BHUTAN
Society

Society

State structure

Bhutan Parliament Building_{Photo: Bernard Gagnon CC 4.0 International no changhes made}

The king (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan is also the (hereditary) head of state, and has ruled the constitutional monarchy since July 18, 2008, before that Bhutan was an absolute monarchy. The king is the symbol of the unity between state and people of Bhutan. The king is furthermore the protector of all religions in Bhutan, appointed senior officials and is commander of the Bhutanese Armed Forces. The king can only be succeeded by a child from a valid marriage. According to the constitution, the king is obliged to resign at the age of 65 and is then succeeded by the crown prince or crown princess, provided he is at least 21 years old. If the successor is not yet 21 years old, a regent observes.

The government building in the capital, Thimphu, is home to the 25 members of the upper house, the 'Gyelyong Tshogd' and the 47 members of the lower house or National Assembly (Tshogdu). The upper house has apolitical, non-partisan members, five of whom are elected by the king. The remaining twenty upper house members are elected through each of the 20 Bhutanese districts or 'dzongkhags'. The 47 members of the lower house, who do belong to a political party, are elected from 47 electoral districts. Both the members of the lower house and the upper house are elected for a period of five years. The constitution states that the national assembly may consist of a maximum of 55 people.

The party with the majority in parliament forms the government, the rest of the parties are in the opposition. The Prime Minister of Bhutan is always the leader of the ruling party in the lower house. The king, in consultation with the prime minister, nominates the candidates for a squad of ministers or 'Lhengye Zhungtshog', who are chosen from among the members of the lower house. After approval by parliament, the minsters can run their country for five years. In theory, a two-thirds majority of parliament can depose the king.

Constituencies overview

constituency	district	constituency	district	constituency	district
Chhoekhor Tang	Bumthang	Lamgong Wangchang	Paro	North Thimphu	Thimphu
Chhumig Ura	Bumthang	Khar Yurung	Pema Gatshel	South Thimphu	Thimphu
Bongo Chapchha	Chhukha	Nanong Shumar	Pema Gatshel	Bartsham Shongphu	Trashigang
Phuentshogling	Chhukha	Nganglam	Pema Gatshel	Kanglung Samkhar Udzorong	Trashigang
Drukjeygang Tseza	Dagana	Kabisa Talog	Punakha	Radhi Sagteng	Trashigang
Lhamoi Dzingkha Tashiding	Dagana	Lingmukha Toedwang	Punakha	Thrimshing	Trashigang
Khamaed Lunana	Gasa	Dewathang Gomdar	Samdrup Jongkhar	Wamrong	Trashigang
Khatoed Laya	Gasa	Jomotshangkha Martshala	Samdrup Jongkhar	Draagteng Langthil	Trongsa
Bji Kar Tshog Uesu	Haa	Dophuchen Tading	Samtse	Nubi Tangsibji	Trongsa
Sombaykha	Haa	Phuentshogpelri Samtse	Samtse	Kilkhorthang Mendrelgang	Tsirang
Gangzur Minjey	Lhuentse	Tashichhoeling	Samtse	Sergithang Tsirang Toed	Tsirang
Maenbi Tsaenkhar	Lhuentse	Ugyentse Yoeseltse	Samtse	Athang Thedtsho	Wangdue Phodrang
Dramedtse Ngatshang	Monggar	Gelegphu	Sarpang	Nyishog Saephu	Wangdue Phodrang
Kengkhar Weringla	Monggar	Shompangkha	Sarpang	Bardo Trong	Zhemgang
Monggar	Monggar	Boomdeling Jamkhar	Tashi Yangtse	Panbang	Zhemgang
Dokar Sharpa	Paro	Khamdang Ramjar	Tashi Yangtse

The twenty districts or 'dzongkhag' further consist of 205 'gewogs', a number of towns and cities, and 'thromdes', the third administrative layer in Bhutan. The districts are governed by a body called 'Dzongkhak Tshokdu'. The current political situation is described in the chapter history.

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Sources

BBC - Country Profiles

Brown, Lindsay / Bhutan
Lonely Planet

CIA - World Factbook

Dorje, Gyurme / Bhutan Handbook
Footprint

Elmar Landeninformatie

Jordans, Bart / Bhutan : a trekker's guide
Cicerone

Pommaret, Françoise / Bhutan : Himalayan mountain kingdom
Odyssey

Te gast in Bhutan
Informatie Verre Reizen

Last updated October 2024
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