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==Qualifications and selection== |
==Qualifications and selection== |
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The |
The constitution stipulates in Article 23 that all "Lao citizens aged eighteen years and above have the right to vote and those aged twenty years and above have the right to be elected, except insane persons, persons with [[mental disorder]]s and persons whose rights to vote and to be elected have been revoked by a court."<ref>{{cite constitution | title = Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | article = 36 | amendment = 2015 | polity = Laos | chapter = Chapter IV: Fundamental Rights and Obligations of Citizens | language = | date = 2015 | url = https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Laos_2015.pdf?lang=en}}</ref> The [[Law on the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic|Law on the Government]] is silent on qualifications to be elected prime minister.<ref>{{cite law | title = Law on the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | article = | chapter = | language = | date = 2003 | url = http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/upload/pdf/law/01-protection/5_%20GovernmenttheLaoPDRDecree2003Eng.pdf }}</ref> According to Article 3, "The government operates on a principle of [[democratic centralism]] based on the Constitution and laws, having the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as the axle and having the Lao Front for National Construction, the mass organisations and the social organisations as the power [and] uses educational, economic, and administrative methods to manage the State and to manage the society and economy";<ref>{{cite law | title = Law on the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | article = 3 | chapter = Chapter 1: General Provisions | language = | date = 2003 | URL = http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/upload/pdf/law/01-protection/5_%20GovernmenttheLaoPDRDecree2003Eng.pdf }}</ref> the prime minister and the government are selected on the premise that they implement party decisions.{{sfn|Bui|2019|p=766}} |
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Since |
Since the office was established, the prime minister has been a leading party official. From 1975 to 1991, when it was the most powerful state office, the [[General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party|LPRP General Secretary]] served concurrently as prime minister.{{sfn|Norindr|1982|p=52}}{{sfn|Johnson|1992|p=82}} No LPRP General Secretary has concurrently served as prime minister since 1998, opting instead to hold the presidency.{{sfn|Stuart-Fox|2008|pp=397 & 405–6}} However, every prime minister since 1975 has been a member of the [[Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party|LPRP Central Committee]] and its [[Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party|Politburo]].{{sfn|Stuart-Fox|2008|pp=398 & 405–6}} A Politburo member does not require a fixed rank to be elected prime minister; [[Sisavat Keobounphan]] was ranked eighth, [[Bounnhang Vorachith]] fourth,{{sfn|Stuart-Fox|2008|pp=405–6}} [[Thongsing Thammavong]] third and [[Thongloun Sisoulith]] second in its hierarchy.{{sfn|Creak|Sayalath|2017|p=183}}{{sfn|Creak|2011|pp=122–3}} |
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==Duties and rights== |
==Duties and rights== |
Revision as of 02:42, 16 February 2021
Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | |
---|---|
ນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ ແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ Premier ministre de la République démocratique populaire lao | |
Style | Your Excellency |
Type | Head of government |
Member of | |
Residence | Building of the Office of the Prime Minister |
Seat | Vientiane |
Nominator | President |
Appointer | National Assembly |
Term length | Maximum of two five-year terms |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of Laos Law on Government |
Inaugural holder | Kaysone Phomvihane |
Formation | 2 December 1975 |
Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister |
Laos portal |
The Prime Minister of Laos, formerly the Chairman of the Council of Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the head of government of Laos. The highest position in the government, he or she directs the country's executive branch. The Prime Minister is accountable to the President, the National Assembly and the country's only legal party: the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The current Prime Minister is Thongloun Sisoulith, who was elected in 2016.
The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang was the first Laotian state to establish the office of prime minister. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Laos, ratified in 1947, established the post of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos. The kingdom was abolished on 2 December 1975, when the National Congress of People's Representatives established the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The congress established the office of Prime Minister, forming the First Government on that day. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) approved the Law on the Council of Government, regulating the government's decision-making process, in 1982. The Constitution was approved on 14 August 1991, and the Prime Minister was made subordinate to the President.
Although the Constitution and the Law on Government do not stipulate any qualifications needed to be elected Prime Minister except for a minimum age of twenty,, the law implies that the Prime Minister must be a member of the LPRP. Every Prime Minister since the communist seizure of power on 2 December 1975 has been a member of the LPRP Central Committee and the party's Politburo. Of the seven prime ministers since 1975, two served concurrently as LPRP General Secretary; since 1998, however, the General Secretary normally serves concurrently as President.
