Bangkok Administration

Governor of Bangkok

The Governor of Bangkok is the head of the local government of Bangkok . The Governor is also the chief executive of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The governor is elected to a renewable term of four years, currently it is one of the two directly elected executive office in the Kingdom. The office is comparable to that of a city mayor. The current incumbent is Sukhumbhand Paribatra of the Democrat Party, he was elected in a by-election on the 11 January 2009 to replace Apirak Kosayothin, who resign after being indicted for corruption.

Powers and roles

The powers and role of the office of Governor of Bangkok in accordance with the Bangkok Metropolis Organisation Act, BE 2528 (1985) are as follows:

• Formulate and implement policies for the Bangkok Metropolitan area.
• Is the head of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
• The power to appoint and remove: Deputy Governors, advisors, board members, city officials and servants.
• To coordinate and carry out the orders of the Cabinet of Thailand, the Prime Minister of Thailand and the Ministry of Interior.
• Oversee the smooth running of the various agencies and services of the city.
• The Governor is also invested with the same powers as any other Governor of a Provinces of Thailand and any other mayor.
• The power to draw up legislation and bills for the city, to be considered in the Bangkok Metropolitan Council.

Bangkok Metropolitan Council

The Bangkok Metropolitan Council or BMC is the legislative branch of the Administration. It is vested with primary legislative powers as well as the power to scrutinize and. The current Chairman is Thawatchai Piyanonthaya since 2006.

The Council is made up of 57 members elected from 57 constituencies (some constituency elects more than one member) based around Bangkok . They are elected to a four year term. The last election was held on 30 April 2006.

Committees

The Council is divided into 11 General Committees with 5-9 members appointed by the councillors themselves:

• Committee of the Cleanliness and Environment
• Committee for Checking the Minutes of Sittings and for Considering Closure of the Minutes of the Secret Sittings
• Committee for the Affairs of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council
• Committee for the Public Works and Utilities
• Committee for Education and Culture
• Committee for Health
• Committee for Community Development and Social Welfare
• Committee for Traffic, Transportation and Drainage
• Committee for Tourism and Sports
• Committee for Economics, Finance and Follow up of Budget Utilization
• Committee for Local Administration and Orderliness

Committees

The Secretariat of the Bangkok Metropolitan is the executive agency of the Council. The Secretariat helps the Council in all its roles including: drafting of legislation, organisation of sessions, minutes and procedures of the Council. The Secretariat also helps members of the Council by providing them research aid and legal counsel. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council The current Secretary is: Manit Tej-Apichok. The Secretariat itself is divided into 9 groups:

• Working committees Group
• Management of the BMC Group
• Legislation Group
• General Administration Group
• Academic Group
• Foreign Relations Group
• Council and Committee meetings Group
• Secretariat Group
• Legal Group