Opposition (17)
34-586: Parliament Judiciary The Government of Bhutan has been a constitutional monarchy since 18 July 2008. The King of Bhutan is the head of state . The executive power is exercised by the Lhengye Zhungtshog , or council of ministers, headed by the Prime Minister . Legislative power is vested in the bicameral Parliament , both the upper house, National Council , and the lower house, National Assembly . A royal edict issued on April 22, 2007 lifted
68-751: A framework of enumerated substantive powers and duties under the Constitution . In addition, the procedural framework of each body is codified independently in subsequently enacted legislation : the National Council Act and the National Assembly Act. The Acts define operating procedure (such as quora and voting) and delegation of duties to committees much like bylaws; the Acts themselves also provide some incidentally related substantive law, such as offenses and penalties for officeholders. Foremost among
102-605: A government consisting of three main branches – executive, legislative, and judicial – plus the de facto apolitical Dratshang Lhentshog (Monastic Affairs Commission) of the Drukpa Kagyu state religion. The secular and religious branches of government are unified in the person of the Druk Gyalpo (King of Bhutan). The trichotomy of secular government is not absolute. There are many independent commissions, agencies, and institutions that operate outside this general framework, such as
136-635: A meditation retreat of 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days. During the ten-year retreat, he took up sacred practice of Vajrayana , which includes La-drup, Demchog, Tandin, Dorji Phagmo, Sengdongma, Mithrugpa, Chenrezig and Dzogchen meditations. Tulku was appointed as the head of Tango Monastery and taught language and Buddhist philosophy . In 1986, he was appointed as the Drapoi Lopen of the Central Monastic Body , and resigned in 1990. In 1995 Fourth Dragon King Jigme Singye Wangchuck appointed him as
170-430: Is conducted before the close of the present session. When a bill has been introduced and passed by one house, it must present the bill to the other house within thirty days from the date of passing, and the bill may be passed during the next session of Parliament. In the case of budget bills and urgent matters, a bill must be passed in the same session of Parliament. Bills are ultimately subject to veto and modification by
204-449: Is member of the AsDB , BIMSTEC , CP , ESCAP , FAO , G-77 , IBRD , ICAO , IDA , IFAD , IFC , IMF , Intelsat , Interpol , IOC , ITU , NAM , OPCW , SAARC , UN , UNCTAD , UNESCO , UNIDO , UPU , WHO , WIPO , WMO , WToO . Parliament of Bhutan Parliament Judiciary The Parliament of Bhutan ( Dzongkha : རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་ཚོགས་ཁང་ gyelyong tshokhang ) consists of
238-408: Is the Druk Gyalpo ("Dragon King"). Although his title is hereditary, he must retire by age 65, and he can be removed by a two-thirds majority vote by the parliament followed by a national referendum, which must pass by a simple majority in all twenty districts of the country. Prior to 2008, a similar abdication process existed under which the unicameral National Assembly, or Tshogdu could force
272-624: The Constitution of 2008 , the Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court , the High Court , and twenty Dzongkhag Courts . For thirteen dungkhag jurisdictions in six Dzongkhags , Dungkhag Courts are the courts of first instance. In all jurisdictions outside dungkhags , the Dzongkhag Courts are the civil and criminal courts of first instance. The High Court is the first court of appeal, and
306-646: The King of Bhutan together with a bicameral parliament . This bicameral parliament is made up of an upper house, the National Council and a lower house, the National Assembly . The current parliamentary framework replaced the unicameral Tshogdu in 2007, with the first members taking seats in 2008. The National Council of Bhutan is the upper house , or house of review in the bicameral legislature . It consists of 25 members: one directly elected from each of
340-694: The Royal Monetary Authority and Election Commission. There are also agencies whose members are drawn from more than one branch of government, such as the Judicial Commission. In addition, there are several ministries within the cabinet executive branch, such as the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs , which in turn delegate powers to subsidiary departments according to legislation by the legislative branch. The legislative branch itself oversees devolved local governments . Bhutan's head of state
374-453: The dzongkhag Drangpon (District Judge). Bhutan has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction . Bhutan is divided in 20 districts ( dzongkhag , singular and plural); Bumthang , Chukha , Dagana , Gasa , Ha , Lhuntse , Mongar , Paro , Pemagatshel , Punakha , Samdrup Jongkhar , Samtse , Sarpang , Thimphu , Trashirang , Trashiyangtse , Trongsa , Tsirang , Wangdue Phodrang , and Zhemgang . Bhutan