The Prime Minister is nominated by the President and elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly. The nominee must receive a majority vote to be elected, and the officeholder can serve a maximum of two terms. The Prime Minister is responsible for controlling the government's apparatus and composition. He or she has the right to propose the appointment, reassignment, and removal of minister-level officials and provincial governors to the National Assembly, and is empowered to control and monitor central, provincial and municipal state bodies.
History
Background
Laos' first head of government was Phetsarath Ratanavongsa, who was appointed Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang on 15 August 1941.[1] A French–Lao agreement established the Kingdom of Laos – the first unified, modern Laotian state – on 27 August 1946.[2] A Constituent Assembly was formed to enact a new constitution.[3] The Constitution of the Kingdom of Laos was enacted on 28 April 1947 by the Constituent Assembly, and was promulgated by royal decree on 11 May 1947.[3] Under the new constitution, Laos was defined as "a unitary, indivisible and democratic kingdom";[4] Prince Souvannarat was the first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos.[5] Seven prime ministers served the Kingdom of Laos between 15 March 1947 and its 2 December 1975 dissolution.[5]
Without a constitution (1975–91)
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and the office of Prime Minister were established on 2 December 1975 by a decision of the National Congress of People's Representatives (NCPR).[6] All institutions of the Kingdom of Laos were replaced with institutions strongly influenced by those in other socialist states, especially Vietnam.[6] The NCP ordered the Supreme People's Assembly to "propel, assist and control all the activities of the government, to prepare a draft Constitution as well as propose laws which are indispensable and to strengthen the base of the new code of the law of the People's Democratic regime".[7] The NCPR also gave the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) a monopoly on state power.[8] The Prime Minister, the government and the SPA (the new legislature) would implement party decisions.[9] Lao People's Revolutionary Party General Secretary Kaysone Phomvihane said in 1977, "Party committees at all levels must lead [in fulfilling] the revolutionary task in all domains, but the essential is to direct the power of the state. They must make [the state] secure and powerful, capable of applying the line and policies of the Party."[10] According to scholar Chou Norindr, the political system made the government and legislature subordinate to the party. This contrasts with liberal democratic societies, in which several parties compete for power and all are subject to state laws.[11]
The governmental structure established on 2 December 1975 was named the Council of Government, like its Vietnamese counterpart.[12] The council was responsible for the political, economic, cultural and social affairs of the state, and its security, defence and foreign relations.[13] It was also responsible for increasing the state's economic performance, developing collective power and establishing a socialist mode of production.[13] The Council of Government was the supreme power in administration and economic affairs.[13]
The government had a hierarchy since its inception.[12] Kaysone Phomvihane, the first Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, also served as LPRP General Secretary and a member of the Politburo and Secretariat.[12] His four deputy prime ministers (Nouhak Phoumsavanh, Phoumi Vongvichit, Khamtai Siphandon and Phoune Sipraseuth) served concurrently in the LPRP Politburo, the highest decision-making body between Central Committee meetings.[14] Below them were members of the LPRP Central Committee and other party members.[15] The Presidency of the Council of Government, the highest governmental body, was composed of the Prime Minister, his deputies, and Saly Vongkhamsao, Sisavath Keobounphanh, Chanmy Douangboudy, Maychantane Sengmany and Thongsavat Khaykhamphitoune.[15] Members of the presidency controlled the state's legislative, executive and judicial powers.[15] The First Government's deputy prime ministers had wide-ranging responsibilities; they led their respective ministries and oversaw other ministries on behalf of the Prime Minister.[14] With the Prime Minister, The First Government and prime minister reported their activities to the SPA[16] (consisting mainly of LPRP members), which rarely held the government accountable.[17]
The assembly passed the Law on the Council of Government,[7] which stated that the Council of Government has the "full power to settle all matters of state management which do not fall under the duties and rights of the Supreme People's Assembly and the SPA Standing Committee", in November 1982.[18] The law changed the Prime Minister's title to Chairman of the Council of Government, and the deputy prime ministers' to Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Government.[18] It intended to strengthen the body's collegiality by emphasising collective leadership, a communist leadership principle which seeks to minimise arbitrary decision-making; "representatives of trade unions, youth and women may be invited" to the meetings of the Council of Government "for consultation on problems involving the masses of all strata to which each organisation is responsible".[18] Ministers could also attend council meetings.[18]
