Parliament of Cambodia

Parliament of Cambodia
Name	Parliament of Cambodia
Native name	សភាតំណាងរាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា, Sâphéa Tâmnang Réastr Kâmpŭchéa
Legislature	Parliament of the Kingdom of Cambodia
House type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate, National Assembly
Leader1 type	King of Cambodia
Leader1	Norodom Sihamoni
Election1	14 October 2004
Leader2 type	President of the Senate
Leader2	Say Chhum
Election2	9 June 2015
Leader3 type	President of the National Assembly
Leader3	Khuon Sodary
Election3	22 August 2023
Members	187, 62 Senators, 125 Members of Parliament
House1	Senate
House2	National Assembly
Voting system1	Indirect election and Royal appointment
Voting system2	Party-list proportional representation
Last election1	25 February 2024
Last election2	23 July 2023
Meeting place	Senate: Senate Building, Phnom Penh, National Assembly: National Assembly Building, Phnom Penh
Website	https://www.senate.gov.kh/ https://www.national-assembly.org.kh/

Contents

History
Composition and structure
Powers and functions
Elections and membership
Building and facilities
See also

Parliament of Cambodia. The Parliament of Cambodia is the bicameral national legislature of the Kingdom of Cambodia, consisting of an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the National Assembly. It operates as the legislative branch within the constitutional framework established after the 1993 elections administered by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. The institution plays a central role in enacting laws, approving the national budget, and providing oversight of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

History

The origins of a modern legislature in Cambodia trace back to the Khmer Republic era and the People's Republic of Kampuchea. The current parliamentary system was re-established following the Paris Peace Accords and the subsequent UNTAC-supervised 1993 Cambodian general election. This election led to the formation of the Constituent Assembly of Cambodia, which drafted and promulgated the 1993 Constitution reinstating the monarchy under Norodom Sihanouk. The Senate was created through a 1999 constitutional amendment, largely influenced by the political negotiations following the 1997 factional fighting and the integration of the FUNCINPEC party. Key political figures in its development have included Hun Sen, Norodom Ranariddh, and Chea Sim.

Composition and structure

The Parliament is composed of two distinct chambers. The upper house is the Senate, which has 62 members serving six-year terms. The lower house is the National Assembly, comprising 125 members elected for five-year terms. Leadership is provided by the President of the Senate and the President of the National Assembly, with the former acting as acting head of state in the monarch's absence. The Cambodian People's Party has held a dominant majority in both chambers since the 2013 elections. The internal organization includes various standing committees that review legislation and conduct inquiries.

Powers and functions

The Parliament holds the constitutional authority to legislate, approve the national budget, and ratify international treaties. The National Assembly holds the primary power to grant a vote of confidence to the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The Senate serves as a reviewing chamber, examining legislation passed by the National Assembly, and provides advice on matters of national interest. Both chambers can propose amendments to the Constitution of Cambodia, which require a two-thirds majority. The Parliament also exercises oversight through questioning ministers and reviewing reports from state institutions like the National Audit Authority.

Elections and membership

Members of the National Assembly are elected through a party-list proportional representation system within multi-member constituencies based on the provinces of Cambodia. The most recent election was the 2023 Cambodian general election, contested by parties including the Cambodian People's Party and the Candlelight Party. Senate members are elected indirectly by commune councillors and National Assembly members, with a portion appointed by the King of Cambodia. The latest Senate election was held in February 2024. Eligibility requirements for candidates are outlined in the Constitution of Cambodia and the Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly.

Building and facilities

The two chambers convene in separate historic buildings in the capital, Phnom Penh. The National Assembly Building, located near the Tonlé Sap river, is a notable example of New Khmer Architecture designed by Vann Molyvann and inaugurated in the 1960s. The Senate Building is housed in the renovated structure of the former Hotel Le Royal, a colonial-era landmark. These facilities contain assembly halls, offices for legislators and their staff, and libraries. The Parliament's compound is situated in the administrative heart of the city, near other key institutions like the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh and the Office of the Council of Ministers.