Qualifications in 2009, the meeting place and office of the Cabinet According to the
2007 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 the
House of Representatives, however most of them are. To be eligible to be a minister an individual must meet the following qualifications: • Be a
Thai national by birth. • Be older than 35 years of age. • Have graduated with no less than a
bachelor's degree or its equivalent. • Not be a member of the
Senate (former senators must wait two years after their term of office to be eligible) The individual must also: not be addicted to drugs, not have been
bankrupt, 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 for
corruption or incompetence, not be a paid
civil servant or member of the
judiciary, and not ever been removed from any office by the
Senate of Thailand.
Ministers of State are in theory appointed by the
king, 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."
Roles The 2007
Constitution 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 appointed
deputy prime ministers or
deputy ministers. According to the constitution, the cabinet must, within fifteen days of being sworn in, state its policies to the
National 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 a
vote 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 be
removed by the king on the advice of the prime minister. ==The Cabinet==