Legislative Assembly of Tonga

The Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The Assembly is controlled by the royal family and noble families. The Legislative Assembly sits for 4 or 5 months a year.At the most recent elections on 17 March 2005, according to [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/t/tonga/ Adam Carr's Election Archive] , 7 of the 9 people's deputies belong to the democratic Human Rights and Democracy Movement. The electoral system does not allow any party to achieve power; one party exists in opposition. The electoral system, in which commoners (i.e., non-nobles) directly elect only nine of thirty seats in the Fale, does not allow political parties to form a government. Parties exist as pressure groups rather than electoral vehicles or patronage dispensers. A majority of the commoners in parliament belong to the Human Rights and Democracy Movement. The People's Democratic Party is the first registered party.

peaker of the Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, appointed by the monarch [ [http://parliament.gov.to/constitution1.htm Constitution of Tonga] , s. 61] .

The current Speaker is Hon Tu'ilakepa [ [http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/parliament/tonga_speaker_010508.shtml King appoints Tu'ilakepa as Tonga's new Speaker] , "Matangi Tonga", 1 May 2008.] . An incomplete list of recent Speakers is below: [This is drawn from Member profiles on the Legislative Assembly's [http://parliament.gov.to official website] ]

Elections

Membership

See 2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly

Legislative Procedures

References

External links

* [http://parliament.gov.to/index.htm Parliament of Tonga]