Senate (Cambodia) Explained

Background Color:	navy
Senate
Legislature:	5th Senate
Native Name:	Central Khmer: ព្រឹទ្ធសភា
Coa Pic:	Senate of Cambodia.png
Coa Res:	100px
House Type:	Upper house of the Parliament of Cambodia
Term Length:	Six years
Leader1 Type:	President
Leader1:	Hun Sen
Party1:	(CPP)
Election1:	3 April 2024
Leader2 Type:	First Vice President
Leader2:	Prak Sokhonn
Party2:	(CPP)
Election2:	3 April 2024
Leader3 Type:	Second Vice President
Leader3:	Ouch Borith
Party3:	(CPP)
Election3:	3 April 2024
Members:	62
Structure1:	Cambodge Sénat 2024.svg
Structure1 Res:	277px
Political Groups1:	CPP (55) KWP (3) CPP (2) Independent (2)
Voting System1:	Indirect party-list proportional
Last Election1:	25 February 2024
Next Election1:	On or before 24 February 2030
Session Room:	Entrance of the senate 2016.jpg
Session Res:	277

The Senate (Central Khmer: ព្រឹទ្ធសភា, in Central Khmer pronounced as /prɨttʰeaʔsapʰiə/;) is the upper house of the Parliament of Cambodia. It is a legislative body composed of 62 members. 58 of the Senate seats are elected every six years by the commune councillors from 24 provinces of Cambodia and members of the National Assembly. In addition, the King nominates two senators, and the National Assembly nominates two, ending with a total of 62 senators. The Senate performs its duties as determined in the constitution and law in force. The Senate is chaired and presided by the president, currently Hun Sen of the Cambodian People's Party and assisted by two Vice Presidents.

The first Senate session was held on March 25, 1999, and the first election was held on January 22, 2006. The fifth and current Senate was inaugurated by King Norodom Sihamoni on April 3, 2024.

Electoral system

The Senate of Cambodia is elected every 6 years by an indirect party-list proportional representation through 8 multi members constituencies (regions), with the Communal Chiefs, Communal Councilors, Members of the National Assembly.^[1]

Regions	Seats
Region 1	6
Region 2	8
Region 3	5
Region 4	10
Region 5	7
Region 6	7
Region 7	9
Region 8	6

Regions	Provinces
Region 1	Phnom Penh
Region 2	Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum
Region 3	Kandal
Region 4	Banteay Meachey, Battambang, Siem Reap, Pailin, Oddar Meanchey
Region 5	Kampot, Kep, Takeo
Region 6	Prey Veng, Svay Rieng
Region 7	Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Pursat
Region 8	Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Kratie, Strung Treng, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri

Term and session

Article 102:The term of the Senate is six years and ends on the day when the new Senate takes office.

Article 107:The Senate holds its ordinary sessions twice a year. Each session shall last at least three months. If requested by the king or Prime Minister, or at least one-third of all the senators, the Senate shall convene in an extraordinary session.

An absolute majority vote of all senators is used in the following cases:

Election of the President, Vice Presidents of the Senate and all members of the commissions or special commission
Adoption of organic laws
Adoption of the internal regulations of the Senate
Adoption of laws or issues

A two-thirds majority vote of all senators is used for the following cases:

Adoption of the Constitution law
The vote pertaining to the decision to indict, arrest, detent, confinement disciplinary action, parliamentary immunity, incompatibility, loss of membership, or abandonment of post.

A three-fourths majority vote of all senators is to be used to decide on the suspension of detention or indictment of any senator.

Leadership

The President of the Senate is assisted by two Vice Presidents who lead the Senate. If the President is unable to perform his/her duties due to illness or due to fulfilling the functions of Acting Head of State or as a Regent, or due to being on a mission abroad, a Vice President shall replace him. (Article 110-New of the Constitution)

The Permanent Committee of the Senate consists of:

The President of the Senate
Two Vice Presidents of the Senate
The Chairman of the nine Commissions of the Senate

Composition (elected seats)

Party
2000 seats	2006 seats	2012 seats	2018 seats
bgcolor=		Cambodian People's Party	31	45	46	58
bgcolor=		FUNCINPEC	21	10	0	0
bgcolor=		Sam Rainsy Party	7	2	11	0
Total	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	57	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	57	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	57	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	58

