Cambodia

Overview
Type of Government Constitutional Monarchy
UN Member Yes
Number of members in the legislative
body such as a congress, or parliament
123 seats
Last Legislative Election
Year of most recent legislative
Election election, in parliamentary
system this also elects the chief
executive

2008
Ceremonial Monarch
King, Queen, Emperor, etc. of the
country

King Norodom Sihamoni
Leadership
Chief Executive
Country's leader, whether it be a Prime
Minister, President, or King

Hun Sen
Chief Executive Type
The position and title of a nation's head of
government. In some countries several executives
share this role.

Prime Minister
Term Length
Maximum length in office before chief
executive must face another election, in certain
systems and election may take place prior to the
limits end.

5 years
Second Chief Executive
the second in line to power, often the main
position's deputy

Men Sam An
Second Chief Executive Type
Position and Title of the second chief
executive

Deputy Prime Minister
Defense Executive
The nation's chief military leader, whether
it be Secretary of Defense, or defense minister,
or otherwise
Min. of National Defense Tea Banh
Foreign Executive Min. of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong
Chief Financial Executive
Prime government leader of the nation's
economy

Min. of Economy & Finance Keat Chhon
Justice Executive
Cabinet member charged with maintaining
law and order and agencies under the position
that do so.

Min. of Justice Ang Vong Vattana
Prime Minister of Cambodia
Incumbent
Hun Sen
since 30 November 1998

Style His Excellency
Appointer Norodom Sihamoni
Term Length Five years
Inaugural holder Norodom Sihanouk
Formation 18 March 1945
Website www.cnv.org.kh
The Prime Minister of Cambodia is the head of governmetn of the Kingdom of
Cambodia. Prime Minister is appointed by the King under Article 119 of the Constitution and
is responsible for leading the government of the Kingdom.
Cambodia constituent assembly
The writing of the Cambodian Constitution took place between June and
September 1993 and resulted in the transformation of the political
situation Cambodia from civil war-marred, autocratic oligarchy to a Constitutional
Monarchy. Achieved under the guidance, auspices and funding of the United Nations
Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), the drafting of the constitution was the
culmination of a larger, $1.5 billion effort to end the decades-old Cambodian Civil
War and bring the warring parties into political, rather than military competition.

The
result of the process was the creation of a constitution for Cambodia that, at least on
paper, guarantees free political competition, regular elections, equal rights and
representation and universal suffrage.
Constitutional powers

The powers of the Prime Minister are established by the current Constitution of Cambodia, adopted on 24
September 1993 and amended on 4 March 1999.
[1]
They are defined by the following articles of the
Constitution:
Article 11: If the King can not perform its normal functions of head of state because of a serious illness
certified by a group of medical experts appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
Assembly and the Prime Minister, the President of the Senate shall serve as head of state in place of King as
Regent.
Article 13: Within seven days at most - after the vacancy of the throne - the new King of Cambodia is
selected by the Throne Council. Council members include the following:
The President of the Senate
The President of the Assembly
Prime Minister
The leaders of two religious orders, Thammayut and Mohanikay
First and second vice president of the Senate
First and second vice president of the Assembly.
Article 19: The King appoints the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers as provided for in section 119.
Article 20: The King receives the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in official audience twice a month to
inquire about the situation of the country.
Article 22: When the nation is in danger, the King publicly declared state of emergency with the approval of
the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly and the Senate President.

Article 78: .... The National Assembly may be dissolved before the end of its term
except when the royal government was overthrown twice during a twelve month
period. In this case, the King shall, upon proposal of the Prime Minister and with
the consent of the President of the National Assembly, dissolved the National
Assembly. ...

Article 83: ... Each session of the National Assembly last at least three months.
At the request of the King or the Prime Minister's or a third of the members of
the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the Assembly shall convene
the National Assembly for a special session. ...

