Abstract:
As a part of the legislative branch of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly members which were elected by the residents of Bangkok are empowered to consider legislative drafts, authorize the budget and examine the administrative branch. Their role, therefore, is in supportive of the decentralization process which emphasize and increased role of local self-government and political participation. The purpose of this dissertation is to analyse the role of the Assembly Member with regard to the development of the local government in Thailand Methodologies employed include an analytical study of the relationship between sex, age and level of education in connection to the role of each individual Assembly Members, a study of the understanding of the Assembly Members relating to their role and responsibility to the development of the local self-government. In conducting descriptive statistics and analysis of the relationship between variables, questionaires, research of related documents and chisquare were employed as the method of data collection. The study found out from the response of the majority of the Assembly Members that they possess mid-level of understanding with regard to their role in the development of self-government. On the other hand, they have high recognition of their role in the relations with voters which could attribute to a wider political participation of voters in the constituency. Patterns of building acquaintance require regular visits to listen to the needs of the locals, providing assistance either in private or through public fund. In conclusion, the Assembly Member' role has attributed to a better development of the local self-government as well as an increased political participation of the people in the Bangkok Metropolis.