Cabinet of Thailand

The cabinet of Thailand (formally, the Council of Ministers of Thailand; คณะรัฐมนตรี; is a body composed of thirty-five of the most senior members of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The cabinet is the primary organ of the executive branch of the Thai government. Members of the cabinet are nominated by the prime minister and formally appointed by the King of Thailand. Most members are governmental department heads with the title of "minister of state" (รัฐมนตรี; . The cabinet is chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand. The cabinet is often collectively called "the government" or "the Royal Thai Government". Prior to the Revolution of 1932, the absolutist Chakri kings ruled Siam through a series of "krom" (กรม) and "senabodi" (เสนาบดี). On 15 April 1874 King Chulalongkorn founded the King's Privy Council (สภาที่ปรึกษาในพระองค์) (which still exists today) made up of 49 senior princes and officials. For the first time the kings of Siam exercised his powers through a council. On 14 July 1925 King Prajadhipok formed the Supreme Council of State of Siam (อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา; ) made up of 5 senior princes (all of them his brothers and all of them ministers of state) to help govern the country. However, after the revolution in 1932, the Khana Ratsadon decided to dissolve this council. Instead the new constitution created a direct precursor of the cabinet called: the People's Committee of Siam (คณะกรรมการราษฎร; led by a president. The privy council from then on became a royal advisory council. With the promulgation of "permanent" constitution at the end of that year, the name of the committee was changed to the "council of ministers" and the name of the chair to prime minister, after King Prajadhipok deemed the old names too communistic. The first cabinet of Thailand was led by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada. All government departments and agencies were then immediately transferred to its control. To date there have been 58 cabinets of Thailand. According to the 2007 Constitution the cabinet is restricted to no more than 35 members.