Translation:Royal Institute Act, 2544 BE

by National Assembly of Thailand

Table of contents

Act

Preamble

Chapter

1. General provisions
2. Members
3. Operation

Transitory provisions

Statement of grounds

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Seal of the Royal Command

Royal Institute
Act,
2544 BE

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Bhumibol Adulyadej R
Given on the 31st day of October 2544 BE
Being the 56th year of the present reign

His Majesty King Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej is pleased to give a Great Royal Command that it be announced as follows:

Whereas it is appropriate to improve the law on the Royal Institute;

Therefore, by and with the advice and consent of the National Assembly, He is graciously pleased to enact the following Act:

Section1.This Act is called the Royal Institute Act, 2544 BE.

Section2.This Act shall enter into operation from the day following the day of its publication in the Royal Gazette onwards.

Section3.The following shall be repealed:

(1)the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era;

(2)the Royal Institute Act (No 2), 2487 Buddhist Era.

Section4.The Royal Institute established under the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, shall become the Royal Institute under this Act.

Section5.The Prime Minister shall be in charge of the implementation of this Act.

Chapter 1
General provisions

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Section6.The Royal Society shall be a public entity called otherwise and have the status of a department which is not subject to the Office of the Prime Minister or any ministry or subministry, according to the law on state administrative organisation.

Section7.The Royal Society shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)to investigate, research, and cultivate all types of knowledge, and publish the works created for the benefit of the Country and people;

(2)to contact with, exchange knowledge with, and coordinate on academic affairs with learned organisations and other academic institutions, both inside and outside the Country;

(3)to provide academic opinion, advice, and counsel to the Prime Minister or Council of Ministers;

(4)to provide academic services to public entities, state enterprises, constitutional independent agencies, public organisations, other state agencies, educational institutions, private agencies, and people;

(5)to carry out works relating to the production of dictionaries, encyclopaedias, directories, and taxonomies, the coinage of academic terms in all branches, and the production of dictionaries of foreign academic terms in the Thai language, as well as other academic works;

(6)to designate criteria relating to the use of the Thai language, the conservation of the Thai language from ruinous changes, and the promotion of the Thai language, which is an identity of the Nation, so that it be more prominently recognised;

(7)to carry out other acts designated by the law to be subject to the powers and duties of the Royal Institute.

Section8.The academic works of the Royal Institute shall be divided into the following academies:

(1)Academy of Moral and Political Sciences;

(2)Academy of Science;

(3)Academy of Arts.

Establishment of new academies, or dissolution, consolidation, or separation of academies, shall be effected by royal decrees.

Section9.Designation of fields of knowledge in each academy, and division of fields of knowledge into disciplines of knowledge, shall be effected by rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section10.Rules of the Council of the Royal Institute shall be published in the Royal Gazette.

Chapter 2
Members

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Section11.Members of the Royal Institute are of three types, namely—

(1)associate fellows;

(2)fellows;

(3)honorary fellows.

Section12.An associate fellow is a person having the qualifications under section 13 and the qualification under section 14 who applies for an associate fellowship of any academy according to the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute and is admitted as an associate fellow by a resolution of such academy.

Section13.An applicant for an associate fellowship must have the following qualifications and must not be attacked by the following disqualifications:

(1)being of Thai nationality;

(2)being not younger than full thirty-five years of age;

(3)not being an incompetent or quasi-incompetent person;

(4)not having once been imprisoned by a final judgment of imprisonment, save where the punishment was for an offence committed through negligence or a petty offence;

(5)not being of seriously infamous conduct.

Section14.An applicant for an associate fellowship must be qualified by knowledge and expertise in any discipline of knowledge with an academic degree, certificate, or position not lower than that designated in the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute, and must have used such qualification to express ability in any of the following manners:

(1)having expressed the ability in carrying out work to the extent of gaining recognised reputation and credit in academic, artistic, or professional affairs;

(2)having innovated or improved an invention, process, or academic principle which the Royal Institute finds to be of recognised benefit;

(3)having composed or translated a literary work which the Royal Institute finds to be of considerable excellence, provided that the work has already been published.