The Council of Government organised quarterly meetings of all ministers; between sessions of the Council of Government, the Standing Committee of the Council of Government met weekly.[18] It was composed of the chairman, the first deputy chairman, deputy chairs, ministers and the head of the Office of Council of Government.[18] The first deputy chairman acted for the chairman in his absence.[18] The deputy chairmen, as before, supervised and coordinated the activities of ministries and governmental committees.[18] Decrees, decisions and significant issues decided by the Council of Government (or its standing committee) had to be signed by the chairman to become effective; resolutions, decisions and instructions issued on less-critical matters could be signed bu the chairman or first vice-chairman.[19] One section of the law was devoted to the Office of the Council of Government, which was responsible for preparing the council's work, organising its meetings and implementing its decisions.[20] The head of the Office of the Council of Government reported to the chairman and first deputy chairman, working on behalf of the council with the SPA and other organisations.[20]
The absence of a constitution influenced Laos' institutions.[21] Souphanouvong, the Chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, was elected Chairman of the SPA Constitutional Drafting Commission.[21] Between 1975 and 1984, however, none of its work was made public.[21] In 1984, the SPA announced the creation of two subcommittees of the Constitutional Drafting Commission.[21] The lack of an institutionalised structure led the party to bypass state structures in decision-making; the LPRP Secretariat, for example, bypassed the SPA.[21] It reshuffled the First Government in January 1982, in violation of the law.[22] No explanation has been given for why it took so long to write a constitution;[23] Vietnam approved a constitution four years after reunification, and the People's Republic of Kampuchea took two.[24] Laos, influenced by reforms in Vietnam and the rest of the socialist world by the mid-1980s, called for SPA elections in 1988.[24] At the assembly's first plenary session, party leaders reported that the draft constitution was nearly finished.[23] On 14 August 1991, the SPA adopted the first constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.[24]
Constitutional system (1991–present)
The new constitution changed the Chairman of the Council of Government back to Prime Minister.[25] It affirmed the LPRP's role, defining it as the "leading nucleus" of the state.[26] The government's executive branch was strengthened.[27] The Prime Minister's power was reduced, and the president's was increased;[27] the Prime Minister had appointed provincial governors, but the president did under the new constitution.[27] The President now had the right to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister and ministers in accordance with the National Assembly.[26] According to scholar Stephen T. Johnson, the new presidency was comparable to the President of France during the Fifth Republic.[26] The prime minister was responsible for guiding the work of government ministries, committees, provincial governors and mayors.[28]
The constitution was amended in 2013 and 2015.[29] Amendments in 2013 were needed to "reflect the political and economic reality of contemporary Laos", and in 2015 it was amended to "respond to the Party's renovation policies and the country's development vision until 2030".[29] The 2015 amendments gave the National Assembly the power to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and the government, removing from the president the power to appoint the prime minister.[30]
Qualifications and selection
The constitution stipulates in Article 23 that all "Lao citizens aged eighteen years and above have the right to vote and those aged twenty years and above have the right to be elected, except insane persons, persons with mental disorders and persons whose rights to vote and to be elected have been revoked by a court."[31] The Law on the Government is silent on qualifications to be elected prime minister.[32] According to Article 3, "The government operates on a principle of democratic centralism based on the Constitution and laws, having the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as the axle and having the Lao Front for National Construction, the mass organisations and the social organisations as the power [and] uses educational, economic, and administrative methods to manage the State and to manage the society and economy";[33] the prime minister and the government are selected on the premise that they implement party decisions.[34]
