The Legislative Assembly of Tonga (Tongan: Fale Alea ʻo Tonga) is the unicameral legislature of Tonga. The assembly 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.
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]
The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, who is elected by the MPs at the first meeting of elected members after the general election.[10] Prior to 2010, the Speaker was appointed by the monarch.[11]
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.
^Ian Campbell (2005). "The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga". Journal of Pacific History. 40 (1): 91–104. doi:10.1080/00223340500082400. S2CID 22501018.
^Sione Latukefu. . Government of Tonga. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
^"Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms". Radio New Zealand International. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
^"Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries". Radio New Zealand International. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
^"Tonga parliament building flattened by Cyclone Gita". BBC News. 13 February 2018.
^"Tonga's new multi-million Parliament Building to be built on seafront". Matangi Tonga. 14 November 2021. from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
^""Late Lord Fusitu'a achieved four levels of God's goodness" – Dr. Tevita Havea says". www.parliament.gov.to.
^"Tonga: ELECTIONS IN 2005". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
^"IPU PARLINE database: TONGA (Fale Alea), ELECTIONS IN 2010".
^"Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years | Asia Pacific Report".
External linksedit
Official website
November 25, 2023
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The Legislative Assembly of Tonga Tongan Fale Alea ʻo Tonga is the unicameral legislature of Tonga The assembly 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 Legislative Assembly of Tonga Fale Alea ʻo TongaTypeTypeUnicameralHistoryFounded16 September 1875 1875 09 16 1 LeadershipSpeakerFatafehi Fakafanua since December 2017StructureSeats25 membersPolitical groupsGovernment 15 DPFI 3 Independents 8 Nobles 4 Opposition 10 TPPI 1 Independents 4 Nobles 5 Vacant 1 Vacant 1 ElectionsVoting systemSingle non transferable voteLast election18 November 2021Next electionOn or before November 2025Meeting placeParliament House NukuʻalofaWebsiteparliament wbr gov wbr to Contents 1 History 2 Electoral system 3 Speaker of the Assembly 4 Terms of the Tongan Legislative Assembly 5 Officers 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editA 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 editThe parliament has 17 constituencies Speaker of the Assembly editThe Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker who is elected by the MPs at the first meeting of elected members after the general election 10 Prior to 2010 the Speaker was appointed by the monarch 11 A complete list of the Speakers is below 12 Name Took office Left office NotesHon Viliami Tungi to 1875 1896Hon Siaosi Tuku aho fr 1897 1897Hon Siaosi Tu ipelehake fr 1897 1912Hon Finau Ulukalala 1912 1938Hon Iosaiasi Veikune to 1939 1940 1st termHon Tu ivakano to 1941 1941 1st termHon Nuku 1942 1944Hon Iosaiasi Veikune to 1945 1945 2nd termHon Tu ivakano to 1946 1948 2nd termHon Iosaiasi Veikune to 1949 1949 3rd termHon Tu ivakano to 1950 1950 3rd termHon Kalaniuvalu 1951 1958Hon Ma afu Tukui aulahi to 1959 1984Hon Kalaniuvalu Fotofili to 1985 1986Hon Malupo 1987 1989Lord Fusituʻa 1990 1998 13 Lord Veikune April 1999 2001 1st termLord Tuʻivakanō 1 July 2002 2004 1st termLord Veikune 22 March 2005 January 2006 2nd termLord Tu iha angana 10 February 2006 April 2008 14 Hon Tu ilakepa 2 May 2008 2010Lord Tupou interim 3 December 2010 21 December 2010 15 Hon Lasike 21 December 2010 18 July 2012Lord Fakafanua 19 July 2012 29 December 2014 1st termLord Tuʻivakanō January 2015 December 2017 2nd termLord Fakafanua December 2017 2nd term 16 Terms of the Tongan Legislative Assembly editUntil 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 Government2010 Parliament 2010 election Independent2014 Parliament 2014 election No overall majority2017 Parliament 2017 election DPFI2021 Parliament 2021 election IndependentOfficers editClerk Kalae Pule Falealea o Tonga Sione Tekiteki 2011 2012 Gloria Pole o 2012 present See also editPolitics of Tonga List of legislatures by countryReferences edit History Parliament of Tonga Retrieved 18 August 2022 David Stanley 1999 Tonga Samoa Handbook p 198 ISBN 978 1 56691 174 0 Ian Campbell 2005 The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga Journal of Pacific History 40 1 91 104 doi 10 1080 00223340500082400 S2CID 22501018 Campbell 2005 p 93 Sione Latukefu History of our Constitution Government of Tonga Archived from the original on 24 August 2010 Retrieved 2 March 2010 Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms Radio New Zealand International 15 April 2010 Retrieved 21 April 2010 Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries Radio New Zealand International 20 April 2010 Retrieved 21 April 2010 Tonga parliament building flattened by Cyclone Gita BBC News 13 February 2018 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 FAQs Constitution of Tonga Archived 2008 11 19 at the Wayback Machine s 61 List of Speakers of the Tongan Legislative Assembly Archived from the original on 14 August 2020 Late Lord Fusitu a achieved four levels of God s goodness Dr Tevita Havea says www parliament gov to Tonga ELECTIONS IN 2005 Inter Parliamentary Union Retrieved 18 August 2022 IPU PARLINE database TONGA Fale Alea ELECTIONS IN 2010 Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years Asia Pacific Report External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Legislative Assembly of Tonga amp oldid 1123885512, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
