| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form:
Tonga
former:
Friendly Islands
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| Government type: |
hereditary constitutional monarchy
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| Administrative divisions: |
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
|
| Independence: |
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
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| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
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| Constitution: |
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
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| Legal system: |
based on English law
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| Suffrage: |
21 years of age; universal
|
| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
head of government:
Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU (since NA January 2001)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
note:
there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch and the Cabinet
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
|
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections:
last held NA March 1999 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:
percent of vote - pro-democratic 40%; seats - pro-democratic 5, traditionalist 4
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| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court)
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Human Rights and Democracy Movement [Huliki WATAB, chairman, Viliami FUKOFUKA, president, 'Akilisi POHIVA, vice president]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Pro-Democracy and Human Rights Movement [leader NA]
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| International organization participation: |
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Fetu'utolo TUPOU, resides in London; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High Commission, 36 Molyneux Street, London W1H 6AB, telephone [44] (171) 724-5828, FAX [44] (171) 723-9074
consulate(s) general:
San Francisco
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
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| Flag description: |
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
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