THE ROLE OF SENATORS MEMBERS OF THE SENATE IN AMENDING THE THAI CONSTITUTION

Abstract

This academic article aimed to study and analyze the role of members of the Senate (Senators) in the process of amending the Constitution of Thailand. It focused on the structure and duties of the Senate as stipulated in the 2017 Constitution, and evaluated the impact of senators’ roles on the constitutional amendment process. The objective was to provide a comprehensive overview of the Senate’s participation in the development of the fundamental laws within a democratic system. Additionally, this article offered policy and legal recommendations to improve the role of the Senate in alignment with democratic principles. It also proposed constitutional amendment approaches to reduce the limitations posed by the Senate’s current structure and powers. The article contributed significantly to the academic discourse by presenting analysis and data that could be used to inform future legislative and policy development concerning the Thai Constitution. The study also highlighted major limitations in the role of senators that may hinder constitutional reform or transformation in accordance with societal needs. For instance, the fact that senators possess voting power on critical issues despite not being directly elected by the people, or their actions in obstructing certain constitutional amendment proposals. These findings led to recommendations for reforming the Senate’s structure and functions, including revising the selection process to ensure greater compliance with democratic principles.