Elections

2018

Party		Votes	%	Seats won	+/-
	Cambodian People's Party	11,202	95.95%	58	12
	FUNCINPEC	276	2.36%	0	0
	Khmer National United Party	182	1.55%	0	0
	Cambodian Youth Party	3	0.20%	0	0
Total	align=right bgcolor= "#E9E9E9"	11,670	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	100	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	58	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"

2012

Party		Votes	%	Seats won	+/-
	Cambodian People's Party	8,880	77.81%	46	9
	Sam Rainsy Party	2,503	22.19%	11	1
Total	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	11,383	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	100	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"	57	align=right bgcolor="#E9E9E9"

List of senators in 2018

Party		Name
	(Nominated by King)	Norodom Arunrasmey
	(Nominated by King)	Oum Somanin
	FUNCINPEC	Chea Chantevy
	FUNCINPEC	Suon Mean
	Cambodian People's Party	Soeuy Keo
	Cambodian People's Party	Mom Chim Huy
	Cambodian People's Party	Ty Borasy
	Cambodian People's Party	Thong Chan
	Cambodian People's Party	Ouk Bunchhoeun
	Cambodian People's Party	Suon Lon
	Cambodian People's Party	Yong Sem
	Cambodian People's Party	Lao Meng Khin
	Cambodian People's Party	Sok Yat
	Cambodian People's Party	Say Chhum
	Cambodian People's Party	Sok Eysan
	Cambodian People's Party	Tep Ngorn
	Cambodian People's Party	Chan Nareth
	Cambodian People's Party	Nam Toum
	Cambodian People's Party	Chhit Kimyeat
	Cambodian People's Party	Kong Sarath
	Cambodian People's Party	Lay Piseth
	Cambodian People's Party	Chea Cheth
	Cambodian People's Party	Sim Ka
	Cambodian People's Party	Ney Pena
	Cambodian People's Party	Kun Net
	Cambodian People's Party	Ok Kong
	Cambodian People's Party	Seng Siphy
	Cambodian People's Party	Ok Kong
	Cambodian People's Party	Pol Lim
	Cambodian People's Party	Men Chhoeun
	Cambodian People's Party	An Sum
	Cambodian People's Party	Hem Khorn
	Cambodian People's Party	Chung Kimsran
	Cambodian People's Party	Khieu Muth
	Cambodian People's Party	Muong Poy
	Cambodian People's Party	Tim Phan
	Cambodian People's Party	Choung Veng
	Cambodian People's Party	Lan Chhorn
	Cambodian People's Party	Chuan Leng
	Cambodian People's Party
	Cambodian People's Party	Men Siphan
	Cambodian People's Party	O Sokhom
	Cambodian People's Party	Kok An
	Cambodian People's Party	Mong Rithy
	Cambodian People's Party	Prak Chamroeun
	Cambodian People's Party	Nhem Samorn
	Cambodian People's Party
	Cambodian People's Party	Kim Thea
	Cambodian People's Party	Say Borin
	Cambodian People's Party	Srey Ben
	Cambodian People's Party	Sam An
	Cambodian People's Party
	Cambodian People's Party	Mam Bunheang
	Cambodian People's Party	Si Vanath
	Cambodian People's Party	Chim Lav
	Cambodian People's Party	Ly Yong Phat
	Cambodian People's Party	Tep Yuthy
	Cambodian People's Party	Chheuy Channa
	Cambodian People's Party	Ly Sary
	Cambodian People's Party	Chhay Vanna
	Cambodian People's Party	Khuon Khundy
	Cambodian People's Party	Heng Bora

List of senators in 2012

Name of Senator	Gender	Party/Nomination
Oum Mannorine^[2]	Male	Nominated by King
Ieu Pannakar^[3]	Male	Nominated by King
Prak Cham Roeun	Male	Nominated by Assembly
Norodom Bupphadevi^[4]	Female	Nominated by Assembly
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Female
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Female
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Female
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Female
	Female
	Female
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Female
	Male
	Male
	Male
	Female
	Male	Sam Rainsy Party
Uch Serey Yuth^[5]	Male