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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

appointment of the Privy Council. Regardless of the king’s approval, the House of representatives

could vote to enact any law.
The first permanent constitution of the Siam Kingdom was drafted on December 1932

by a committee led by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, the president, and Pridi Banomyong,
the secretary. His Majesty King Rama VII communicated with the drafting committee and asked

for the use of royal vocabulary, when referring to the King and, more importantly, for the
constitution to clearly state that “His Majesty the King remains in a sacred position that no

one can violate.” In the 1976 interview, Phraya Manawaratchasewi, who was in the drafting
committee, told the lecturer that he borrowed the above statement from the Meiji constitution,

which provided protection for the Japanese Emperor in both position and personal issues.
In addition, the first permanent constitution of the Siam Kingdom B.E. 2475 also indicated that

His Majesty the King shall be a Buddhist as well as the commander of the Army.
Moreover, this first permanent constitution added the appointment of regent to

the Palace Law B.E. 2467 about succession to the throne and also followed the request of
His Majesty King Rama VII prohibiting the Royal family members at the Mom Chao level or above

from any political activity.
Nevertheless, His Majesty King Rama VII found two problems in this first permanent

constitution. The first was the royal’s right to veto the law. The Parliament was apparent could
pass the law vetoed by the king by a majority vote. The King suggested two options, for public’s

input on the law vetoed by the king or the Parliament could pass that law using two-third rather
than a majority vote. However, the drafting committee rejected the king’s request.

The second larger issue leading to the revision of the constitution in 1949 concerned the
royal appointment of the Representatives type 2. His Majesty King Rama VII asked to have the

sole authority in doing so, but Pridi Banomyong, the leader of the People’s Party, disagreed and
stated that, similar to other Royal activities, a countersignature by one Minister was required.

Later on, the disagreement over the Pridi’s Economic Plan led to the closure of the
Assembly by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada who governed under Royal decrees. Phraya Phahon

Phonphayuhasena seized the power and became the Prime Minister in 1933. A number of
conflicts led to His Majesty King Rama VII’s abdication on March 2, 1934 (1935 according to the

international calendar).
His Majesty King Rama VII was a constitutional monarch for a year or so. After his

abdication, the succession to the throne fell to Prince Mahidol’s first-born son, Prince Ananda
Mahidol, upon invitation from the government, ascended to the throne as King Rama VIII.

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