I talk about Laos Communist-style one-party system of Government from executive to legislative and the state of democracy.

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Post author By Charlie June 3, 2021
The Government System of Laos
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-laos/
Laos is a landlocked country located in Southeast Asia, or the Indochinese Peninsula,
and is bordered with China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. The capital city
Vientiane is located along the border close to Thailand.
Laos traces its historical and cultural origins all the way back to the 14 Century to the
Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao which existed through to the 18 Century and was
one of the largest kingdoms within the Indochinese Peninsula, and its location enabled it
to become wealthy from overland trade and of which also enriched its culture. But the
Kingdom would not last as eventually internal conflict would breakout and split the
Kingdom into three separate Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang, the Kingdom of
Vientiane, and the Kingdom of Champasak.
These kingdoms would find themselves becoming vassals to larger and more powerful
neighboring kingdoms such as Siam and Burma. The French would later arrive and unite
the three Kingdoms into what is modern-day Laos and incorporated them into a French
Protectorate in 1893, a part of French Indochina within their colonial Empire. During
World War II French Indochina would come under occupation of the Imperial Japanese
and following World War II Laos would see a brief moment of independence before its
French colonial rulers returned.
Laos managed to achieve autonomy in 1949 through fighting the French in the First
Indochina War and then finally won full independence from the French in 1953 and was
ruled by a constitutional monarchy under the House of Khun Lo. Following independence
though a civil war would begin from 1959 where Communists backed by the Soviet Union
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and Viet Cong fought against the Monarchy and military juntas backed by the United
States. The civil war would come to an end in 1975, the same year the Vietnam War
ended, and the Communist Pathet Lao took power, the armed Communist movement that
had formed against colonial rule. The country received military and economic aid from the
Soviet Union until 1991.
To this day the country remains a one-party state under the Lao’s People’s Revolutionary
Party, which institutes a socialist state espousing Marxism-Leninism. The country’s
economy has been growing fast due to the success of producing electricity and selling it
to neighbors, and also other economic and political cooperation with neighboring
countries, with Vietnam being a very evident example of very close economic, political,
and military cooperation, which makes sense as the Viet Minh and Viet Cong had backed
armed movements in Laos during the First Indochina War and the Laotian Civil War.
Despite a growing economy though and limited economic and market reforms, the
country still remains generally poor. The country continues to be criticized for limiting civil
liberties, performing human rights abuses including torture, and more.
The country’s official language is Lao, the largest ethnicity is the Lao people, but there are
also numerous other ethnic groups in the country including the Khmu, Hmong, Phouthai,
and others. The largest religion is Buddhism, but there is also a significant number of
people who follow Tai folk religion. The country’s currency is the Kip, and the population is
over 7,373,100.
Government Type

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Emblem of Laos
Laos is a one-party Socialist Republic with a President who is Head of State and Prime
Minister as Head of Government.
The General Secretary of the ruling party is widely seen as the de facto leader of Laos
due to its status as a one-party state, the General Secretary has always either also been
the President or Prime Minister. Currently following the 2021 elections the General
Secretary changed from Prime Minister to the President, making that position the current
de-facto leader.
The national legislative and policy-making institutions comprise the unicameral National
Congress. The ruling party’s Central Committee, and Politburo, also play a significant part
in policy-making. Many important decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers chaired
by the Prime Minister.
Due to Laos being a one-party state no other parties are legally recognised apart from the
single ruling state party. As the constitution proclaims, the Lao’s People’s Revolutionary
Party is the leading nucleus of the country. It is possible for so-called Independents to run
and be elected to the National Assembly but such would be vetted and approved by the
ruling party.

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Localized people’s assemblies and local administration also exist as well to represent
provinces, districts, and villages, known as Provincial People’s Assemblies and Local
Administration Authorities. There are also a number of state-recognised social
political organisations such as the Lao Front for National Construction, the Lao Veterans
Federation, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth
Union, the Lao Women’s Union, among others that have an aim to unite the multi-ethnic
people, partake in state projects for the betterment of the nation, promote unified
nationalism and sovereignty, play a part in protecting rights of the people, and right and
duty to monitor activities of the National Congress and Local People’s Assemblies and
administrations.
As it stands there are currently 17 provinces, which are further divided into districts and
villages. The capital city is not located within any of the provinces and instead within a
Prefecture.
The Executive Government
The Presidential Palace in Laos, Vientiane. The official residence of the President. Photo by
Takeaway from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
The President is the Head of State and has a number of duties and powers at their
disposal.
There may also be a Vice-President that assists the President and executes tasks
assigned to them by the President and acts on behalf of the President when they are
preoccupied with other matters.
The Vice-President will also take over for the President until a new President is elected, if
they can no longer perform their duties.
Presidential Powers and Duties

