National People's Assembly of Thailand (Thai: สมัชชาแห่งชาติ; rtgs: Samatcha Haeng Chat), or, in brief, NPA (Thai: สมช.), is an assembly in Thailand consisting of citizens from various sectors for the purpose of electing some among themselves to constitute the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). After the formation of the CDA, the NPA would cease to exist.
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1973
After the events of Great Sorrow Day in 1973, the NPA was convoked by Bhumibol Adulyadej in order to form a Constitution Drafting Assembly in charge of drawing up a new constitution.
As it was held at the Nang Loeng Racecourse, the NPA went by the name the "Racecourse Assembly."
2006
After the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) seized power in 2006, the NPA was established by Bhumibol Adulyadej. At his command, the NPA consisted of 1,982 members.
On 17 December 2006, Maha Vajiralongkorn, in the name of the king, declared the NPA open at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Centre, Khet Bangkok Yai. On 18 December 2006, NPA members nominated 200 of their number to become the members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly, and submitted their names to the CDR at the Royal Thai Army headquarters where 100 were selected.