The Order of Civic Merit of the Kingdom of Laos (Lao: ອິສະຮິຍາພອນພົນລະເມືອງດິແຫ່ງຊາດ Itsariyaphon Phonlamuang Di Haeng Sat) was established on November 20, 1950 under Royal Ordinance No. 186 by H.M. Sisavang Phoulivong, The King of Laos. It is an Order of Civic Merit for civil officials and military officers. It was awarded for meritorious and courageous service to the State in three classes (1. Commander, 2. Officer, and 3. Knight). Until 1975 the approval authority was the Prime Minister of the Royal Lao Government. The current approval authority is H.E. Professor Maha Khamphoui Sisavatdy, Prime Minister of the Royal Lao Government in Exile as an elected successor to the Office of the Prime Minister of the Royal Lao Government.