The two bills are required by the new charter, which says they must be enacted and promulgated within four months after the charter has been promulgated. The charter received the royal endorsement on April 6, prompting it to be in effect since.

Below are the essences of the national strategy bill, which would last 20 years.

Key Points in the Creation of a National Strategy Act

The Act has been written as dictated by the Article 65 of the 2017 Constitution.

-The National Strategy Committee must develop and put in place a national strategy, which is a common goal for future governments and government agencies to pursue for at least 20 years.

-The national strategy must consist of at least three components, which are the vision for national development, the specific long-term goal and the success indicators, and strategies.

-The national strategy must be reviewed every five years by the National Strategy Committee, and should be revised corresponding to the changing circumstances.

-All agencies must have annual budgets allocated specially for pursuit of the national strategy and the model schemes it entails.

-The national strategy is a royal command. It binds all government agencies and officials legally.

-Agencies or individuals when fail to serve the national strategy will be held accountable by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. An ultimate penalty is dismissal off the office.

-During the five-year transitional period, the junta-appointed Senate will be responsible in ensuring the government, which is obliged to report the progress to the Senate every quarter, follows the strategy. If the government fails to comply, the Senate must take the case to the Constitutional Court. If the government is ruled as illegally failing to serve its duty, the Senate could report it to the NACC, which must conclude the case in 60 days.

Composition of the National Strategy Committee

The committee is to be composed of 17 permanent members, including the chair people, as following.

Chairperson: Prime Minister

1st Vice Chair: President of the House of Representatives

2nd Vice Chair: President of the Senate

3rd Vice Chair: Deputy Prime Minister or Designated Minister

Ex officio members:

Permanent Secretary of Defence Ministry

Supreme Commander

Army Chief

Navy Chief

Air Force Chief

Police Chief

Secretary General of the National Security Council

President of the National Economic and Social Development Board

President of the National Farmers Council

President of the Thai Chamber

President of the Federation of Thai Industries

President of the Tourism Council

President of the Thai Bankers Association

The Cabinet reserves the authority to appoint the maximum of 14 extra members who are specialists from various areas to help develop the strategy. The 14 additional members serve the term of five years.

Provisional Timetable

-The Cabinet must appoint the additional non-permanent members of upto 14 people within 30 days after the Act comes into effect.

-The National Strategy Committee must set up all the necessary committees to work on strategies of different areas within 30 days.

-All the committees must complete national strategies in all areas within 120 days after taking office.

-The strategy must be submitted to the Cabinet after opinion gathering process.

-The Cabinet must forward it to the National Legislative Assembly in 30 days.

-The NLA must pass it within 30 days before resubmits it to the PM for seeking further royal endorsement.

The national reforms bill, meanwhile, would involve also the set-up of the national reform committee to implement national reform plans, which largely follow the national strategy.