Section15.Designation of the number of the associate fellows that each academy may have, the criteria and procedures for the making of applications, and the procedures for admission of associate fellows, shall be governed by the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section16.A fellow is an associate fellow appointed as a fellow in any field of knowledge which is under the duties of the Royal Institute by His Most Gracious Majesty upon notification by the Prime Minister following the advice from the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section17.Designation of the number of the fellows that each academy may have, establishment of new fellowships, filling of vacant fellowships, as well as selection of associate fellows for new or vacant fellowships, shall be governed by the criteria and procedures designated in the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section18.An honorary fellow is a qualified person with recognised reputation and credit in any field of knowledge which is under the duties of the Royal Institute and having cooperated in academic works which are beneficial to the activities of the Royal Institute, who is appointed as an honorary fellow by His Gracious Majesty upon notification by the Prime Minister following the advice from the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section19.Members of the Royal Institute shall have the following rights and benefits:

(1)associate fellows

(a)receiving financial support according to the regulations of the Royal Institute;

(b)wearing badges according to the regulations of the Council of the Royal Institute;

(c)attending, and expressing opinions or engaging in debates at, the meetings of academies or the meetings of the Council of the Royal Institute, but having no right to vote;

(2)fellows

(a)receiving financial support according to the regulations of the Royal Institute;

(b)wearing badges according to the regulations of the Council of the Royal Institute;

(c)being honoured at royal ceremonies or ceremonies or social gatherings of the public sector as equal to public servants holding director general positions;

(3)honorary fellows

(a)wearing badges according to the regulations of the Council of the Royal Institute;

(b)being honoured at royal ceremonies or ceremonies or social gatherings of the public sector as equal to public servants holding director general positions;

(c)attending the meetings of the Council of the Royal Institute as advisors.

Section20.A member of the Royal Institute vacates his membership upon:

(1)death;

(2)resignation;

(3)lack of the qualification under section 13(1) or attack by the disqualification under section 13(3) or (4);

(4)being imprisoned by a final judgment of imprisonment, save where the punishment was for an offence committed through negligence or a petty offence;

(5)being removed by a resolution passed at a meeting of the Council of the Royal Institute by the votes of not less than two thirds of the present fellows in any of the following events:

(a)having been absent from meetings of the academy of which he is an associate fellow or fellow for over six consecutive months without appropriate reasons;

(b)being of seriously infamous conduct.

In the event that a fellow vacates fellowship, the President of the Royal Institute shall report the matter to the Prime Minister, who shall then submit it to His Majesty for His information.

Section21.The fellows who are in fellowship and unable to perform duties as usual because of senility, disability, or infirmity, and the fellows who have vacated fellowship because of being incompetent or quasi-incompetent persons, shall have the right to receive special financial support according to the regulations of the Royal Institute, if the academies to which they belong resolve that they are in the condition which deserves assistance.

Chapter 3
Operation

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Section22.In the Royal Institute, there shall be a council called the “Council of the Royal Institute”, composed of—

(1)the President of the Royal Institute under section 23, paragraph 1, as the President of the Council;

(2)two of the Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute under section 23, paragraph 1, as Vice Presidents of the Council;

(3)all the fellows, as Members of the Council.

The Secretary General of the Royal Institute shall be the Secretary of the Council, and the Deputy Secretaries General of the Royal Institute, Assistant Secretaries of the Council.

Section23.The Council of the Royal Institute shall meet to select one of the fellows for appointment as President of the Royal Institute and two as Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute and nominate them to the Prime Minister, who shall then submit the nomination to His Most Gracious Majesty for appointment.

The criteria and procedures for selection of President and Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute shall be governed by the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section24.The President of the Royal Institute has the following powers and duties:

(1)to represent the Royal Institute in carrying out the work under to section 7(2);

(2)to supervise the carrying out of academic works by the Royal Institute to ensure their compliance with the policies, rules, regulations, and resolutions of the Council of the Royal Institute;

(3)to establish committees according to section 34.

Section25.The Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute have the following powers and duties:

(1)to carry out duties on behalf of the President of the Royal Institute as assigned by the President of the Royal Institute;

(2)to substitute the President of the Royal Institute in the event that there is no person holding the position of President of the Royal Institute or the holder thereof is unable to carry out duties.

Section26.The President and Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute hold their positions for a term of two years and may be reselected, but none of them shall hold the position for more than two consecutive terms.

In the event that the President of the Royal Institute or a Vice President of the Royal Institute vacates his position by rotation, the outgoing President or Vice President of the Royal Institute shall remain in the position until the newly selected President or Vice President of the Royal Institute, as the case may be, assumes duties.

Section27.Apart from rotation in accordance with section 26, the President and Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute vacate their positions upon—

(1)resignation from the position of President or Vice President of the Royal Institute;

(2)vacation of membership of the Royal Institute according to section 20.

Section28.In the event that the President or Vice President of the Royal Institute vacates his position before his term ends, a replacement shall be selected. But if the remaining term of the President or Vice President of the Royal Institute is less than ninety days, the selection of the replacing officer may be forgone. The selected person shall be in the position for the remaining term of his predecessor.

Section29.The Council of the Royal Institute has the following powers and duties:

(1)to lay down policies on the carrying out of academic works according to the powers and duties of the Royal Institute;

(2)to consider and give concurrence to the designation of the fields of knowledge of each academy and the division of the fields of knowledge into disciplines of knowledge;

(3)to consider and give concurrence to the establishment, consolidation, or separation of academies;

(4)to consider and give concurrence to the issuance of rules and regulations relating to the operation of the Council of the Royal Institute;

(5)to select the President and Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute, and to adopt resolutions to give concurrence to the nomination of fellows and honorary fellows for further appointment;

(6)to consider and give concurrence or approval in the matters relating to the activities of the Council of the Royal Institute as submitted by the President of the Royal Institute.

Section30.The Council of the Royal Institute shall meet in accordance with the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

The Council of the Royal Institute shall meet at least four times a year, in order to hold discussions, conduct consideration, and carry out actions according to the powers and duties designated in this Act.

Section31.The fellows of each academy shall meet to select one amongst themselves as president of the academy and another one as secretary of the academy, and the President of the Royal Institute shall then nominate them to the Prime Minister for appointment through an announcement of the Royal Institute.

The criteria and procedures for selection of presidents and secretaries of academies shall be governed by the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section32.The presidents and secretaries of academies shall hold their positions for a term of two years and may be reselected, but none of them shall hold the position for more than two consecutive terms.

The dispositions of section 26, paragraph 2, section 27, and section 28 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the holding and vacation of positions of presidents and secretaries of academies.

Section33.Academies shall meet in accordance with the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute.

At the meetings of each academy, the fellows and associate fellows have the duty to be present and have the duty to submit to the academy the academic matters they have investigated, subject to the regulations of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section34.There shall be one or several Academic Committees of the Royal Institute for the various disciplines of knowledge, established by the President of the Royal Institute for carrying out activities according to the powers and duties of the Royal Institute provided in section 7(5) and (6).

Apart from the Academic Committees under paragraph 1, the President of the Royal Institute has the power to establish other committees for the carrying out of any activity which is under the powers and duties of the Council of the Royal Institute.

The Members of the Academic Committees under paragraph 1 and the members of other committees under paragraph 2 shall be entitled to the remuneration designated by the Council of Ministers.

Section35.There shall be a Committee for Promoting the Activities of the Royal Institute, consisting of—

(1)the Vice President of the Royal Institute assigned by the President of the Royal Institute, as President of the Committee, and one another Vice President of the Royal Institute, as Vice President of the Committee;

(2)the presidents and secretaries of all academies, as Members of the Committee;

(3)the fellows other than the presidents or secretaries of academies, appointed by their academies as Members of the Committee, one per each academy;

(4)the Secretary General of the Royal Institute, as Member and Secretary of the Committee, and the Deputy Secretaries General of the Royal Institute, as Members and Assistant Secretaries of the Committee.