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The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces and is the
Chairman of the Council for National Defense and Security.
The President promulgates laws passed by the National Assembly within 30-days. The
President does have the right to request a reconsideration of a passed legislative bill, but
if it is returned again to the President then it must be promulgated within 15-days.
The President issues presidential edicts and decrees in accordance with the Constitution
and laws.
The President convenes and presides over the Government’s special meetings, and
attends meetings of the National Assembly Standing Committee if deemed necessary by
the said Committee.
Appoints, transfers, and removes the deputy Prime Minister and members of Government
after it has been approved by the National Assembly.
Recommends election or removal of Supreme Public Prosecutor, President of the
People’s Supreme Court, and the President of State Audit, to the National Assembly.
Appoints and removes the Vice-President of the People’s Supreme Court, the Deputy
Supreme Public Prosecutor, and deputy head of the State Audit organisation based on
recommendations of the President or head of such organisations/bodies.
Decides on promotions and demotions at rank of general or above in the national defense
and security forces based on recommendation by the Prime Minister.
Appoints ambassadors and plenipotentiary representatives of the country or recall them
from foreign countries based on recommendation from the Prime Minister. Also accepts
diplomatic staff of foreign countries accredited to Laos.
Declares matters of war or peace based on recommendation of the National Assembly,
deciding on general or partial military conscription and to declare States of Emergency all
over the country or in particular localities.
Decides on granting amnesty based on recommendation by the Government, and
announces amnesties approved by the National Assembly.
Decides on granting foreigners political refugee status.
Negotiates and/or signs treaties and international agreements on behalf of the State, and
issues ratification of or withdrawal from treaties and agreements signed with foreign
countries.
Prime Minister and the Executive
The executive is led by the Prime Minister as Head of Government. The Government as
the executive branch has the role of managing the State in a uniform manner throughout
the country. The Government is responsible to the National Assembly and President. The
Prime Minister and Government can be removed by the National Assembly.

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The National Assembly can pass a vote of no-confidence in any member or all members
of Government as long as the National Assembly Standing Committee or at least one-
fourth of National Assembly members raise the issue. If a vote of confidence is passed
the President can either ask the National Assembly to reconsider the decision or remove
the member/s in question.
The Prime Minister is nominated by the President and approved by the National
Assembly.
The Government aside from the Prime Minister includes Deputy Prime Ministers,
Ministers, and Chairmen of equivalent organisations. Members of Government cannot
hold their positions for longer than two consecutive terms (5-years alongside the National
Assembly). These members are proposed by the Prime Minister, approved by the
National Assembly, and appointed by the President. The Prime Minister can propose to
remove and replace members with approval from the National Assembly.
It is the job of Ministers and Chairmen to have a role in developing and implementing
resolutions of the meeting of the National Assembly, the National Assembly’s Standing
Committee, and Government. They lead, manage, and inspect implementation of the
sector under their responsibility; they also connect and cooperate with, and sign
agreements and sub-agreements with foreign countries with Government agreement.
The Prime Minister leads and manages the work of the Government and local
administrations. The Prime Minister can directly appoint, transfer, and remove Vice-
Ministers, Vice-Chairmen, heads of Sub-Ministry, deputy heads of Sub-Ministry, and
heads of Department.
The Prime Minister also appoints and removes governors and mayors of cities with
approval from the Provincial People’s Assembly. The Prime Minister also proposes to
promote or demote general officers, and can promote or demote colonels in the
national defence and security forces.
The Government has many duties including implementing the Constitution, laws, and
resolutions from meetings of the National Assembly, as well as resolutions from the
National Assembly’s Standing Committee, and presidential edicts and decrees.
The Government drafts laws to the National Assembly, drafts Presidential edicts to the
National Assembly’s Standing Committee, and drafts Presidential Decrees to the
President.
The Government issues decrees and resolutions on State administration, socio-economic
management, management in fields of science-technology, national resources,
environment, national defence and security, and foreign affairs.
The Government determines the strategic plans for socio-economic development and
annual State budgets which it submits to the National Assembly for consideration and
approval.

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Proposes establishment, merger, separation, or removal of ministries and equivalent
bodies, provinces, and municipalities, and determination of province and city boundaries
to the National Assembly. The Government can establish or eliminate sub-ministry,
departments or other equivalent organisations itself.
The Government decides on establishment or elimination of districts, municipalities, and
cities, and determine their boundaries, and submit to the Provincial People Assembly for
approval.
Organises, monitors, and oversees activities of the sectoral organisations, local
administrations, and national defence and security forces.
The Government reports on its performance to the National Assembly, National Assembly
Standing Committee, and the President.
The Legislative Government
Meeting place of the National Assembly in Laos. Photo by ilf_ from Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Source.
The Legislative Government includes the National Congress/Assembly representing the
rights and interests of the multi-ethnic people according to the Constitution. It is the
highest power organisation of the State. It performs the role of adopting the Constitution,
amendments, and laws. The National Assembly makes decisions on fundamental issues
of the country and monitors implementation of the Constitution and laws by
State organisations.

