Parliament of the Kingdom of Laos

The Parliament of the Kingdom of Laos was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Laos from 1947 to 1975. It consisted of the National Assembly, whose members were popularly elected, and the Royal Council, whose members were appointed by the King or elected by the National Assembly.[2] The last elections to the National Assembly took place in 1972.

Parliament of the Kingdom of Laos
Type
Type
HousesRoyal Council and National Assembly
History
FoundedNovember 1947[1]
Disbanded2 December 1975
Succeeded bySupreme People's Assembly of Lao PDR
Elections
Last National Assembly election
1972
Meeting place
Vientiane

Royal Council

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The Royal Council or King's Council, Thipuksa Phramahakaxat, reviewed the legislations approved by the National Assembly. It had 12 appointed members. Six members were appointed by the King of Laos and six were nominated by the National Assembly.[3] The President of the council was the presiding officer. The chamber was responsible for scrutinizing bills approved by the National Assembly, and advising the King on the approval of the bills.[4]

President Took office Left office Notes
Prince Boun Oum 1947 1949 [4][5]
Kou Abhay 1949 1953 or later [4][6]
Phaya Khammao Vilay (1892–1965) 1955 [4]
Kou Abhay 1956 or earlier 1960 [7]
Phaya Muong Sen 1961 or earlier 1961 or later
Outhong Souvannavong (1907-1996) 1965 1975 [8][9]
Prince Khammao (1911–1984) 1975 1975 [10]

National Assembly

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The National Assembly (Lao: ສພາແຫ່ງຊາຕ, romanizedSapha Heng Xat) had 60 members elected in popular elections. The legislative term was five years. The President of the National Assembly was the presiding officer.[3] According to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Laos, National Assembly was the supreme legislative body.[4]

President Took office Left office Notes
Phoui Sananikone 1947 1950 [4][11]
Phao Panya 1950 1951 [11]
Kou Voravong 1951 1954 [4]
Pheng Phongsavan 1955 1956 [12]
Souphanouvong 1958 1959 [13]
Pheng Phongsavan 1959 1959 [12]
Souvanna Phouma May 1960 August 1960 [14][15]
Somsanith Vongkotrattana 1961 1963 [4]
Phoui Sananikone 1963 1965 [16]
Oudom Souvannavong 1966 1967 [16]
Phoui Sananikone 1968 1974 [4][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Laos - The Kingdom of Laos". countrystudies.us.
  2. ^ Laos Inter-Parliamentary Union
  3. ^ a b http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/LAOS_1972_E.PDF [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stuart-Fox, Martin (2008). Historical Dictionary of Laos. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5624-0.
  5. ^ "The chronological history of Laos: Part 2 [1900-1955]". Capitol Hill.
  6. ^ "Chroniques d'Outre-Mer; Études et Informations". February 1953.
  7. ^ "Laos - THE FIRST COALITION - Renewed Negotiations". countrystudies.us.
  8. ^ Service, United States Foreign Broadcast Information (November 20, 1972). "Daily Report: People's Republic of China". National Technical Information Service – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Services, United States Dept of State Office of Media (November 20, 1975). Countries of the World and Their Leaders. Gale Research Company. ISBN 9780810310469 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Translations on South and East Asia". Joint Publications Research Service – via Google Books.
  11. ^ a b Goscha, Christopher. "Historical Dictionary of the Indochina War (1945–1954)" (PDF). NIAS Press.
  12. ^ a b "Translations on South and East Asia". Joint Publications Research Service – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Laos - The 1958 Elections". countrystudies.us.
  14. ^ a b Lentz, Harris M. (February 4, 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. ISBN 9781134264902 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "Laos - The Army Enters Politics". countrystudies.us.
  16. ^ a b "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXVIII, Laos - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov.