Strategy of Checks and Balances According to Municipal Structure

Abstract

This study has the objectives of comparing the checks and balances according to municipal structure
that is team elected and mixed elected as well as the challenges in checks and balances according to municipal
structure. In addition, to find the way to develop potential in examining checks and balances of the 4
Municipalities in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Research methodology was consisted of qualitative study. For
in depth interview Administrative section, Municipal Council, Government officials and people. The findings
revealed thatcheck and balance based on the structures of the municipalities between the administrative parties
with majority vote and the opposition parties with minority vote in the council actually had the same methods
of practices. The issues found from the balance inspection were also not different. The most common issue
found was that the mayor possessed too much power that administrative monopoly occurred, because the
council was the same side of all the administrative parties. The administrative parties, therefore, held majority
vote; and minority vote (or the opposition parties) rarely had impacts on the them. Moreover, due to minority
vote, the subject partieswere considerate about operations and had to follow those with majority vote. Showing
dissimilar opinions was hardly possible, too, despite having the municipal councils as the core elements
of check and balance based on the structure of the municipalities. Practically, the municipal councils did not
counterbalance the power of the administrative parties at all. They even seemed to tend to subserve those
parties. Thus, the council should be strengthened by acquiring genuine inspection authority. Above all, the
council must not take sides with the administrative parties so that balance of power mechanism can work
with its full efficiency.