Since the office was established, the prime minister has been a leading party official. From 1975 to 1991, when it was the most powerful state office, the LPRP General Secretary served concurrently as prime minister.[12][27] No LPRP General Secretary has concurrently served as prime minister since 1998, opting instead to hold the presidency.[35] However, every prime minister since 1975 has been a member of the LPRP Central Committee and its Politburo.[36] A Politburo member does not require a fixed rank to be elected prime minister; Sisavat Keobounphan was ranked eighth, Bounnhang Vorachith fourth,[37] Thongsing Thammavong third and Thongloun Sisoulith second in its hierarchy.[38][39]
Duties and rights
Term limits
The Prime Minister leads the work of the Government, the executive branch of the state.[40] The Government is composed of the Prime Minister, the deputy prime ministers, ministers and chairman of the ministry-level organisations.[40] The Government's term of office is identical to that of the National Assembly, which has a maximum term length of five years.[40] No government official can hold one government office for more than two consecutive terms, meaning that an individual can serve as Prime Minister for a full ten years.[40] The sitting Government leaves office when the successor government has received the National Assembly's approval, and not before.[40] The Prime Minister can leave office during a term by resigning from office.[40] The assembly confirms the prime minister's resignation if he cannot perform his obligations.[40]
Government
The constitution establishes the Government's duties and responsibilities.[40] The Law on Government clarifies the constitution, including extending the Government's rights.[40] Both documents state that the Government is responsible for implementing the Constitution.[40] The Government ensures the proper implementation of laws and resolutions enacted by the National Assembly. The same goes for decrees and the presidential edicts approved by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.[40] The Government is empowered to submit draft laws to assembly, suggest draft presidential edicts to the assembly's Standing Committee and the President the Government has the right to submit draft presidential decrees.[40]
The Government has the right to issue decrees and resolutions on economic and social management, the administrative structure of the state, and management of science and technology.[40] The same rights apply to resources, environment, defence, security and foreign affairs.[40] With this in mind, the Government can establish socio-economic plans, the state budget and to submit these for consideration to the National Assembly.[40] The Government has the right to examine and question determinations, amendments and annulments passed by the National Assembly.[40] The same goes for assembly decisions on tax and the tax rate.[40] Based on this the Government can make recommendations to the National Assembly and its Standing Committee. It can also propose a fee and service charge to the Standing Committee.[40]
On the National Assembly's approval, the Government can establish, consolidate, separate and liquidate ministries, ministry-level entities, provinces and cities.[40] It can recommend changing the boundaries of cities and provinces to the National Assembly.[40] Similarly, it can recommend establishing, merging, separating or the liquidation of a sub-ministry, department or organisations corresponding to department-level.[40] On the proposal of a provincial governor or capital mayor the Government can establish or liquidate districts, municipalities, city and boundary determination of districts, municipalities and cities if it gets the approval of the relevant provincial People Assembly.[40] In the same spirit the Government can establish or liquidate Special and Specific Economic Zones.[40]
It is the Government's right, and responsibility to promote and disseminate the constitution and inform the people about the constitution and show reverence towards it.[40] Moreover its the Government's duty to implement the Constitution, and approved laws and regulations.[40] The Government is empowered to control and monitor sectoral organisations, local administrative structures and defence and security forces to safeguard the Constitution and approved laws and regulations.[40] Its the Government's responsibility to protect citizens in across the country uniformly.[40] Lawfully the Government has the right to make, enter into, interpret and implement international treaties which Laos has become a party.[40]
It is the Government's duty to protect the rights of citizens and citizens living abroad.[40] The Government is constitutionally empowered to award, withdraw, relinquish and re-acquisition citizenship. It can grant a foreigner the status of an honorary person. Moreover, the Government can propose to the Presidency the grant of amnesty.[40]
Role and authority