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#1732891225533408-529: The 1910 Treaty of Punakha . However, due to the policy of self-imposed isolationism, the effect of the treaty was limited to an extent. After Indian independence in 1949, Bhutan and India agreed to a ten-article, perpetual treaty which effectively continued the relationship, but with India replacing the United Kingdom. India agreed not to interfere in Bhutan's internal relations, while Bhutan agreed "to be guided by
442-538: The 20 dzongkhags (districts) and 5 appointed by the King under election laws . The National Council meets at least twice a year. The membership elects a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from its number. Members and candidates of the National Council are prohibited from holding political party affiliation. The National Assembly of Bhutan is the lower house. It consists of a maximum of 47 members directly elected by
476-577: The 68th Je-Khenpo Ngawang Tenzin Dhondup. He received the complete initiations and teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition and Dzogchen (the highest realization). He mastered the Mahamudra practices, the meditation of Naro Choedrug (the six circles of Ro-Nyom Kordrug). Tulku also studied language and literature and the 13 different philosophical texts under the 69th Je-Khenpo Geshey Genduen Rinchen . Jigme Chhoeda completed Losum Choesum three times,
510-569: The Election Commission, an independent government regulatory agency. Candidates for most elections and appointments in Bhutan must be non-partisan; however, political parties may slate candidates for seats in the National Assembly . The party that wins the most seats nominates the Prime Minister . The first Prime Minister, Jigme Thinley , was a member of the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party . The second Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, heads
544-495: The King on advice of the Prime Minister. All Ministers must be natural-born citizens of Bhutan, and there is a limit of two Ministers from any one Dzongkhag. The King of Bhutan fulfills further parliamentary duties by reviewing and assenting to bills in order to enact Bhutanese legislation , and when necessary, by initiating national referendums under election laws . The National Council and National Assembly operate under
578-512: The King, however the King must assent to bills resubmitted after joint sitting and deliberation by the National Council and National Assembly. Parliament has the sole authority to alter Bhutan's international territorial boundaries, and internal Dzongkhag and Gewog divisions, with the consent of at least 75% of the total number of members (currently 54). Parliament also oversees local government administrations : Dzongkhag Tshogdus, Gewog Tshogdes, and Thromdes . The Constitution provides that
612-604: The National Assembly may, with support of at least two-thirds of its members (currently 32), motion of no confidence in the Government. If the vote passes, the King shall dismiss the Government. 27°29′24″N 89°38′18″E / 27.489955°N 89.638309°E / 27.489955; 89.638309 Jigme Chhoeda Tulku Jigme Chhoeda (born 22 August 1955) became the 70th Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of The Central Monastic Body) of Bhutan in 1996, and became
646-626: The People's Democratic Party. The current Prime Minister, Dr. Lotay Tshering, heads the Druk Nyamrup Tshongpa. Political pressure groups include the Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant anti-government campaign; Indian merchant community and the exiled United Front for Democracy. Bhutan's legal system is based on codes established by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 17th century and influenced by Anglo-Indian common law . Under
680-626: The Supreme Court is the court of final appeal. The Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction over Constitutional questions and matters of national importance referred by the King . Judges of the Supreme and High courts are appointed by the King. Before 2008 in the Bhutanese judicial system , the monarch was the final court of appeal (the "Supreme Court of Appeal"), and local government officials adjudicated minor crimes. The Royal High Court of Bhutan
714-412: The accused. If this happens quickly, the sentencing may be lenient. If culpability is obvious but the accused refuses to admit to it, the sentence may be correspondingly severe. Judges may dismiss the case for lack of proof at any time. Recent legislation defines required proof of guilt more closely, providing increased protection against trivial or mistaken charges. Minor criminal offences may be tried by
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#1732891225533748-532: The advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations" (Article 2). The treaty also established free trade and full extradition between the two countries. In February 2007, the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was substantially revised with all references to phrases such as "will be guided" deleted, thus eliminating the last lingering doubts about the sovereign and independent status of Bhutan. The Constitution of Bhutan provides for
