Rights
2008 Constitution created a monarchy that can be removed by parliament
Bhutan's written Constitution took effect in 2008, converting an absolute monarchy into a democratic constitutional monarchy. It uniquely provides for abdication of the King by a two-thirds parliamentary resolution and mandatory retirement at 65.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Unitary kingdom; twenty dzongkhags with local government under the Local Government Act.
Governing law
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan2008
- National Assembly Act, 2008
- Judicial Service Act, 2007
In practice
Article 5 obliges the state to maintain at least sixty percent forest cover in perpetuity — a constitutional environmental floor with few parallels anywhere. Gross National Happiness is a constitutional objective under Article 9 rather than mere policy. Fundamental rights in Article 7 are enforceable, and the Supreme Court, created by the Constitution, sits as the final constitutional authority.