the right to vote of not less than ten thousand in number have a right to submit a petition to the President of the National Assembly to consider a bill as prescribed in Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 of this Constitution. A bill must be attached to the petition referred to in paragraph one. The rules and procedures for the petition and the examination of names of petitioners shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law. In considering a bill under paragraph one, the House of Representatives and the Senate shall provide representatives of the petitioners introducing the bill with opportunities of explaining the principle thereof, and the ad hoc committee to be appointed for considering the bill shall also consist of representatives of the petitioners introducing such bill in the number of not less than one third of the total number of members of the committee.

Section 164. The persons having the right to vote of not less than twenty thousand in number have the right to lodge with the President of the Senate a complaint in order to request the Senate to pass a resolution under section 274 removing the persons under section 270 from office. The said request under paragraph one shall clearly itemise circumstances in which such persons have allegedly committed the act. The rules, procedures and conditions for the lodging of the complaint by the persons having the right to vote under paragraph one shall be in accordance with the Organic Act on Counter Corruption.

Section 165. The persons having the right to vote have the right to a referendum. A referendum may be conducted in the following circumstances: (1) in the case where the Council of Ministers is of the opinion that any issue may affect national or public interests, the Prime Minister, with the approval of the Council of Ministers, may consult the President of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate for the purpose of publishing in the Royal Gazette calling for a referendum; (2) in the case where a referendum is required by the law. A referendum under (1) or (2) may be conducted in order to achieve a final determination, by a majority of votes cast by persons having the right to vote at a referendum, on a problematic issue to which the referendum relates, or may be conducted for giving advice to the Council of Ministers, except specifically provided by law. A referendum shall be conducted for voting for or against the matter to which the referendum relates and shall not be conducted on an issue contrary to or inconsistent with the Constitution or relating to any individual person or group of persons. Prior to a referendum, the State shall take steps in providing adequate information and providing proponents and opponents of the matter concerned with equal opportunities of expressing their opinions. The rules and procedures for voting in a referendum shall be in accordance with the Organic Act on Referendum, which shall, at least, prescribe details as to the method of the referendum, timeframes therefor and the number of votes required for a final determination.