Gyelyong Tshogde

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gyelyong Tshogde
(National Council of Bhutan)
Basic data
Seat: Gyelyong Tshokhang , Thimphu
MPs: 25th
Current legislative period
Chair: Tashi Dorji
20th
5
20th 5 
Distribution of seats:
  • Independent 20
  • Appointed 5
    		•
    Website
    nationalcouncil.bt

    The Gyelyong Tshogde ( English National Council of Bhutan , dzongkha གི་ རྒྱལ་ ཡོངས་ ཚོགས་ སྡེ་ ), the National Council, is the upper house in the bicameral system of the parliament ( Chi Tshog ) of Bhutan . The other chamber is the Gyelyong Tshogdu , the National Assembly. The National Council has both legislative and review functions and is therefore also known as the House of Review .

    History, duties and voting system

    After the conversion of Bhutan into a constitutional monarchy by the current king , the National Council was constituted in accordance with Article 11 of the Bhutan Constitution on April 29, 2008, after the elections to this Chamber of Parliament took place on December 31, 2007 and January 29, 2008.

    The National Council has 25 members: 20 members are directly elected by the people, one in each of the 20 Dzongkhags , the districts of Bhutan, and five members are appointed by the king . The members of the National Council may not belong to any political party and may not belong to the state apparatus, the military or the police. The legislative period is five years.

    The National Council can propose new laws, with the exception of laws that affect the budget. He has to approve laws that have been passed by the National Assembly, but can also amend or reject them.

    His most important task, however, is to review and comment on the performance of the government. He also monitors the implementation of passed laws and advises other issues of national importance.

    elections

    2007/08

    On December 31, 55 percent of the 270,000 registered voters in 15 of the 20 electoral districts took part in these first elections to the National Council. The elections were postponed in the five constituencies in which there was either no or only one candidate. In order to run, candidates had to have a university degree. Although the literacy rate in Bhutan is estimated at 60 percent, only 16,000 of the country's 634,000 residents have a university degree. The vote went without major incidents. The results for 15 of the electoral seats were announced on January 1, 2008.

    The elections for the five remaining seats took place on January 29, 2008. In three constituencies where there was only one candidate, the voters could say “yes” or “no”. Heavy snowfalls and cold were probably responsible for the relatively low turnout of 42 percent.

    A total of four of the 20 elected members were women. On March 30, 2008, the king appointed five more members, including two more women.

    At its first meeting, the National Council elected Namgye Penjore as its President.

    2013

    A total of 67 candidates ran for the second election to the National Council. Candidates' programs included preserving democracy, ensuring good governance, peace and security, and increasing gross social happiness . Six out of 14 candidates who were members of the National Council in the first legislative period were re-elected. This time none of the five female candidates was successful, so that, due to the king's appointment, only two women are members of the National Council.

    Web links

    Individual evidence

    1. ↑ a b c About National Council. National Council Bhutan, accessed September 15, 2018 .
    2. ↑ a b c d e BHUTAN Gyelyong Tshogde (National Council), ELECTIONS IN 2007. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION, accessed on August 15, 2018 .
    3. ^ About National Council. National Council Bhutan, accessed September 15, 2018 .
    4. ↑ BHUTAN Gyelyong Tshogde (National Council), Electoral system. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION, accessed September 15, 2018 .
    5. ↑ BHUTAN Gyelyong Tshogde (National Council), ELECTIONS IN 2013. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION, accessed on August 15, 2018 .