Bhutan: A Sovereign State and the Role of Monarch as Head of the State

Bhutan is a sovereign state and has defined boundaries ruled by its monarchs. She is a member of the United Nations since 1971. Sovereignty of Bhutan is absolute. Bhutan as sovereign state, her sovereignty attributes are:

• defined and recognized international territorial boundary,
• distinct people with culture, traditions and language,
• form of Government, power of law making, power to enter into Treaties,
• issuance of national coins and currencies,
• standing Army ,
• issuance of postage stamps,
• national flag,
• signatory to International Conventions, Covenants, protocols and agreements,
• appointment of foreign Minister, etc.

 

According to the Article 2 (The Institution of Monarchy) of the Constitution of Bhutan, the Druk Gyalpo (The King) can exercise His Royal Prerogatives as follows:

• Legislative Power

The Monarch of Bhutan has vast powers in the matters of law-making. For instance:

a) The Monarch is received with a Chibdrel ceremony at the commencement of each session of the Parliament and each session will open with Zhug-drel phunsum tshog-pai ten-drel and conclude with Trashi-moen-lam.

b) The Monarch summons the First Sitting of the Parliament after each General Election.

c) The Monarch has the right to make his speech in the session of one house or in the joint session of the Parliament as and when necessary.

d) The Monarch can send his message to either or both houses when deemed necessary whereby the house on receiving the message should consider the matter mentioned in the message and submit the opinion to the Monarch.

e) The Monarch can command the Speaker and the Chairperson to convene an extraordinary sitting of the Parliament as and when necessary.

f). Any bill passed by the Parliament will come into force only on the assent of the Monarch.

g) The Monarch can command the Houses to deliberate and vote on the bill in a joint sitting when the House where the bill originated refuses to accept the amendments or objections of the other house or when disagreement arises between the two houses.

 h) The Monarch can amend or object the bill passed by the Parliament and ask for deliberations in a joint sitting and resubmit for assent.

 i) The National Assembly can be dissolved on the recommendation of the Prime Minister to the Monarch and upon his or her assent.

 • Military Power

The Monarch is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Militia. Thus, the monarch is vested with the power to declare war and all the peace treaties are made in his or her name.

 • Financial Power

The Monarch exercises the following financial powers:

a) The Monarch has the prerogative to use relief fund instituted by the Parliament for urgent and unforeseen humanitarian relief.

• Diplomatic Power

The Monarch is responsible for the promotion of goodwill and good relations with other countries by receiving state guests and undertaking state visits to other countries.

His Majesty the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Her Majesty, Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck of Bhutan with Former President  Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Former Prime Minister of India Shri Manmohan Singh during a Royal Visit to India.
Source: Google.

• Emergency Power

The Monarch exercises the following emergency powers:

a) The Monarch can command a national referendum if a bill, in his opinion, of national importance is not passed in a joint sitting of the Parliament and an appeal is made by not less than one third of the total number of members of all Dzongkhag Tshogdus (District Level Assembly).

b) On the written advice of the Prime Minister, the Monarch may declare a state of emergency if the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Bhutan or any part thereof is threatened by an act of external aggression or armed rebellion.

c) On the written advice of the Prime Minister, the Monarch may declare a state of emergency when there is a public emergency or calamity which threatens or affects the nation as a whole or part thereof.

d) On the written advice of the Prime Minister, the Monarch may declare a state of financial emergency if His or Her Majesty is satisfied that a situation has arisen whereby the financial stability of Bhutan is threatened.

• Judicial Power

The Monarch exercises the following judicial powers:

a) The Monarch appoints the members of the National Judicial Commission comprising the Chief Justice of Bhutan as Chairperson, the senior most Drangpon (Judge) of the Supreme Court, the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee and the Attorney General.

b) The Monarch can grant amnesty, pardon and reduction of sentences.

c) The Monarch can grant citizenship, land kidu and other kidus through copies of Kashos (Royal Command) forwarded to the National Council for reference and record. 

[* Kidu- The Royal Grant.]

d) The Supreme Court should submit its opinion to the Monarch on any question of law or fact referred to it by the Monarch.

e) The Monarch can exercise powers even on matters not enshrined in the Constitution or other laws

•         Executive Power

As the Head of the State, the Monarch is vested with the power to make important appointments, award titles and decorations such as follows:

•         The Je Khenpo on recommendation of the Five Lopons
•         The Prime Minister
•         The Ministers on advice of the Prime Minister
•         The Chairperson of the National Council
•         The Chief Justice of Bhutan
•         The Drangpons of Supreme Court
•         The Chief Justice of High Court
•         The Drangpons of High Court
•         The Chief Election Commissioner and the Commissioners
•         The Auditor General
•         The Chairperson and members of the Royal Civil Service Commission
•         The Chairperson and members of Anti-Corruption Commission
•         The Head of the Defence Forces from a list of names recommended by the Service Promotion Board
•         The Attorney General.
•         The Governor of the Central Bank of Bhutan on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
•         The Chairperson of Pay Commission.
•         The Cabinet Secretary on recommendation of the Prime Minister.
•         The Secretary General of the respective houses on the recommendation of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council.
•         Ambassadors and consuls on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
•         The Secretaries to the Government on the recommendation of the Prime Minister based on the nominations from the RCSC.
•         Dzongdags on the recommendation of the Prime Minister based on the nominations from RCSC.
•         The Interim Government is appointed by the Monarch 

*Monarch 

• is the symbol of unity and harmony for the people of Bhutan. Druk Gyalpo is an apolitical figure and represents permanence and continuity in the Kingdom’s life.
• is the holder of Chhoe-sid or the dual system of religious and secular traditions. Druk Gyalpo is also the protector of all religions in Bhutan. 
• is the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Militia. By extension, Druk Gyalpo is the supreme guardian of the Kingdom’s security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. 
• has the oversight role of all affairs of the state, including the functions of the government. Therefore, Lhengye Zhungtshog and other branches of the government are responsible to Druk Gyalpo.
• can exercise a set of Royal Prerogatives, namely a) Award titles, decorations, dhar for Lhengye and Nyi Kyem, b) Grant citizenship, land kidu and other kidus, c) Grant amnesty, pardon and reduction of sentences, d) Command Bills and other measures to be introduced in Parliament, and e) Exercise powers relating to matters which are not provided for under the Constitution or other laws. 

 

Among others, the Royal Prerogatives underline several critical roles of Druk Gyalpo. They include the appointment of public officials in key positions and the legislative roles.