Thailand :: Government
Thailand was never colonized, unlike many of its Southeast Asia neighbours.
Official name: Kingdom of Thailand
Former country name: Siam
Year of founding: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Founder: Sri Indradit
Year of independence: 1238
Chief of state: monarch (i.e., king)
King Phumiphon, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty (Rama IX) - who has been on the throne since 1946 - is the longest reigning Thai monarch. He commands enormous popular respect and moral authority.
National holiday: Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)
Head of government: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (since 15 December 2008)
Type of government: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government
Legislature: bicameral National Assembly with a House of Representatives and a Senate
National flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
white stripes = purity of the Buddhism faith
blue stripe = monarchy