Cambodia is a country located in south-east Asia on the Indochina peninsula and is bordered with three other countries which are Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as well as having a coast along the Gulf of Thailand. The Khmer Empire, the predecessor to Cambodia, was formed after Jayavarman II declared himself king and united the warring Khmer princes. After about six centuries the empire would eventually go into decline due to numerous reasons that are still debated to this day such as power struggles, civil wars, plague, foreign invasion and so on.
After the above the area that is Cambodia would effectively become a vassal state to its neighbors for a long period of time, particular by the Siamese (Thai) and Vietnamese, who would war with each other over the control of Cambodia (Siamese-Vietnamese War) which led to joint control over Cambodia. Eventually King Norodom sought French protection from Thailand which led to Cambodia becoming a French Protectorate after a treaty signed between France and Thailand transferred some of Cambodia’s territory to Thailand (which would eventually be ceded back).
While under the French, Cambodia became a part of the colony of French Indochina and during WW2 would briefly be occupied by the Japanese. Cambodia would eventually declare independence in 1953. Cambodia would be bombed by the US between 1969 and 1973 after the Vietnam War spilled over the border due to the Ho Chi Minh and Sihanouk trails leading through the country used by the Viet Kong.
Eventually a coup in 1970 toppled Cambodia’s monarchy and installed the Khmer Republic, which was right-wing and pro-US, in response the ousted former King and North Vietnam would support the communist Khmer Rouge turning it into a major power which eventually took the capital Phnom Penh in 1975 and installing a government. The Khmer Rouge, under the leadership of Pol Pot, would carry out the Cambodian Genocide killing millions of its own citizens in an attempt of radical cultural change in implementing socialist agrarianism.
Eventually Vietnam would invade Cambodia and supported the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, a group of communists dissatisfied with the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge would be ousted from power by them in 1979. There would be a coalition government and some more conflict in the 90s due to a coup but eventually a monarchy was restored and the country has moved away from communism and towards free market and conservatism.
The largest religion in Cambodia is Buddhism and the currency used is the Cambodian riel. According to the CIA World Factbook Cambodia’s population will reach 16,926,984 by July 2020.
Government Type
Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy where the King is Head of State and a Prime Minister is Head of Government. There is a bicameral parliament that controls the legislative government. Multiple parties are allowed but the current Prime Minister has been in power for 35-years and there is no effective opposition currently against the dominating Cambodian People’s Party.
Monarchy and Executive Government
The King is Head of State and serves for life but the position is pretty much ceremonial as the constitution forbids the King from governing the country. The monarchy in Cambodia is not hereditary but is instead appointed by the government and if the King is unable to perform their usual duty as Head of State for example due to illness, then the President of the Senate will become regent during that time. If the King dies then the President of the Senate will become Acting Head of State. If the President of the Senate is unable to in either of those scenarios then instead the President of the National Assembly will.
If both of the above cannot then the hierarchy is as follows…
- First Deputy President of the Senate
2. First Deputy President of the National Assembly
3. Second Deputy President of the Senate
4. Second Deputy President of the National Assembly
Upon the King’s death, within 7 days a new King will be chosen by the Royal Council of the Throne. The councils members consist of The President of the Senate, the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, Samdech the Chiefs of the Order of Mohanikay and Thammayut, the first and second vice-presidents of the Senate and the first and second vice-presidents of the National Assembly.
The King who is chosen must be a member of the Royal Family, be at least 30-years-old and descend from the bloodline of King Ang Duong, King Norodom or King Sisowath. The wife of the reigning King shall get the title of Queen of Cambodia. The Queen cannot engage in politics or assume the titles of Head of State or of Government. The Queen exercises activities that serve the social, humanitarian, religious interests and shall assist the King with protocol and diplomatic functions.
The King appoints the Prime Minister from the largest party after parliamentary elections and on advice of the Prime Minister will appoint the Council of Ministers.
The King can communicate with the legislative chambers with Royal Messages which are not debated. The King also grants an audience twice a month with the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to hear their reports on the State of the Nation.
On proposals from the Council of Ministers, the King shall sign decrees that appoint, transfer or end missions of high civil and military officials, ambassadors as well as envoys.
The King also signs decrees on appointing, transferring or removing judges on proposals from the Supreme Council of Magistracy.
If the nation faces danger the King can make a proclamation of state of emergency after agreement with the Prime Minister and Presidents of the Senate and National Assembly.
The King is also Supreme Commander of the Nations Armed Forces. A Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is appointed. The King also serves as chairman of the Supreme Council of National Defense. After approval of the National Assembly and Senate the King shall declare war. The King confers civil and military ranks as determined by law.
As part of the Kings role in diplomacy he will receive letters of credentials from ambassadors or envoys of foreign countries. The King also signs and ratifies international treaties and conventions after approval from the National Assembly and Senate.
