Bhutan Profiel Gouvernement

name: Thimphu

geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E

time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 Augustus 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

history: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to Maart 2005, ratified 18 Juli 2008

amendments: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king

18 jaar; universal

chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 to his son

head of government: Prime Minister Lotay TSHERING (since 7 November 2018)

cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch