The politics of Thailand are currently conducted within the framework of
a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and
a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is independent of the executive
and the legislative branches.
Thai kingdoms and late Kingdom of Siam were under absolute rule of the kings.
However, after the 'democratic revolution' in 1932, led by westernized bureaucrats
and traditional-oriented military, the country officially became under a constitutional
monarchy with a prime minister as the head of government. The first written
constitution was issued. Yet the politics became the arena of fighting factions among
old and new elites, bureaucrats, and generals. Coups happened from time to time,
often bringing the country under the rule of yet another junta. To date Thailand has
had seventeen charters and constitutions, reflecting a high degree of political
instability.