Royal authority defined by law

At monarch’s discretion
- select, endorse and dismiss privy councillors
- appoint and dismiss royal personnel
- designate a person in charge while he is abroad or unable to perform his role
- amend royal regulations concerning succession to the throne
- appoint his successor as head of state

Legislature
- appoint the House and Senate speakers and their deputies
- appoint the opposition leader
- call for the convening and adjournment of parliamentary sessions
- endorse constitutions or acts passed by Parliament
- veto constitutions or acts passed by Parliament

Administration
- appoint the prime minister
- appoint or remove ministers
- endorse decrees in case of necessity or emergency
- declare or annul martial law following conditions stated in the law
- declare war against foreign countries
- issue peace accords or agreements with other countries or international organisations
- remove royal posts, such as prince or princess, and call back their royal medals
- appoint high-ranking military and civil officials
- pardon convicts sentenced to death, reduce jail terms or grant amnesty

Judiciary
- appoint the president and 14 other judges of the Constitution Court
- appoint and remove judges of judiciary courts such as the Supreme Court, Appeals Courts and Criminal Courts
- appoint and remove judges of the Administrative Court
- appoint the president of the Administrative Court
- appoint and remove judges of the Military Supreme Court and Military Appeals Court

Independent organisations
- appoint members to the Election Commission
- appoint parliamentary ombudsmen
- appoint members to the National Human Rights Commission
- appoint members to the National Counter Corruption Commission
- appoint the auditor-general

Royal power

His Majesty’s power following royal tradition
- Thais have recognised that the monarchs are the Fathers of the Nation, who will protect their lives. This perception leads Thais to have strong faith in their King. It is understood in a historic context that the King is the leader of the nation, who will command his army during wartime. He is also the ruler and judge of all the people during peacetime.
- His Majesty visits his people around the country to find solutions to relieve their grief and suffering.
- His Majesty imposes his power impartially to all political groups. Any ruling political party will be regarded as the government under His Majesty.
- His Majesty uses his power to bring political crises to an end, as witnessed in the bloody civil uprisings against military regimes in October 1973, October 1976 and May 1992, when he pledged for all sides to stop fighting and think instead how they could live together for the benefit of the nation.

His Majesty’s power to give advice
- His Majesty and every government have had a good relationship because the governments regard themselves as administrations under His Majesty, who exercises administrative power through the Cabinet. Therefore, Cabinet members always request an audience to consult and ask for royal advice on administrative issues.
- His Majesty addresses his subjects on auspicious occasions such as His Majesty’s birthday or the New Year, suggesting solutions or directions to improve their lives, such as the “sufficiency economy” model and principles of transparency.

The Nation