Dzongkhag

A dzongkhag (Tibetan: རྫོང་ཁག, Wylie: rdzong khag , Dzongkha dzongkhak) is an administrative and judicial district of Bhutan. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhags (sub-districts), which themselves comprise two or more gewogs. The Parliament of Bhutan passed legislation in 2002 and 2007 on the status, structure, and leadership of local governments, including dzongkhags. Its most recent legislation regarding dzongkhags is the Local Government Act of 2009.

Dzongkhag administration

Under the Local Government Act of 2009, the Dzongkhag Tshogdu (District Council) is the non-legislative executive body of the Dzongkhag. The Dzongkhag Thromde is composed of the Gup and Mangmi (elected leaders) from each gewog, one representative from that Dzongkhag Thromde, and one representative from the Dxongkhag Yenlag Thromdes. Dzongkhag Tshogdus are tasked with balancing socio-economic development; promoting business; protecting consumers; coordinating government agency activities; reviewing Gewog regulations and ordinances; and representing the Dzongkhags in national referenda. The Dzongkhag Tshogdus are empowered to enforce rules on health and public safety; to regulate environmental pollution, advertising in regard to environmental aesthetics; to regulate broadcast media in accordance with the Information, Communications, and Media Act; and to regulate gambling. Dzongkhag Tshogdus also bear the responsibility for their own finances. The Dzongkhag Tshogdus also oversee Dzongdags (governors), royal appointees who are the executive of each Dzongkhag. Dzongdags, in turn, are responsible for maintaining law and order, and for enforcing the driglam namzha laws.