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The National Assembly currently has 164 members which can easily change through
electoral law amendments and is not fixed to one number via the Constitution.
The National Assembly considers and approves strategic plans, socio-economic
development plan, and State Budget plan. Also considers and approves fundamental
policy of finance, money, percentage of State budget deficit, percentage of Government
debt, and percentage of public debt. Considers and approves determination, amendment,
cancellation, or exemptions of taxes and duties.
Resolutions are adopted by the National Assembly by vote of at least a one-half majority
of those present, except for where special majorities are required by the Constitution.
Draft laws can be introduced by the President of the State, the Government, the National
Assembly Standing Committee, Office of the Supreme Public Prosecutor, the People’s
Supreme Court, the Stare Audit Authority, and the Lao Front for Reconstruction and
mass organisations at the central level.
The National Assembly can elect or remove the President and Vice-President of the
country and members of the National Assembly Standing Committee. This committee in
question has the power to recommend election or removal of the President and Vice-
President.
The National Assembly Standing Committee is the National Assembly’s Permanent Body
and its President and Vice-President are also the President and Vice-President of the
National Assembly. It carries out duties on behalf of the National Assembly during its
recess. It has a number of powers that include preparing and summoning the National
Assembly into session; summoning the National Assembly to an extraordinary session;
proposing establishment of new law; propose draft Decree to the President of the State;
appoint the National Election Committee, power to appoint, transfer, remove judges of
People’s Supreme Court, and Judges, President, and Vice-President of People’s Courts,
and other jobs mentioned below.
The National Assembly establishes various other Committees to consider draft laws and
presidential edicts, which are submitted from there to the National Assembly Standing
Committee. The Committees assist the National Assembly and its Standing Committee to
exercise oversight of the activities of all State organisations.
Members of the National Assembly have the right to question the Prime Minister,
members of Government, the President of the People’s Supreme Court, the Supreme
Public Prosecutor, and the President of the State Audit Authority. Such persons requested
must give verbal or written answers to the National Assembly.
The National Congress can remove the Prime Minister if recommended by the
President.
Also elects and removes various officials, certain judiciary members, and state offices on
recommendation of the President.

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Also considers and approves proposed appointment or removal of President and/or Vice-
President of the Committee and the General Secretary of the National Assembly on
recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
Considers and approves proposed appointments or removal of Government members
based on recommendations by the Prime Minister.
Considers and approves proposed appointments or removal of judges of the People’s
Supreme Court based on the recommendation of the President of the People’s Supreme
Court.
The National Assembly also considers and approves the organisational structure of itself,
such as establishment, merging, and separation of committees, and board of secretariat
of the assembly. Does the same for the Government structure, including
establishment, dissolution, merging, and division of ministries and other equivalent
bodies, and also of provinces and municipalities based on recommendations of the Prime
Minister.
Can consider to dissolve a People Assembly of the provinces if such has caused
significant damage to the interest of the people and country.
Can consider and approve granting of amnesties based on recommendations of the
National Assembly Standing Committee.
Considers and approves ratification or withdrawal from treaties, agreements, and
international agreements based on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Considers on the matters of war and peace based on the recommendation of the
President.
Article 4 of the country’s constitution says people have the ability to propose removal of
their elected representatives if they have behaved in a way unbefitting of their position
and have lost the confidence of the people.
The Electoral System

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Image by ASDFGH from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
Elections to the National Assembly take place every 5-years unless the term has been
extended due to war or other circumstances obstructing the election, in such a case of
extension an election must take place within 6-months after the emergency has ended.
Elections can take place earlier than 5-years if a two-thirds majority of its members vote
to hold an early election.
Elections to the National Assembly elect the 164 members from multi-seat constituencies
using simple majority votes from lists of candidates provided by the Lao’s People’s
Revolutionary Party.

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Presidential elections also take place every 5-years alongside the National Assembly. The
President is nominated and elected by the members of the National Assembly with the
winning candidate requiring at least two-thirds of the vote to win. One person cannot hold
the presidency for more than two consecutive terms.
A Vice-President is elected in the same way.
To vote in elections one must be a citizen of Laos who is at least 18-years-old. Voting is
not mandatory.
Sources
The source for this comes from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s Constitution of
1991 with amendments through to 2015 (constituteproject.org) which means it should be
as up to date as possible but there is a chance I may have missed things or
misinterpreted other things and of course the constitution can be amended and so this
post may eventually become outdated, and so cross-research is recommended for those
using this seriously.
Amendments to the Constitution are proposed by the National Assembly, with a two-thirds
majority required to adopt it, and is then promulgated by the President.
Next up will be the government system of Latvia.
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