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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

Incidentally, the first Royal commands by His Majesty King Rama IX and X are quite similar

to the Lord Buddha’s command 2,600 years ago, when he said to his first 60 enlightened monks
at the beginning of the second Buddhist Lent after enlightenment “All monks should go on

a pilgrimage for the benefit (hitaya) and happiness (sukhaya) of the public.” One can see the
influence of Buddhism upon the two Royal commands.

Next, the 20 constitutions within a period of nearly 90 years (1932-2017) can be divided
into 3 periods–the first period, the attempt to disregard the king and get rid of the Royal power

(1932-1946), the second period, the compromise with the king (1946-1949) and the third period,
the restoration of the Royal power (1949 to present).

The first period of conflict between the King and the People’s Party

The temporary Act on the Constitution of the Land of Siam B.E. 2475 was the first
constitution in the Thai Kingdom, established on June 27, 1932. At that time, the People’s Party

asked His Majesty King Rama VII to return to his palace in Bangkok. On June 26, 1932, the King
granted a Royal audience to the People’s Party who presented two drafts of documents–the

Royal Decree on Amnesty for those who were involved in the change of governing system
and the draft Act on the Constitution of the Land of Siam. The People’s Party also issued an

apology for defaming the King in the manifesto. His Majesty the King forgave the People’s Party
and affixed his Royal seal and signature on the first document but requested time to review

the second document. On the following day, he made a change of the draft Act on the
Constitution of the Land of Siam by writing “Temporary” on the document before affixing his

Royal seal and signature. This is not a perfunctory act as suggested by some political scientists.
His Majesty King Rama VII still kept his constitutional power as he amended the intended

permanent Act on the Constitution of the Land of Siam drafted by the People’s Party to a
“Temporary” condition and it was not countersigned, in contrast to the Royal Decree on

Amnesty for those who changed the governing system.
The wording in the temporary Act on the Constitution of the Land of Siam B.E. 2475

did not show respect to His Majesty the King. There were no Royal vocabularies used in the
document. For instance, if the king does not comply, the People’s Party will appoint a regent

or maintain the right to press charges against the king by way of the House of representatives.
For instances, Thawat Ritthidej, the head of the railway union, sued King Rama VII for defamation

or Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram sued King Rama VII for corruption as he claimed that
the king used the Treasury money to pay for health insurance without approval by the minister,

and asked for seizure of the Royal belongings. Moreover, this temporary constitution did not allow

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