As the head of government, the Prime Minister summons the Government's meetings and presides over them.[40] More specifically, the Law on Government bestows the Prime Minister with the right to direct and control the Government's activities, and delegate work to ministries, ministry-level organisations, other organisations under Government supervision and local administrative structures.[40] Further, the Prime Minister has to safeguard the Constitution and guarantee the implementation of approved laws and resolutions.[40] The same goes for the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, in which the Prime Minister has the right to direct and monitor the implementation of resolutions, the five-year plan, the state budget plan, and Government regulations approved by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.[40]
The Prime Minister has the right to change the composition of the Government.[40] The officeholder can propose the appointment, reassignment, and dismissal of a Deputy Prime Minister, government minister and head of the ministry-level organisation for consideration for approval to the National Assembly.[40] The same goes for lower-level officials; the Prime Minister can on the consent of the National Assembly appoint, reassign and remove a Deputy Minister, deputy head of the ministry-level organisation, head of a bureau, deputy head of a bureau, Assistant Minister, assistant head of a ministry-level organisation, head of a department, and head of a department-level organisation.[40] At the provincial and local level the Prime Minister has the right to propose the appointment and dismissal of provincial governors, provincial deputy governors, capital mayors, deputy capital mayor, city governor, head of a municipality, district governor for approval to the provincial People Assembly and the provincial Standing Committee of the People's Assembly in question.[40] In the military and security sector, the Prime Minister can promote or demote colonels and propose to the President the promotion or demotion of ranking generals.[40] The Prime Minister can propose the appointment of or recall from abroad of ambassadors and plenipotentiary representatives of Laos to the President.[40]
With the National Assembly's approval, the Prime Minister can approve, annul, and withdraw from participating in international treaties and international agreements of which Laos is a party.[40] To the National Assembly's Standing Committee the Prime Minister can propose the rectification of treaties of which Laos is a party and state-level international agreements.[40] Also the officeholder is empowered to assign a minister and head of a ministry-level organisation to represent the Government at meetings and execute agreements and treaties on behalf of the state with foreign countries.[40]
The Prime has the right to issue decrees, orders and decisions on implementing policies, laws, regulations and state plans. Likewise, the Prime Minister can issue decrees, orders and decisions on the establishing and operating of ministries, ministry-level organisations, local administrative structures and other government-level organisations.[40] In light of this, the head of government can temporarily prevent, terminate and annul decisions of a ministry, local administrative structures and organisations under Government supervision if they contradict laws and regulations.[40] The exception being the Public Prosecutor and People's Court's decisions on legal proceedings.[40] At last, the Prime Minister can, if he or she wishes, summarise and report on the government's operation to the National Assembly and President annually.[40]
Officeholders
No. | Prime Minister | Start of term | End of term | Duration | Head of state | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kaysone Phomvihane ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ (1920–1992) |
8 December 1975 | 15 August 1991 | 15 years, 250 days | Souphanouvong | |
Phoumi Vongvichit | ||||||
2 | File:Khamtai Siphandon.jpg | Khamtai Siphandon ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ (born 1924) |
15 August 1991 | 16 February 1998 | 6 years, 193 days | Kaysone Phomvihane |
Nouhak Phoumsavanh | ||||||
3 | File:สีสะหวาด แก้วบุนพัน.jpg | Sisavath Keobounphanh ສີສະຫວາດ ແກ້ວບຸນພັນ (1928–2020) |
16 February 1998 | 27 March 2001 | 3 years, 31 days | Khamtai Siphandon |
4 | Bounnhang Vorachith ບຸນຍັງ ວໍລະຈິດ (born 1937) |
27 March 2001 | 8 June 2006 | 5 years, 73 days | ||
5 | Bouasone Bouphavanh ບົວສອນ ບຸບຜາວັນ (born 1954) |
8 June 2006 | 23 December 2010 | 4 years, 198 days | Choummaly Sayasone | |
6 | Thongsing Thammavong ທອງສິງ ທຳມະວົງ (born 1944) |
23 December 2010 | 20 April 2016 | 5 years, 119 days | ||
7 | Thongloun Sisoulith ທອງລຸນ ສີສຸລິດ (born 1945) |
20 April 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 26 days | Bounnhang Vorachit |
Living former prime ministers
-
Khamtai Siphandon served 1991–1998 born 1924 (age 100)
Khamtai Siphandon
served 1991–1998
born 1924 (age 100) -
Bounnhang Vorachith
served 2001–2006
born 1937 (age 86) -
Bouasone Bouphavanh
served 2006–2010
born 1954 (age 69) -
Thongsing Thammavong
served 2010–2016
born 1944 (age 80)
References
Specific
- ^ Stuart-Fox 2008, p. 253.
- ^ Stuart-Fox 2008, p. xxxviii.
- ^ a b Stuart-Fox 2008, p. 67.
- ^ Stuart-Fox 2008, pp. 67–8.
- ^ a b Stuart-Fox 2008, p. 397.
- ^ a b Norindr 1982, p. 39.
