| Thai:คณะรัฐมนตรีแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย | |
 Seal of the Council of Ministers | |
| Cabinet overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 28 June 1932 (93 years ago) (1932-06-28) |
| Type | A council to discharge the duties of administering the government according to collective responsibility |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Thailand |
| Motto | สุจริต เสียสละ สามัคคี (Honesty, Sacrifice, Unity) |
Thecabinet of Thailand (formally, theCouncil of Ministers of Thailand;Thai:คณะรัฐมนตรี;RTGS: Khana Ratthamontri) is a body composed of thirty-five of the most senior members of the government of theKingdom of Thailand. Thecabinet is the primary organ of theexecutive branch of theThai government. Members of the cabinet are nominated by theprime minister and formally appointed by theKing of Thailand. Most members are governmental department heads with the title of "minister of state" (Thai:รัฐมนตรี;RTGS: Ratthamontri). The cabinet is chaired by thePrime Minister of Thailand. The cabinet is often collectively called "the government" or "the Royal Thai Government".
Prior to theRevolution of 1932, the absolutistChakri kings ruledSiam through a series of "krom" (Thai:กรม) and "senabodi" (Thai:เสนาบดี).[1] On 15 April 1874 KingChulalongkorn founded theKing's Privy Council (Thai:สภาที่ปรึกษาในพระองค์) (which still exists today) made up of 49 seniorprinces and officials. For the first time the kings of Siam exercised his powers through a council.
On 14 July 1925 KingPrajadhipok formed theSupreme Council of State of Siam (Thai:อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา;RTGS: Aphiratthamontrisapha) made up of 5 senior princes (all of them his brothers and all of them ministers of state) to help govern the country. However, after the revolution in 1932, theKhana Ratsadon decided to dissolve this council. Instead thenew constitution created a direct precursor of the cabinet called: thePeople's Committee of Siam (Thai:คณะกรรมการราษฎร;RTGS: Khana Kammakan Ratsadon) led by a president. Theprivy council from then on became a royal advisory council.
With the promulgation of"permanent" constitution at the end of that year, the name of the committee was changed to the "council of ministers" and the name of the chair toprime minister, after King Prajadhipok deemed the old names toocommunistic. The first cabinet of Thailand was led byPhraya Manopakorn Nititada. Allgovernment departments and agencies were then immediately transferred to its control. To date there have been 58 cabinets of Thailand.
According to the2007 Constitution the cabinet is restricted to no more than 35 members. Members of the cabinet, unlike the prime minister, do not need to be a member of theHouse of Representatives, however most of them are. To be eligible to be a minister an individual must meet the following qualifications:
The individual must also: not be addicted to drugs, not have beenbankrupt, not be a monk or a member of the clergy, not be disenfranchised, not be mentally infirm, not be under indictment or conviction, not have been expelled by a state agency forcorruption or incompetence, not be a paidcivil servant or member of thejudiciary, and not ever been removed from any office by theSenate of Thailand.
Ministers of State are in theory appointed by theking, however in truth they are appointed at the advice of the prime minister to the king. Before taking office, a minister must make a solemn declaration before the king in the following words:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal to the King and will faithfully perform my duties in the interests of the country and of the people. I will also uphold and observe the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
The 2007Constitution of Thailand calls the cabinet the "Council of Ministers". The entire IXth chapter is dedicated to it. There are only 20 cabinet ministries, which means that 15 ministers are without portfolio. They can, however, be appointeddeputy prime ministers ordeputy ministers. According to the constitution, the cabinet must, within fifteen days of being sworn in, state its policies to theNational Assembly of Thailand. Ministers have the right to go in person to the national assembly to state and explain policies or opinions.
Each minister is responsible for his actions and the actions of his department and is therefore accountable to the national assembly. Therefore, the assembly can compel the minister to appear before it and explain his actions. The House of Representatives and the Senate can forcefully remove a sitting minister by avote of no confidence. A one-sixth of the chamber vote is needed to call a debate and a simple majority is required for removal. A minister can also beremoved by the king on the advice of the prime minister.
As the primary government institution in theexecutive branch, the cabinet is ultimately responsible for the administration and management of various government agencies and departments. It is also the primary institution for the formulation of policies with regards to all areas of politics and governing. Legislatively the cabinet is one of the institutions allowed to submitbills to the National Assembly for consideration. The cabinet is also allowed to call a joint sitting of the National Assembly to consider important bills or even join a joint sitting of the Assembly. The cabinet is also allowed to call a nationalreferendum.
The cabinet is governed by the rule ofcollective responsibility, in which the members of the cabinet must support all policies despite personal or private disagreement. As a result, if the government fails or if the policies of the government fails then the entire cabinet must take responsibility; andresign in its entirety. The cabinet's term is wedded to that of the Prime Minister. TheLeader of the Opposition is allowed to create his own cabinet or theShadow Cabinet of Thailand.
List of the Prime Minister and Ministers of Thailand on 19 September 2025
On 11 December 2025,Anutin Charnvirakul submitted theRoyal Decreedissolving theHouse of Representatives for royal assent by KingVajiralongkorn. The decree was published in theRoyal Gazette the next day (12 December), resulting in the entire Council of Ministers vacating office. However, all members of the Council of Ministers continued to perform their duties in a caretaker capacity as acaretaker government until a new Council of Ministers was royally appointed, sworn in, and had presented its policy statement to theHouse of Representatives.
เสนาบดี /เส-นา-บอ-ดี/ [นาม] (การใช้: โบราณ) แม่ทัพ. [นาม] (การใช้: โบราณ) ข้าราชการชั้นผู้ใหญ่. [นาม] (การใช้: โบราณ) เจ้ากระทรวง. definition:secretary of state; minister; commander in chief
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