You can read the constitution on its official\nweb site<\/a>, presented in both\nDzongkha and English. Check out Article 9, Section 2 (via Boing\nBoing<\/a><\/em>):<\/p>\n\n The State shall strive to promote those circumstances that will enable the\nsuccessful pursuit of Gross National Happiness. [Constitution of the Kingdom\nof Bhutan]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Let’s hope promoting “gross national happiness” means sweet, sweet\nbourbon will now flow freely out of every tap in the kingdom. If that’s\nnot the case, The New\nYork Times’<\/em> travel section offers up a list of Bhutan’s\nother major selling points<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n BBC News: Bhutan\nunveils new constitution<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While Nepal’s king does away with elected governance, the Himalayan hamlet of Bhutan gears up to embrace it. The country just unveiled a new constitution, which will convert its monarchy into a multi-party democracy: King Jigme Singye Wangchuk says the … Continue reading ![](\"http:\/\/www.sepiamutiny.com\/sepia\/archives\/jigmeWangchuk100x150.jpg\")
<\/a>King Jigme Singye Wangchuk says the draft will be sent to all 530,000 citizens,\nasking for their views…The king told the country’s only newspaper Kuensel<\/em>: “The\nsovereignty, stability and well-being of the country must be placed above everything\nelse. The country is more important than the king.” King Wangchuk assumed\nthe throne at the age 16, the fourth ruler in the Wangchuk dynasty that came\nto power in December 1907. The transition began four years ago when the king\nhanded down powers of daily governance to a council of ministers and even empowered\nthe national assembly to force a royal abdication if the motion was backed by\nthree-quarters of its membership. [BBC News] <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n