- ^ a b Brown & Zasloff 1986, p. 162.
- ^ Norindr 1982, p. 46.
- ^ Norindr 1982, p. 47.
- ^ Norindr 1982, pp. 47–8.
- ^ Norindr 1982, p. 48.
- ^ a b c d Norindr 1982, p. 52.
- ^ a b c Norindr 1982, p. 54.
- ^ a b Norindr 1982, p. 53.
- ^ a b c Norindr 1982, pp. 52–3.
- ^ Norindr 1982, p. 55.
- ^ Norindr 1982, pp. 55–6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Brown & Zasloff 1986, p. 168.
- ^ Brown & Zasloff 1986, p. 168–9.
- ^ a b Brown & Zasloff 1986, p. 169.
- ^ a b c d e Stuart-Fox 1986, p. 70.
- ^ Stuart-Fox 1986, p. 81.
- ^ a b John 2006, p. 89.
- ^ a b c John 2006, p. 90.
- ^ John 2006, p. 117.
- ^ a b c Johnson 1992, p. 84.
- ^ a b c d Johnson 1992, p. 82.
- ^ Brown & Zasloff 1995, p. 169.
- ^ a b Bui 2019, p. 761.
- ^ Bui 2019, p. 767.
- ^ "Article 36" (PDF). Constitution of Laos. 2015.
- ^ Law on the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDF). 2003.
- ^ "Chapter 1: General Provisions". Law on the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDF) (3). 2003.
- ^ Bui 2019, p. 766.
- ^ Stuart-Fox 2008, pp. 397 & 405–6.
- ^ Stuart-Fox 2008, pp. 398 & 405–6.
- ^ Stuart-Fox 2008, pp. 405–6.
- ^ Creak & Sayalath 2017, p. 183. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFCreakSayalath2017 (help)
- ^ Creak 2011, pp. 122–3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au David, Aristotle; Leon-David, Novah; Kitcharoen, Tuchakorn (July–August 2019). "UPDATE: Legal System of the Lao People's Democratic Republic". Hauser Global Law School Program of the New York University School of Law. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Bibliography
Books:
- Brown, MacAlister; Zasloff, Joseph J. (1986). Apprentice Revolutionaries: The Communist Movement in Laos, 1930–1985. Hoover Institution Press. ISBN 0-8179-8122-5.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - John, Ronald Bruce St. (2006). Revolution, Reform and Regionalism in Southeast Asia. Routledge. ISBN 0-203-09947-8.
- Norindr, Chou (1982). "Political Institutions of the Lao People's Democratic Republic". In Stuart-Fox, Martin (ed.). Contemporary Laos: Studies in the Politics and Society of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0-7022-1840-5.
- Stuart-Fox, Martin (2008). Historical Dictionary of Laos. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-81086-411-5.
- Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986). Laos: Politics, Economics, and Society. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1-55587-004-1.
Journal articles:
- Bui, Ngoc Son (2019). "Constitutional amendment in Laos". International Journal of Constitutional Law. 17 (3). Oxford University Press: 756–86. doi:10.1093/icon/moz067.
- Creak, S. & Sayalath, S. (2017). "Regime Renewal in Laos: The Tenth Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party" (PDF). Southeast Asian Affairs: 179–200. doi:10.1355/9789814762878-014.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Creak, Simon (2011). "Laos: Celebrations and Development Debates". Southeast Asian Affairs: 107–128. doi:10.1355/9789814345040-010. JSTOR 41418640.
- Huxley. Andrew (1991). "The Draft Constitution of the Laotian People's Democratic Republic". Review of Socialist Law. 17 (1). Brill Publishers: 75–78. doi:10.1163/187529891X00037.
- Johnson, Stephen T. (January 1992). "Laos in 1991: Year of the Constitution". Asian Survey. University of California Press: 82–87. doi:10.2307/2645202. JSTOR 2645202.
- Stuart-Fox, Martin (1991). "The Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic". Review of Socialist Law. 17 (4). Brill Publishers: 299–317. doi:10.1163/187529891X00244.
Report:
- Brown, MacAlister; Zasloff, Joseph J. (1995). "Chapter 4: Government and Politics". In Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Laos: a Country Study (PDF). Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. pp. 203–52.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)