Most political parties want a new charter to keep the current single-MP constituency election system and disagree with the direct public election of a prime minister.
Gen Lertrat Ratanawanit, chairman of the National Reform Council's panel on public input, said the committee has received opinions and recommendations from 23 out of 74 political parties. Among them are Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, Chart Pattana, Chartthaipattana, Palang Chon and Matubhumi.
Gen Lertrat said the political parties were asked 21 questions and had to give recommendations. The first 11 questions involved the electoral system and the remaining questions centred on the selection and the terms of members of the independent agencies.
He said most political parties want the current single-MP constituency system to remain and that the charter drafters should not consider going back to the multi-MP constituency system.
Most political parties disagree with the idea of limiting the terms of MPs while some want MPs to serve no more than two terms back-to-back. The majority insist election candidates must run under a party's banner.
"Their reason is that political parties should be strengthened and become a core institution of the democratic system," Gen Lertrat said.
"Those who disagree say political parties lack a clear policy and the MPs don't have the freedom to introduce legislation."
He said some parties called for the establishment of a third chamber called the people's council.
On the Senate election, most political parties want senators to serve only one term and agree that the current system in which senators are both appointed and elected should be retained.
However, they suggest the selection process should be revised so senators, both elected and appointed, represent a wide range of professions.
He said while the political parties presented diverse opinions about how the prime minister should come to power, they thought the issue should be decided by the House of Representatives.
It has been suggested by some NRC members that prime ministers be directly elected.
Gen Lertrat said most political parties agree that the selection process of public independent agency members should be adjusted to be more open and diverse.
They also proposed the terms of members of certain public agencies such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission should be shortened, he said. The current term for NACC members is nine years.
Last month, the Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana parties told the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) they wanted the new charter to make it more difficult to dissolve political parties as punishment for election violations.
It was the first hearing organised by the CDC at which political parties were allotted 50 minutes to give their charter recommendations. Both parties agreed that laws banning whole parties for the crimes of a few members were too harsh.
Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana said party dissolution should only apply when the misconduct is proved to be related to a party's executives.