Constitution of Thailand

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand provides the basis for the rule of law in Thailand. Since the abolition of the absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand has had 20 charters or constitutions, with many changes following military coups that reflect the country's high degree of political instability, and after each successful coup military regimes have generally abrogated the existing constitution without public consultation. The 1997 constitution, often called the people's constitution, was a landmark for the degree of public participation in its drafting and stipulated an elected bicameral legislature with many human rights explicitly acknowledged for the first time, though many of its reforms disappeared after the 2006 military coup. The current constitution was adopted in 2017 by referendum, approved by 61.4 percent of voters, and allows a military-appointed council to select an unelected panel that chooses Senators, including seats reserved for the heads of the armed forces and police.