Article 88: Meetings of the National Assembly are public. The National Assembly
may meet in closed session at the request of the President or at least one tenth
of its members, at the request of the king or at the request of the Prime Minister.
...
Article 91: Senators, MPs and the Prime Minister has the legislative initiative.

Article 96: Members have the right to question the royal government. The questions are written and
transmitted through the President of the National Assembly. Answers are provided by one or several
ministers depending on whether the problem concerns the responsibility of one or several ministers. If
the problem is the policy of the Royal Government, the Prime Minister must answer in person. The
answers of the Minister or the Prime Minister are oral or written. The above answers are given within a
period of seven days after receiving the questions. If the answer is oral, the president of the National
Assembly may decide whether or not to open the debate. If it does not allow for debate, the answers
of the Minister or the Prime Minister put an end to questions. If it authorizes the opening of a debate,
the questioners, the other speakers, the minister in question or the Prime Minister to discuss and
exchange views in a period not exceeding one session.

Article 107: The Senate shall meet in ordinary session twice a year. Each session lasts at least three
months. At the request of the King or the proposal of the Prime Minister or at least a third of its
members, the Senate summoned its members for a special session.

Article 111: The Senate hearings are public. The Senate may meet in closed session at the request of
the President or at least one tenth of its members, at the request of the King, at the request of the
Prime Minister or at the request of the President of the National Assembly.

Article 118: The Council of Ministers is the Royal Government of Cambodia. The Council of Ministers is
headed by a Prime Minister, assisted by vice prime ministers and ministers of state, ministers and state
secretaries as members.
Article 119: On the proposal of the President and with the assent of the two vice-presidents of the National
Assembly, the King means a person among the members of the winning party in elections to form the Royal
Government. The person appointed, along with colleagues who are MPs or party members are represented
in the National Assembly responsible for ministerial posts in the royal government, seeking the confidence
of the National Assembly. When the National Assembly voted confidence, the King signs the Kret
appointment of the entire Cabinet. Before his grafted in office, the Council of Ministers shall take an oath
under the terms provided in Annex 6.

Article 121. All members of the Royal Government are collectively responsible to the National Assembly of
the general policy of the royal government. Each member of the Royal Government is individually
responsible to the Prime Minister and the National Assembly of the acts he committed.

Article 123: The Cabinet meets every week in plenary session or work session. The plenary session was
chaired by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister may delegate to the Deputy Prime Minister chairing
meetings. All minutes of meetings of the Council of Ministers must be forwarded to the King for his
information.

Article 124: The Prime Minister may delegate its powers to deputy prime minister or a member of the royal
government.

Article 125: When the position of Prime Minister is permanently vacant, must be carried to the appointment
of a new Council of Ministers as provided for in this constitution. If the vacancy is temporary, an acting
Prime Minister is temporarily appointed.

Article 140: The King, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly or one tenth of the
deputies, the President of the Senate or one quarter of senators, may refer the laws passed by the
National Assembly to the Constitutional Council for review before promulgation. The Rules of Procedure
of the National Assembly, the Rules of the Senate and the organic laws must be submitted to the
Constitutional Council for review before promulgation. The Constitutional Council shall decide, within 30
days on the compliance or non-compliance of these laws or rules of the Assembly and the Senate with the
constitution.

Article 141: After enactment of a law, the King, the chairman of the Senate, the president of the National
Assembly, the Prime Minister, one quarter of the Senate, one tenth of the deputies or the courts may ask
the Constitutional Council to determine the constitutionality of this law. A citizen has the right to
challenge the constitutionality of laws through the Parliament or the President of the National Assembly
or the Senate or the President of the Senate as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Article 148: The National Convention meets once a year, in early December at the call of Prime Minister.
The national conference is held under the chairmanship of the King.

Article 151: The initiative of the revision or amendment of the constitution belongs to the King, the Prime
Minister and the President of the National Assembly, on proposal of one fourth of all members of the
Assembly National. Revision or amendment of the constitution must be done by a constitutional law voted
by the National Assembly by a majority of two thirds of all members of the National Assembly.