Legislative_Assembly_of_Tonga

Legislative Assembly of Tonga

Legislative Assembly of Tonga

National legislature of Tonga

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga (Tongan: Fale Alea ʻo Tonga) is the unicameral legislature of Tonga.

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History

A Legislative Assembly providing for representation of nobles and commoners was established in 1862 by King George Tupou I.[2] This body met every four years and was continued in the 1875 Constitution.

Originally the Legislative Assembly consisted of all holders of noble titles, an equal number of people's representatives, the governors for Ha’apai and Vava’u, and at least four Cabinet Ministers chosen by the monarch.[3] An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members.[4] Amendments in 1914 saw a reduction in the size of the Assembly and annual sittings. The principle of equal representation of nobles and commoners was retained.[5]

In April 2010 the Legislative Assembly enacted a package of political reforms, increasing the number of people's representatives from nine to seventeen,[6] with ten seats for Tongatapu, three for Vava’u, two for Ha’apai and one each for Niuas and 'Eua.[7]

The 100-year-old Tongan Parliament House was destroyed by Cyclone Gita, a Category 4 tropical cyclone that passed through the nation on 12 and 13 February 2018.[8] Parliament subsequently moved to the Tongan National Centre complex in Tofoa. In November 2021 the Tongan government announced that a new parliament building would be constructed on Nuku'alofa's waterfront.[9]

Electoral system

The assembly has 26 members in which 17 members are elected by the people for 5-year term in single-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system. There are 9 members elected by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga.

Speaker of the Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, who is elected by majority of the elected members of Parliament at the first meeting after the general election and constitutionally appointed by the king.[10] Prior to 2010, the Speaker was appointed by the monarch.[11]

A complete list of the Speakers is below:[12]

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Terms of the Tongan Legislative Assembly

Until 2010, the government was appointed by the monarch without reference to Parliament, and there were no political parties. The last term under the old system was the 2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly. Political reform in 2010 saw the Prime Minister elected by Parliament from among its members, leading to responsible government.

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Officers

Clerk (Kalake Pule Fale Alea 'o Tonga)

  • Sione Tekiteki (2011–2012)
  • Gloria Pole'o (2012–present)

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "History". Parliament of Tonga. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  2. [2]
    David Stanley (1999). Tonga-Samoa Handbook. David Stanley. p. 198. ISBN 978-1-56691-174-0.
  3. [3]
    Ian Campbell (2005). "The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga". Journal of Pacific History. 40 (1): 91–104. doi:10.1080/00223340500082400. S2CID 22501018.
  4. [4]
    Campbell (2005), p. 93.
  5. [5]
    Sione Latukefu. "History of our Constitution". Government of Tonga. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  6. [6]
    "Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms". Radio New Zealand International. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  7. [7]
    "Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries". Radio New Zealand International. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  8. [8]
    "Tonga parliament building flattened by Cyclone Gita". BBC News. 13 February 2018.
  9. [9]
    "Tonga's new multi-million Parliament Building to be built on seafront". Matangi Tonga. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  10. [10]
    "FAQs".
  11. [11]
    Constitution of Tonga Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, s. 61
  12. [12]
    "List of Speakers of the Tongan Legislative Assembly". Archived from the original on 14 August 2020.
  13. [13]
    ""Late Lord Fusitu'a achieved four levels of God's goodness" – Dr. Tevita Havea says". www.parliament.gov.to.
  14. [14]
    "Tonga: ELECTIONS IN 2005". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  15. [15]
    "IPU PARLINE database: TONGA (Fale Alea), ELECTIONS IN 2010".
  16. [16]
    "Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years | Asia Pacific Report". 19 December 2017.
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