E/CN.4/1995/31/Add.3 page 4 I. THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN 6. The monarchy, which has become hereditary, was instituted in 1907 in an original way since the first monarch, Ugyen Wangchuck, was elected by an assembly composed of representatives of the monastic community, public officials and ordinary citizens. 7. The regime, which never adopted a constitution, has embarked on a process of institutional modernization illustrated by a number of initiatives aimed at promoting democratization: establishment of a Parliament and a Royal Advisory Council, and renunciation by H.M. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of his right of veto. A. Royal power 8. The King, as head of State, is vested with supreme power (head of the Government, supreme judge in the sense that anyone can have recourse to him to contest a High Court decision). For most important decisions he is, directly or indirectly, the ultimate authority, but he endeavours to form a consensus with a Parliament that favours modernization, while showing extreme caution, and the Royal Advisory Council, which does not hesitate to make its reservations known, in particular when the King exercises his prerogative to grant pardon or amnesty. B. The executive branch 9. The King chooses and appoints the ministers and is head of a Government comprising eight members with the following portfolios: agriculture, communications, education and health, finance, foreign affairs, home affairs, industry and trade, and planning. 10. Local administration is organized into 20 districts, each headed by a district chief appointed by the King and directly responsible to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The army and police depend not on a minister but on the officer in command of the Bhutan Royal Army, who is accountable only to the King and who is seconded by two high officials - the chief of the royal police and the chief of the royal guard, a body which is separate from the army and police. C. The Royal Advisory Council 11. This recent institution is always in session. It is made up of 10 prominent persons, 2 being chosen by the King while the 8 others, including 2 monks elected by the State clergy, are appointed by the National Assembly. Their term of office is five years. Council members are eligible for re-election only after expiry of the subsequent term of office. The Council advises the King in all areas, at his request or on its own initiative, and also has the task of making sure that decisions passed by the National Assembly are properly carried out.