The Committee for Promoting the Activities of the Royal Institute has the duty to provide advice and recommendations to the Royal Institute, as well as to coordinate on and support the activities of the Royal Institute. The recommendations shall be made through the President of the Royal Institute.

Appointment and terms of the Members under (3), as well as the operation and meetings of the Committee under paragraph 1, shall be governed by the regulations of the Council of the Royal Institute.

Section36.There shall be a Secretary General of the Royal Institute to command the public servants of, and to be responsible for the carrying out of public services by, the Royal Institute, and to perform duties according to the policies, rules, regulations, and resolutions of the Council of the Royal Institute. There may also be Deputy Secretaries General of the Royal Institute for the carrying out of public services.

The Secretary General and Deputy Secretaries General of the Royal Institute shall be ordinary civil public servants.

The holder of the position of Secretary General of the Royal Institute shall be appointed from amongst the ordinary civil public servants who have knowledge and expertise in any discipline of knowledge under the duties of the Royal Institute, and in public administration. This shall be processed in accordance with the law on regulation of civil public servants.

Transitory provisions

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Section37.The associate fellows, fellows, and honorary fellows incumbent on the day of publication of this Act in the Royal Gazette shall become associate fellows, fellows, or honorary fellows under this Act, as the case may be.

Section38.The committees of the Royal Institute which are carrying out duties on the day of publication of this Act in the Royal Gazette shall continue to be the committees under this Act.

Section39.The persons holding the positions of President of the Royal Institute, Vice Presidents of the Royal Institute, presidents of academies, and secretaries of academies on the day of publication of this Act in the Royal Gazette, who have been selected in accordance with section 20 of the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, shall continue to hold the positions until completion of their terms.

The person holding the position of Secretary General of the Royal Institute on the day of publication of this Act in the Royal Gazette, who has been selected in accordance with section 20(2) of the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, shall vacate the position of Secretary General of the Royal Institute and shall hold the position of Vice President of the Royal Institute under this Act until completion of his former term as Secretary General of the Royal Institute.

The holding of the positions under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not constitute the tenure under this Act.

Section40.As long as the rules of the Council of the Royal Institute designating the disciplines of knowledge in each academy according to section 9 are still not in place, the provisions of sections 8, 9, and 10 of the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, shall apply for the time being.

Section41.As long as the rules of meeting of the Council of the Royal Institute according to section 30, paragraph 1, and the rules of meeting of the academies according to section 33, paragraph 3, are still not in place, the provisions of section 24 of the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, shall apply for the time being.

Section42.All the regulations, regulatory instruments, and announcements issued under the Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, and the Royal Institute Act (No 2), 2487 Buddhist Era, which are operative on the day of publication of this Act in the Royal Gazette, shall remain operative in so far as they are not contrary or repugnant to the provisions of this Act and until the rules or regulations issued under this Act enter into operation.

Countersignature
Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra
Prime Minister

Note: The grounds for promulgation of this Act are as follows: The Royal Institute Act, 2485 Buddhist Era, has long been in application and the work under the duties of the Royal Institute has greatly expanded, whether in regard to the conduct of investigation and research or in connection with the provision of academic services to the Government, state agencies, and the public, especially the work of updating and revising the Royal Institute Dictionary to make it more complete and modern, capable of being used as the standard for writing, reading, and speaking the Thai language in a uniformly correct manner, the work of producing encyclopaedias, directories, and taxonomies in various academic fields, the work of producing dictionaries and coining academic terms in important fields, the work of coining Thai academic terms from foreign languages for the public to use in studying and investigating into foreign-language textbooks and for the promotion of the standard use of Thai academic terms instead of foreign terms, as well as the role as an academic centre for conservation of the Thai language with a view to strengthening the identities of the Thai language. Accordingly, it is appropriate to improve the structure of the organisation and its systems for management of academic and administrative works, and to expand its powers and duties for the creation of a wider range of academic works in line with its current roles, missions, duties, and circumstances. It is therefore necessary to enact this Act.