King of Bhutan: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 20202023}}

|royal_title = Druk GyalpoKing

|other incumbentsince = 5th Dragon King<br>(since 912 December 2006)

|date = 17{{start Decemberdate and age|df=y|1907|12|17}}

|residence = [[Samteling Palace]], [[Thimphu]]

The '''Druk Gyalpo''' ({{bo-textonly|འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་}}; {{Literally}} 'lit|Dragon King'}}) is the [[head of state]] of the [[Bhutan|Kingdom of Bhutan]].<ref>{{cite webbook |url=http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf |title=Article 2: The Institution of Monarchy |work=The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan |isbn=99936-754-0-7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref> In the [[Dzongkha|Dzongkha language]], Bhutan is known as ''Drukyul'' which translates as "The Land of the Thunder Dragon". Thus, while Kingskings of Bhutan are known as ''Druk Gyalpo'' ("Dragon King"), the Bhutanese people call themselves the ''Drukpa'', meaning "people of Druk (Bhutan)".

The current sovereign of Bhutan is [[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], the 5thfifth ''Druk Gyalpo''.<ref name=king>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhutan2008.bt/en/node/104 |title=A Legacy of Two Kings |publisher=Bhutan 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215041151/http://www.bhutan2008.bt/en/node/104 |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref> He wears the [[Raven Crown]], which is the official crown worn by the kings of Bhutan. He is correctly styled "''Mi'wang 'Ngada Rinpoche''" ("His Majesty") and addressed "''Ngada Rimboche''" ("Your Majesty").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dzongkha.gov.bt/online/dictionaries/dz-en-dict/Contents/16-01-MI.html |title=༈ རྫོང་ཁ་ཨིང་ལིཤ་ཤན་སྦྱར་ཚིག་མཛོད། ༼མི༽ |trans-title=Dzongkha-English Dictionary: "MI" |work=Dzongkha-English Online Dictionary |publisher=Dzongkha Development Commission, Government of Bhutan |access-date=2011-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729214437/http://www.dzongkha.gov.bt/online/dictionaries/dz-en-dict/Contents/16-01-MI.html |archive-date=29 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dzongkha.gov.bt/online/dictionaries/dz-en-dict/Contents/04-06-MNGA.html |title=༈ རྫོང་ཁ་ཨིང་ལིཤ་ཤན་སྦྱར་ཚིག་མཛོད། ༼མང-༽ |trans-title=Dzongkha-English Dictionary: "MNGA" |work=Dzongkha-English Online Dictionary |publisher=Dzongkha Development Commission, Government of Bhutan |access-date=2011-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802033232/http://www.dzongkha.gov.bt/online/dictionaries/dz-en-dict/Contents/04-06-MNGA.html |archive-date=2 August 2012}}</ref>

King Jigme Khesar was the second-youngest reigning monarch in the world (aged 28 during his coronation)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20081106-jigme-khesar-namgyel-wangchuck-youngest-king-world-bhutan |title=Himalayan state crowns youngest king in the world |publisher=[[France 24]] |date=6 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131071911/http://www.france24.com/en/20081106-jigme-khesar-namgyel-wangchuck-youngest-king-world-bhutan |archive-date=31 January 2009}}</ref> when he ascended the throne on 61 November 2008 after his father, [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]], abdicated the throne in his favour.<ref name=king/>

The Constitution confirms the institution of [[monarchy]]. The Druk Gyalpo (King of Bhutan) is the [[Headhead of Statestate]] and the symbol of unity of the Kingdomkingdom and of the people of Bhutan. The Constitution establishes the "[[dual system of government|Chhoe-sid-nyi]]" (dual system of religion and politics) of Bhutan as unified in the person of the Kingking, who, as a [[Buddhist]], is the upholder of the Chhoe-sid (religion and politics; temporal and secular).<ref name=Art2/> In addition, the Kingking is the protector of [[religion in Bhutan|all religions in Bhutan]].<ref name=Art3>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 3</ref> The Kingking is [[Sovereign immunity|not answerable in a court of law]] for his actions, and his person is sacrosanct.<ref name=Art2>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 2</ref> However, the Kingking is mandated to protect and uphold the Constitution "in the best interest and for the welfare of the people of Bhutan".

