The
Constitution of Bhutan provides for 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 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.
Executive branch Bhutan's
head of state 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. Previously, the candidates to the cabinet Council of Ministers (
Lhengye Zhungtshog) were nominated by 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.
Legislative branch with his councilors at
Punakha, Bhutan (1905) 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, 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.
Political parties and elections In Bhutan,
political parties,
elections, and referendums are overseen by 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
Royal High Court of Bhutan 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.
Legal system 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 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 the
dzongkhag Drangpon (District Judge). Bhutan has not accepted compulsory
International Court of Justice jurisdiction. ==Administrative divisions==