The King also promulgates laws passed by the National Assembly and Senate as well as signing decrees presented by the Council of Ministers.
The King dissolves the parliament for legislative elections. Parliament can be dissolved by the King earlier on proposal of the Prime Minister and approval of the Presidents of the Parliament. During war time the length of the parliamentary term can be extended by one year at a time on request of the King, requiring a two-third vote in the National Assembly or Senate to confirm.
The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers determine and adopt governing policy. The constitution says that policy must remain permanently neutral and non-alignment and that follows peaceful co-existence with its neighbors and other countries around the world. The constitution also forbids the manufacturing, storage or usage of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
The Council of Ministers includes the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers for assistance and other state ministers and state secretaries. After National Assembly elections the King will designate a dignitary from the winning party to form the Royal Government, the dignitary is agreed upon with the President and vice-presidents of the assembly.
After formation of the government by the chosen dignitary they will ask for a vote of confidence from the Assembly, if they get the confidence of the Assembly then the King will issue a decree that appoints the entire Council of Ministers and the dignitary will become Prime Minister.
Legislative Government
The legislative government is made up of a bicameral upper and lower chamber of parliament.
The National Assembly is the lower chamber of parliament and which has at least 120-members (currently 125 members) elected to it. After legislative elections a President of the Assembly and two Vice-Presidents are elected from among themselves, candidates requiring a 2/3 vote to win. The President of the National Assembly will moderate debate, makes sure rules are followed and overlooks agenda of the Assembly.
Sessions of the National Assembly are open to the public but can be closed on request from the President of the Assembly, by a request of 1/10 of members or a request by the King or Prime Minister. This is also the same for the Senate.
As well as introducing, debating and rejecting/amending/passing legislation the National Assembly also approves the national budget, state planning, loans, lendings, financial commitments as well as the creation, changes or annulment of taxes. Also approves or annuls international treaties or conventions and approves a declaration of war. A vote of confidence on the government can be held, passed by 2/3 majority of all members. A motion of censure can also be brought against government members/ministers by at least 30 members and passed with a 2/3 majority of all members.
Commissions are established and elected (candidates requiring a 2/3 vote) for the functioning of the National Assembly and Senate and creation/introduction of laws.
The Senate is the upper chamber of parliament and then number of members it has is determined from halving the members of the National Assembly (so currently it has 62 members), 2 members are appointed by the King and the rest are elected. After elections/appointments the Senate elects the President and vice-presidents of the Senate in the same way the National Assembly does and the position serves the same function.
The Senate scrutinizes and gives opinion on law bills passed/adopted by the National Assembly within a limited time frame usually 1 month or less if it is something such as a budget or if there is urgency declared. It can send bills back to the National Assembly or reject bills.
The two chambers can join together and hold a Congress to solve major problems of the country, as determined by law.
Extraordinary sessions of either house can be called by 1/3 of members, the Prime Minister or the King.
The Constitutional Council can annul laws that go against the constitution. The Constitutional Council consists of 9-members of which 1/3 of members are replaced every 3-years. 3 members are appointed by the King, 3 by the National Assembly and 3 by the Council of the Magistracy.
Electoral System
Legislative elections happen every 5-years to elect the members of the National Assembly.
Under electoral law members are elected from multi-seat constituencies using a proportional representation system that utilizes the D’Hondt method.
Candidates for the National Assembly must have Cambodia citizenship (Khmer citizenship) and be at least 25-years-old. Further restrictions on standing are defined by electoral law.
The Senate is elected/appointed every 6-years.
2 members are nominated by the King and another 2 members are nominated by the National Assembly members. The rest are elected from 24 provinces by commune councillors.
Candidates for the Senate are subject to the above conditions but must be at least 40-years-old.
The composition of the National Assembly determines who is appointed to form a government.
To vote in elections one must be a citizen of Cambodia (Khmer citizen) and be at least 18-years-old. Voting is not mandatory.
Sources
My information comes from the 1993 constitution which also includes the amendments that added a new 2nd chamber of parliament (the Senate), originally it was just a unicameral parliament before then. So, this post is as accurate as it can be but remember to cross-research if you are using in a serious capacity as their chance remains that I may have mis-interpreted some things. How elections work is subjected to electoral law and not stated in the constitution and so cross-research is essential for that as it can easily change. Also, the constitution can of course change so eventually this post may become outdated.
Changes to the constitution can be proposed by the King, Prime Minister or by President of the National Assembly from a proposal put forth by at least one-fourth of the National Assembly’s members. Requires a two-third vote in the National Assembly to pass and will also be scrutinized by the Senate.
Got some information on population and the process of amendments to the constitution from the CIA World Factbook Cambodia entry.
Next up will be Cameroon’s government system!
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