Under the Constitution, the Kingking, in exercise of his [[Royalroyal Prerogativeprerogative]]s (and as Headhead of Statestate), promotes goodwill and good relations with other countries by receiving state guests and undertaking state visits to other countries. The Kingking may also award titles, decorations, ''dar'' for Lhengye and Nyi-Kyelma (conferring a red scarf of rank and honour with the title of "[[Dasho]]") in accordance with tradition and custom. Also among the royal prerogatives are the grants of [[Immigration in Bhutan|citizenship]], amnesty, pardon and reduction of sentences; and land "kidu" and other "kidus" (benefits).<ref name=Art2/>

Under Article 2, Section 19, the Kingking appoints a significant number of high-level Governmentgovernment officers: Judicialjudicial appointees, the Auditorauditor Generalgeneral, and the Chairschairs of Antianti-Corruptioncorruption, Civilcivil Serviceservice, and Electionelection Commissionscommissions are holders of Constitutionalconstitutional Officeoffice.<ref name=Art31>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 31</ref><ref name=Art2/>

The Kingking appoints most of the upper Judicialjudicial branch: the Chiefchief Justicejustice of Bhutan and the Drangponsdrangpons (Associateassociate Justicesjustices) of the Supreme Court; the Chiefchief Justicejustice and Drangponsdrangpons (Associateassociate Justicesjustices) of the High Court. These judicial appointments are made from among the vacant positions' peers, juniors, and available eminent jurists in consultation with the [[Judicial system of Bhutan|National Judicial Commission]]<ref name=Art21>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 21</ref><ref name=Art2/> Dungkhag Court jurists are not appointed by the Kingking.

The Kingking also appoints, from lists of names recommended jointly by the Primeprime Ministerminister, the Chiefchief Justicejustice of Bhutan, the Speakerspeaker, the Chairpersonchairperson of the National Council, and the Leaderleader of the Oppositionopposition Partyparty, four kinds of high-level Governmentgovernment: the Chiefchief Electionelection Commissionercommissioner and other members of the [[Elections in Bhutan|Election Commission]];<ref name=Art24>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 24</ref> the auditor general of the Royal Audit Authority;<ref name=Art25>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 25</ref> the chairperson and other members of the Royal Civil Service Commission;<ref name=Art26>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 26</ref> and the chairperson and other members of the Anti-Corruption Commission.<ref name=Art27>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 27</ref> The term for each position is five years. Referenced for [[Incorporation by reference|incorporation]] are the ''Bhutanese Audit Act'', ''Bhutanese Civil Service Act'', ''Bhutanese Anti-Corruption Act'', and ''[[Attorney General of Bhutan|Attorney General Act]]''; references to existing ''[[Elections in Bhutan|Election Laws]]'' also appear throughout the Constitution.

The Kingking appoints positions other than Constitutional Officers on the advice of other bodies.<ref name=Art2/> He appoints the heads of the Defence Forces from a list of names recommended by the Service Promotion Board. The Kingking appoints the [[Attorney General of Bhutan|attorney general of Bhutan]],<ref name=Art29>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 29</ref> the Chairpersonchairperson of the Pay Commission,<ref name=Art2/><ref name=Art30>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 30</ref> the Governorgovernor of the [[Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan|Central Bank of Bhutan]], the Cabinetcabinet Secretarysecretary, and Bhutanese ambassadors and consuls on the recommendation of the Primeprime Ministerminister. The Kingking also appoints [[Dzongkhag|Dzongdagsdzongdags]] to head Locallocal Governmentsgovernments, and other secretaries to the Governmentgovernment on the recommendation of the Primeprime Ministerminister who obtains nominations from the Royal Civil Service Commission on the basis of merit and seniority and in accordance with other relevant rules and regulations. The Kingking appoints the Secretarysecretary Generalgeneral of the respective Houseshouses on the recommendation of the Royal Civil Service Commission.

The Kingking is also the [[Commander-in-chief|Supremesupreme Commandercommander in Chiefchief]] of the [[Military of Bhutan|Armed Forces and the Militia of Bhutan]].<ref name=Art28>[http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf Constitution of Bhutan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Art. 28</ref>

The Constitution provides substantive and procedural law for two paths of [[abdication]] for reigning monarchs: voluntary and involuntary. As stated above, the Kingking may relinquish the exercise of Royalroyal Prerogativesprerogatives, and such relinquishment may be temporary.

The Constitution provides that the Kingking must abdicate the throne for wilful violations of the Constitution or for suffering permanent mental disability. Either must be upon a motion passed by a joint sitting of Parliament. The motion for abdication must be tabled for discussion at a joint sitting of Parliament (presided by the Chiefchief Justicejustice of Bhutan) if at least ⅔ of the total number of the members of Parliament submits such a motion stating its basis and grounds. The Kingking may respond to the motion in writing or by addressing the joint sitting of Parliament in person or through a representative.<ref name=Art2/>

If, at such joint sitting of Parliament, at least ¾ of the total number of members of Parliament passes the motion for abdication, then such a resolution is placed before the people in a National Referendum to be approved or rejected. If the National Referendum passes in all the Dzongkhags in the Kingdom, the Kingking must abdicate in favour of the [[heir apparent]].

{{Main|List of rulers of Bhutan#Kings of Bhutan (1907–present)}}

| notes1 = Son of [[Jigme Namgyal (Bhutan)|Jigme Namgyel]]

| image4 = 4th King of Bhutan, HM Jigme Singye Wangchuck 2008at a Royal Banquet, at the Taschichhodzong, in Thimphu, Bhutan.jpg

| image5 = King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (edit)at the Enthronement of Naruhito.jpg