Abstract:
This individual study aims to research and analyze the role of the first chamber of the Senate, under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E 2560 (2017), and to examine whether the establishment of the ad-hoc committee, during the period of 2019-2022, aligns with the principle of checks and balances and the intendment of the Constitution. Given that the ad-hoc committee was originally appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), it subsequently became an executive power organization. The study revealed that during the period of 2019 to 2022, the establishment of the ad-hoc committee, as stipulated in the Rules of Procedure of the Senate B.E. 2562 (2019), still lacks clarity regarding the scope of the committees authority, the number of the committee members, and the selection of lay member individuals as ad-hoc committee members. It reflects the limited roles of the Senate in conducting checks and balances on the Executive, as evidenced by the committee reports which are mainly approved without significant amendments or slight adjustments. Furthermore, the committee's observations tend to lean towards advising or supporting the Executive rather than conducting checks and balances. In contrast, the establishment of ad-hoc committees in the United Kingdom and the United States clearly defines the number of committee members and involves the selection of qualified individuals beneficial for the committee's duty performance. It is, therefore, advisable to amend the relevant laws concerning the scope of authority, the number of ad-hoc committee members, and the selection of lay member individuals as ad-hoc committee members to strengthen the role of the Senate in checking and balancing the power of the Executive, by establishing the ad-hoc committee in line with the principle of checks and balances and the intendment of the Constitution.