782-504: The citizens of constituencies within each dzongkhag (district) according to election laws . Each constituency is represented by one National Assembly member; each of the 20 Dzongkhags must be represented by between 2–7 members. Constituencies are reapportioned every 10 years. The National Assembly meets at least twice a year, and elects a Speaker and Deputy Speaker from among its members. Members and candidates are allowed to hold political party affiliation. The Constitution sets forth
816-467: The king to abdicate. The Je Khenpo is the highest religious official of Bhutan and head of the Dratshang Lhentshog (Monastic Affairs Commission). He is typically viewed as the closest and most powerful advisor to the King of Bhutan . The 70th and present Je Khenpo is Jigme Chhoeda . Bhutan's head of government is its Prime Minister . The Prime Minister is nominated by the party that wins
850-683: The learned sage of Tharpaling in Bumthang . Jigme Chhoeda joined Druk Sanga Chhoeling Monastery in Darjeeling , India, at the age of eight. He was ordained as a monk with commitment from Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche and then studied under Khenpo Sonam Darge and Khenpo Noryang. Later, he studied under Dudjom Rinpoche in India. At the age of 15, he returned to Bhutan and studied at the Tango Drupdey in Thimphu under
884-429: The legislative branch was the unicameral Tshogdu . The Tshogdu had 150 members, 106 members elected at various dates for a three-year term in single-seat constituencies , 34 appointed members and 10 representatives of the monastic body. Suffrage in Bhutan at that time was unique in that each family unit, rather than individual, had one vote. In Bhutan, political parties , elections, and referendums are overseen by
918-551: The longest-serving holder of the office. His Holiness Trulku Jigme Choedra (རྗེ་མཁན་པོ།) was born to Yab (ཡབ།) Rinzin Dorji and Yum (ཡུམ།) Kuenzang Choden in Lhuentse at Drubtse Goenpa, Kurtoe , on the fifth day of the Bhutanese lunar month seven in the Wood Sheep year of 1955. Lhuentse on 22 August 1955, Jigme Chhoeda was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshey Pema Tshering,
952-431: The monarch, elected by the National Assembly. The members served fixed, five-year terms. There was also a Royal Advisory Council ( Lodoi Tsokde ), members nominated by the monarch. Bhutan elects its legislative branch through universal suffrage under the Constitution of 2008 . The Bhutanese parliament is bicameral, consisting of a National Council (upper house) and a National Assembly (lower house). Prior to 2008,
986-485: The most seats in the National Assembly and heads the executive cabinet, called the Lhengye Zhungtshog (Council of Ministers). In 1998, the monarch's executive powers were transferred to the Council of Ministers, or Lhengye Zhungtshog (cabinet). At the time, candidates for the Council of Ministers were elected by the National Assembly for a fixed five-year term and had to be a part of the legislative assembly. The cabinet
1020-547: The powers and duties of Parliament is the passing of bills. Either the upper house National Council , the lower house National Assembly , or the Attorney General may author bills to be passed as acts, with the exception of money and financial bills, which are the sole purview of the National Assembly. Legislation must be presented bicamerally, at times in joint sittings of the National Council and National Assembly , however bills may pass by default without vote when none
1054-445: The previous ban on political parties in anticipation of the National Assembly elections in the following year. In 2008, Bhutan adopted its first modern Constitution , codifying the institutions of government and the legal framework for a democratic multi-party system . The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Bhutan a " hybrid regime " in 2022. Bhutanese external relations and foreign policies were put under British control following
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1088-423: The procedure of the formation of the executive branch and its ministries, including the post of Prime Minister , according to Parliamentary electoral results. The King recognizes the leader or nominee of the party that wins the majority of seats in the National Assembly as the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is limited to two terms of office. Other Ministers are appointed from among National Assembly members by
1122-431: Was headed by the Prime Minister , who was the head of government . The post of Prime Minister rotated each year between the five candidates who secured the highest number of votes. The 2005 draft Constitution of Bhutan included provision for a two-party democratic system that was unveiled after four years of preparation. Previously, the candidates to the cabinet Council of Ministers ( Lhengye Zhungtshog ) were nominated by
1156-567: Was the highest court in the country and had original jurisdiction over the twenty districts of the nation. Judicial appointments were made by the monarch, and could be recalled by him at any time. The criminal justice system is based on trial before a panel of judges, and therefore resembles more the Napoleonic than the British or American adversarial systems. The prosecutor, a government employee, seeks to obtain an acknowledgement of culpability from
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