Legislative Assembly of Tonga: Difference between revisions

Legislative Assembly of Tonga

Fale Alea
Legislative Assembly of Tonga ; Fale Alea
Type
Type	Unicameral
Structure
Seats	26 members
Political groups	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (14); Nobles' representatives (9); Independents (3);
Elections
Voting system	multi-seat constituency
Last election	Tongan general election, 2017
Meeting place
	Nukuʻalofa
Website
	parliament.gov.to

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Revision as of 05:20, 20 December 2017

The Legislative Assembly (Template:Lang-to) of Tonga has 26 members in which 17 members elected by majority of the people for a 5-year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system. There are 9 members elected by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga. The Assembly is controlled by the speaker of the House who is elected by majority of the elected members of Parliament and constitutionally appointed by the king.

History

A Legislative Assembly providing for representation of nobles and commoners was established in 1862 by King George Tupou I.^[1] 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.^[2] An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members.^[3] 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.^[4]

In April 2010 the Legislative Assembly enacted a package of political reforms, increasing the number of people's representatives from nine to seventeen,^[5] with ten seats for Tongatapu, three for Vava’u, two for Ha’apai and one each for Niuas and 'Eua.^[6]

Speaker of the Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, appointed by the monarch.^[7]

The current Speaker is Lord Tuʻivakanō. A complete list of the Speakers is below:^[8]

Name	Took office	Left office
Hon. Viliami Tungi	1875	1896
Hon. Siaosi Fuku'aho	1897	1897
Hon. Siaosi Tu'ipelehake	1897	1912
Hon. Finau 'Ulukalala	1912	1938
Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune	1939	1940
Hon. Tu'ivakano	1941	1941
Hon. Nuku	1942	1944
Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune	1945	1945
Hon. Tu'ivakano	1946	1948
Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune	1949	1949
Hon. Tu'ivaikano	1950	1950
Hon. Kalaniuvalu	1951	1958
Hon. Ma'afu Tukui'aulahi	1959	1984
Hon. Kalaniuvalu	1985	1986
Hon. Malupo	1987	1989
Hon. Fusitu'a	1990	1998
Hon. Veikune	1999	2002
Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano	1 July 2002	2004
Hon. Veikune	22 March 2005	2006
Hon. Havea Tui'ha'angana	2006	2008
Hon. Tu'ilakepa	April 29, 2008	2010
Lord Tupou (interim)	December 3, 2010	December 21, 2010
Hon. Lasike	December 21, 2010	July 18, 2012
Lord Fakafanua	July 19, 2012	29 December 2014
Lord Tuʻivakanō

Elections

Template:Tongan general election, 2010

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.

Term	Elected in	Government
2010 Parliament	2010 election	Independent

Officers

Sione Tekiteki is Clerk (Kalae Pule Falealea 'o Tonga) (2011–2012). Gloria Pole'o (2012–present)

Legislative Procedures

References

^ David Stanley (1999). Tonga-Somoa Handbook. p. 198. ISBN 1-56691-174-5.
^ Ian Campbell (2005). "The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga". Journal of Pacific History. 40 (1): 91–104. doi:10.1080/00223340500082400.
^ Campbell (2005), p. 93.
^ Sione Latukefu. "History of our Constitution". Government of Tonga. Retrieved 2010-03-02.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
^ "Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
^ Constitution of Tonga Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, s. 61
^ This is drawn from Member profiles on the Legislative Assembly's official website

External links

Official website

[1] David Stanley (1999). Tonga-Somoa Handbook. p. 198. ISBN 1-56691-174-5.

[campbell-2] Ian Campbell (2005). "The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga". Journal of Pacific History. 40 (1): 91–104. doi:10.1080/00223340500082400.

[3] Campbell (2005), p. 93.

[4] Sione Latukefu. "History of our Constitution". Government of Tonga. Retrieved 2010-03-02.^{[permanent dead link]}

[5] "Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-21.

[6] "Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2010-04-21.

[7] Constitution of Tonga Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, s. 61

[8] This is drawn from Member profiles on the Legislative Assembly's official website

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 A Legislative Assembly providing for representation of nobles and commoners was established in 1862 by King [[George Tupou I of Tonga|George Tupou I]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Tonga-Somoa Handbook |author=David Stanley |publisher= |year=1999 |isbn=1-56691-174-5 |page=198}}</ref> This body met every four years and was continued in the [[Constitution of Tonga|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.<ref name=campbell>{{cite journal |title=The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga |author=Ian Campbell |journal=Journal of Pacific History |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=91–104 |year=2005 |doi=10.1080/00223340500082400|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00223340500082400}}</ref> An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members.<ref>Campbell (2005), p. 93.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pmo.gov.to/ourconstitution/the-contitution/our-constitution-history-english.html |author=Sione Latukefu |title=History of our Constitution  |publisher=Government of Tonga |date= |accessdate=2010-03-02}}</ref>
+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.<ref name=campbell>{{cite journal |title=The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga |author=Ian Campbell |journal=Journal of Pacific History |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=91–104 |year=2005 |doi=10.1080/00223340500082400|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00223340500082400}}</ref> An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members.<ref>Campbell (2005), p. 93.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pmo.gov.to/ourconstitution/the-contitution/our-constitution-history-english.html |author=Sione Latukefu |title=History of our Constitution |publisher=Government of Tonga |date= |accessdate=2010-03-02 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 In April 2010 the Legislative Assembly enacted a package of political reforms, increasing the number of people's representatives from nine to seventeen,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53031 |title=Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-04-15 |accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref> with ten seats for [[Tongatapu]], three for [[Vava’u]], two for [[Ha’apai]] and one each for [[Niuas]] and [['Eua]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53112 |title=Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-04-20 |accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref>
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 ==Speaker of the Assembly==
-The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, appointed by the monarch.<ref>[http://parliament.gov.to/constitution1.htm Constitution of Tonga], s. 61</ref>
+The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, appointed by the monarch.<ref>[http://parliament.gov.to/constitution1.htm Constitution of Tonga] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119232721/http://parliament.gov.to/constitution1.htm |date=2008-11-19 }}, s. 61</ref>
 The current Speaker is [[Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō|Lord Tuʻivakanō]]. A complete list of the Speakers is below:<ref>This is drawn from Member profiles on the Legislative Assembly's [http://parliament.gov.to official website]</ref>

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