EIGHT Parliamentary committees, legislative supporting agencies and policy advice
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Tatchalerm Sudhipongpracha
Abstract
This chapter offers an overview of the structures of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the functions that may allow the parliamentarians to incorporate policy analysis tools in their work. These functions include the parliamentary ‘question time’ and parliamentary committees. The former enables parliamentarians to scrutinise the executive branch and acquire information necessary for their legislative tasks, while the latter is an important mechanism to make laws and shape public policies. This chapter also explores the parliament’s research and administrative services, including the personal staff, for each individual parliamentarian and general research services offered by the parliamentary administration. With the fact that the current constitution has deprived the Thai parliament of its legislative and oversight powers, this chapter demonstrates that the Thai parliamentarians have tried to use what they have for communicating to the electorate that alternatives to the executive branch’s policy proposals are available.
Abstract
This chapter offers an overview of the structures of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the functions that may allow the parliamentarians to incorporate policy analysis tools in their work. These functions include the parliamentary ‘question time’ and parliamentary committees. The former enables parliamentarians to scrutinise the executive branch and acquire information necessary for their legislative tasks, while the latter is an important mechanism to make laws and shape public policies. This chapter also explores the parliament’s research and administrative services, including the personal staff, for each individual parliamentarian and general research services offered by the parliamentary administration. With the fact that the current constitution has deprived the Thai parliament of its legislative and oversight powers, this chapter demonstrates that the Thai parliamentarians have tried to use what they have for communicating to the electorate that alternatives to the executive branch’s policy proposals are available.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- List of abbreviations ix
- Notes on contributors xii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiv
- Introduction 1
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History, styles and methods of policy analysis in Thailand
- History and styles of policy analysis in Thailand 11
- Methods of policy analysis in Thailand: bureaucratic, managerial, academic and participatory orientations 28
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Policy analysis within executive government
- Policy analysis in central government 49
- Policy analysis in Thai local governments 67
- Collaboration, networks and policy analysis in Thailand 88
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Policy analysis beyond executive government
- Monarchy and Thai meta-policy: the early years of Rama X’s reign 107
- The role of the Thai military in policy analysis: unpacking three faces of the military in the non-military policy domain 137
- Parliamentary committees, legislative supporting agencies and policy advice 155
- The role of expert policy advisory boards, consultants and think tanks in policy analysis 170
- Political movements as expression of public opinion for agenda setting in Thailand 186
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Political parties and interest groups in policy analysis
- Political parties and policy analysis 203
- Business associations and policy analysis 219
- The role of the community sector and civil society in policy analysis 230
- The influence of Thailand’s social movements on policy analysis 248
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Policy analysis education and research
- Policy analysis instruction in Thailand 273
- Non-traditional policy studies in Thailand 286
- Policy research in academic institutions 303
- Transition and prospects of Thai policy analysis 320
- Index 337
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- List of abbreviations ix
- Notes on contributors xii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiv
- Introduction 1
-
History, styles and methods of policy analysis in Thailand
- History and styles of policy analysis in Thailand 11
- Methods of policy analysis in Thailand: bureaucratic, managerial, academic and participatory orientations 28
-
Policy analysis within executive government
- Policy analysis in central government 49
- Policy analysis in Thai local governments 67
- Collaboration, networks and policy analysis in Thailand 88
-
Policy analysis beyond executive government
- Monarchy and Thai meta-policy: the early years of Rama X’s reign 107
- The role of the Thai military in policy analysis: unpacking three faces of the military in the non-military policy domain 137
- Parliamentary committees, legislative supporting agencies and policy advice 155
- The role of expert policy advisory boards, consultants and think tanks in policy analysis 170
- Political movements as expression of public opinion for agenda setting in Thailand 186
-
Political parties and interest groups in policy analysis
- Political parties and policy analysis 203
- Business associations and policy analysis 219
- The role of the community sector and civil society in policy analysis 230
- The influence of Thailand’s social movements on policy analysis 248
-
Policy analysis education and research
- Policy analysis instruction in Thailand 273
- Non-traditional policy studies in Thailand 286
- Policy research in academic institutions 303
- Transition and prospects of Thai policy analysis 320
- Index 337
