Chapter II. The King
Article 7
The King of Cambodia reigns but does not govern.
The King shall be the Head of State for life. The King shall be inviolable.
Article 8
The King of Cambodia is a symbol of the unity and eternity of the nation.
The King is the guarantor of national independence, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the guarantor of the rights and freedom of all citizens and of international treaties.
Article 9
The King shall assume the supreme role as arbitrator to ensure the regular execution of public powers.
Article 10
The Cambodian monarchy is an elected regime. The King shall have no power to appoint his successor to reign
Article 11
If the King cannot perform his normal duties as the Head of State due to His serious illness as certified by doctors chosen by the President of the Senate, the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, the President of the Senate shall perform the duties of the Head of State as the King’s Regent.
If the President of the Senate cannot perform the duties of the Head of State for the King as the King’s Regent when the King is seriously ill as stipulated in the previous paragraph, the President of National Assembly shall perform these duties.
The position as the Head of State as the King’s Regent may be taken by other dignitaries, in the circumstances described in the previous paragraph, in the following order:
- First Vice-President of the Senate
- First Vice-President of the National Assembly
- Second Vice-President of the Senate
- Second Vice-President of the National Assembly
Article 12
When the King dies, the President of the Senate shall perform the duties of the Acting Head of State as the Regent of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
If, when the King dies, the President of the Senate cannot perform the duties of the Acting Head of State in place of the King, the responsibilities of Acting Head of State in the capacity of Regent shall be exercised in compliance with the second and third paragraph of Article 11 .
Article 13
Within a period of not more than seven days, the Council of the Throne shall choose a new King of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The Royal Council of the Throne shall consist of:
- The President of the Senate
The President of the National Assembly The Prime Minister The Chief Monk of each of the Orders of Mahayana Buddhism (MohaNikay) and Theravada Buddhism (ThammayutekakNikay) The First and Second Vice-President of the Senate The First and Second Vice-President of the National Assembly
The organization and functioning of the Council of the Throne shall be determined by law.
Article 14
The King of Cambodia shall be member of the Royal family, be at least 30 years old and descend from the bloodline of King Ang Duong, King Norodom or King Sisowath.
Upon enthronement, the King shall take an Oath of Allegiance as stipulated in Annex 4.
Article 15
The wife of the reigning King shall have the royal title of Queen of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Article 16
The Queen of the Kingdom of Cambodia shall not have the right to engage in politics, to assume the role of Head of State or Head of Government, or to assume other administrative or political roles.
The Queen of the Kingdom of Cambodia exercises duties that serve social, humanitarian and religious interests and assists the King with protocol and diplomatic functions.
Article 17
The provision of paragraph 1 of Article 7 of this Constitution, under which the King reigns but does not govern, shall never be amended.
Article 18
The King shall communicate with the Senate and the National Assembly by royal messages.
These royal messages shall not be subject to discussion by the Senate and the National Assembly.
Article 19
The King shall appoint the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers in accordance with the procedures stipulated in Article 119.
Article 20
The King shall grant official audiences twice a month to the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers to hear their reports on the current situation of the nation.
Article 21
Upon the request of the Council of Ministers, the King shall sign Royal Decrees (Reach Kret) appointing, transferring or removing from office, senior civil and military officials, ambassadors and envoys extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
Upon the request of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, the King shall sign Royal Decrees appointing, transferring or terminating the appointment of judges.
Article 22
When the nation faces danger the King, with the joint approval of the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate, shall make a proclamation to the people putting the country into a state of emergency.
Article 23
The King is the Supreme Commander of the Royal Khmer Armed Forces. The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Khmer Armed Forces shall be appointed to command the Armed Forces.
Article 24
The King shall serve as Chairman of the Supreme Council of National Defense, to be established by law.
With the approval of the National Assembly and the Senate, the King shall declare war
Article 25
The King shall receive letters of credential from ambassadors or envoys extraordinary and plenipotentiary of foreign countries accredited to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Article 26
The King shall sign and ratify international treaties and conventions after they have been approved by the National Assembly and the Senate.
Article 27
The King shall have the rights to grant pardons or amnesties.
Article 28
The King shall sign Royal proclamations promulgating the Constitution and laws passed by the National Assembly and completely reviewed by the Senate, and shall sign any Royal Decrees proposed by the Council of Ministers.
If the King is sick and requires medical treatment abroad, He has the rights to delegate the power of signing Royal proclamations and Royal Decrees to the Acting Head of State by delegating writs.
Article 29
The King establishes and confers national decorations. The King confers civil and military ranks and positions as determined by law.
Article 30
In the absence of the King, the President of the Senate shall assume the duties of Acting Head of State. If the President of the Senate cannot perform his duties as the Acting Head of State in place of the King, at the time of the King’s absence, the responsibilities of Acting Head of State shall be exercised in compliance with the second and third paragraphs of Article 11.
