FAQ

What is Local Government?

Local Government in the Bhutanese context refers to the Dzongkhag Tshogdus of twenty Dzongkhags, the Gewog Tshogdes of two hundred five Gewogs, and the Thromde Tshogdes of four Thromdes, which are local decision-making bodies, consisting of locally elected community representatives who discuss and decide on local issues.

What is Dzongkhag Tshogdu?

A Dzongkhag Tshogdu is translated as District Council, which is responsible for consultative decision-making at the Dzongkhag level, in that the members from other Local Governments and senior officials from the Dzongkhag Administration and Regional Offices are consulted while discussing and deciding an agendum issue. The members of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu consist of Gups, Mangmis and Thromde Ngotshab, and the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu are elected from among its members by the members through a secret ballot system. Any of the two members could be elected as its Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The decisions of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu are implemented by the Dzongkhag Administration, a team of civil servants headed by the Dzongdag.

What is Gewog Tshogde?

A Gewog Tshogde is translated as County Committee, which is responsiblle for participative decision-making at the Gewog level. Representatives of rural communities participate in the decision-making process. The members of a Gewog Tshogdu consist of Gups, Mangmis and Tshogpas, and the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Gewog Tshogde are the Gup and the Mangmi respectively, who are directly elected by the voters of the Gewog. The decisions of the Gewog Tshogde are implemented by the Gewog Administration, a team of civil servants headed by the Gewog Administrative Officer.

What is Thromde Tshogde?

A Thromde Tshogde is translated as Municipal Committee, which is responsible for participative decision-making at the Thromde level. Representatives of urban communities participate in the decision-making process. The members of a Thromde Tshogdu consist of the Thrompon and Thromde Thuemis, and the Chairperson of the Thromde Tshogde is the Thrompon who is directly elected by the voters of the Thromde, and the Deputy Chairperson is elected from among the Thromde Thuemis. The decisions of the Thromde Tshogde are implemented by the Thromde Administration, a team of civil servants headed by the Executive Secretary.

What is the Tenure of Local Government?

The tenure of Local Government is five years, starting from the date of its first sitting. The law requires the first sitting to be convened within one month from the date of declaration of the election results. For the 3rd Local Government, the result for the last batch of elections was declared on 6th January 2022, and the date of first sitting was centrally fixed on 22nd January 2022, after the declaration of the election results, for the purpose of efficient and effective coordination at the national level during the outbreak of Covid-19 in several Dzongkhags. Hence, the tenure of the 3rd Local Government be from 22nd January 2022 to 21st January 2027

1.     Dzongkhag Tshogdu:
 - Gup and Mangmi from each Gewog
 - One elected representative from that Dzongkhag Thromde
 - One elected representative from Dzongkhag Thromdes
2.     Gewog Tshogde:
 - Gup and Mangmi
 - Tshogpas (not less than five and not more than eight)
3.     Thromde Tshogde:
 - Thrompon
 - Not less than seven and not more than ten elected members
1.       Dzongkhag Thromde
2.       Dzongkhag Yenlag Thromde
Elected Local Government functionaries will serve for 5 years from the date of the first sitting. The first sitting convenes within 30 days after the declaration of election results.
Dzongkhag Administration is staffed by civil servants led by the Dzongdag, Dzongrab and Sector Heads.
Gewog Administrations are headed by the Gup supported by the Gewog Administrative Officer, Mangmi, Gaydrung, Sector staff and Tshogpas.

Follow Us

Contact number: 02-338981/334512, Tashichhodzong, Thimphu, Bhutan

Copyright © 2021 Department of Local Governance. All rights reserved