Political Institutions (The Great Khmer Empire)

The Office of Emperor : Executive Branch (The Government)
This political institute is responsible for daily administration of the country, executing and enforcing the laws. The head of this branch is the Emperor who is also the head of state.

Below the Emperor, Uparach is the highest government position reserved only for non-Royal personnel. Uparach is a five-year term and acts as the deputy to the Emperor. Uparach is selected by the Emperor himself, but only those with decades of experience in executive agencies can be considered. Uparach can fill in for the Emperor's place if needs arise.

Both the Emperor and Uparach oversee the country's 14 ministries as listed below, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy Finance Labor and Commerce, Ministry of Tourism Religion and Culture Reservations, Ministry of Environment Energy and Resources Management, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Social Work and Public Corporations, Ministry of Intelligence.

Since the scare of revolution in Europe, successive emperors voluntarily transferred some powers to the National Assembly. Emperor cannot creates laws, approve government spending, declare war, or make peace without the consent of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly : Legislation Branch
This political institute was created in 1796 as a result to the nationwide civil unrest following a planned military campaign against China by Emperor Jayavarman XIV. The National Assembly comprises of 353 representative elected by the people every five years. In the past, the head of the most respected family in the province was chosen as representative. The election system was only introduced in 1820. In 1889, with the exercising of power by the Empress Borvor Vatey Tevi, Cambodia adopted the alternative voting system to choose the head of the National Assembly and single transferable vote to choose representative.

The national wide election for the representatives and the head of the National Assembly happens at the same date every three years, 2nd Saturday of December. The new term starts on the 1st of January.

Each representative is entitled to a special right in which they cannot be arrested or fired for speaking out. Although their action is condemned if they openly dissed the Emperor, they will not loss their position. They work for 4.5 day a week and are required to hold three town hall meeting a week on Friday afternoon and Saturday. A two third vote by representatives can overrule the Emperor or the Head of the National Assembly.

The head of the national assembly, him or herself a representative, has unanimous power that can overrule an Imperial degree, yet can also be vetoed by the Emperor.

Traditionally, the National Assembly's task was to represent the interest of the people. They evaluate laws, confirm positions of ministers and Uparach, vote on annual spending, levy taxes, and act as a counter-balance to the Imperial power. Every new laws put forward by the Emperor and his office must pass by the National Assembly before it can be implemented. Since 1811, the National Assembly has been allowed to draft up and put forward new laws. These laws must be approved by the Emperor before it too can be implemented.

The Imperial Council
The Imperial Council was officially acknowledge as a political institute by Emperor Indravarman I in 883. Members of the Imperial Council are the head of Buddhist monks, retired high-ranking government officials, retired high-ranking judges, retired scholars, retired generals, and retired representatives. The head of the Imperial Council can be either former Empress or the head of Buddhist monks.

The Imperial Council does not have any true political responsibility. The Imperial Council's job is to oversees his behavior and choose the next successor to the throne. They can publicly condemned an action of the Emperor, deem him incompetent, and vote him out of power. The Imperial Council also responsible for ruling the country in the brief period between the outgoing and oncoming Emperors, or as Cambodians call it "the time of changing the Earth". In the past, their responsibility also included upkeep the Imperial Palace, oversaw tradition ceremonies, arranging the Emperor's marriage, tutoring young princes and princesses, filling in for the Emperor's absent, and writing down history.

Members of the Imperial Council serve with no salary and are provided with accommodations in the capital. They are high on the list of priority personals to be evacuated in the event of national emergency. They are expected to run the country when the government and/or the national assembly cannot function.

Although with no political power, being in the Imperial Council is the most respected position in Cambodia. Only experience and distinguish person can be offered and accepted into this institute.

The Office of the Empress
By Cambodian laws and traditions, the Empress is the absolute ruler of the nation. Her word is final and cannot be overruled by anyone or any institute. The Empress works to promote women around the country, as well as maintains the relationship between the people and the imperial family. She usually doesn't involve in the drafting or debating of any law being passed.

Historically, empress uses her power to deal with issues that are too polarized to be solved. Major reforms such as, social, taxes, education, voting, and economy has one time or another could only be passed due to her absolute power that forced, with the penalty of death, politicians and officials to implement it.