Legislative Assembly of Tonga
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The Legislative Assembly of Tonga (Tongan: Fale Alea ʻo Tonga) is the unicameral legislature of Tonga.
History
A Legislative Assembly providing for representation of nobles and commoners was established in 1862 by King George Tupou I. 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 Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, and at least four Cabinet Ministers chosen by the monarch. An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members. 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.
In April 2010 the Legislative Assembly enacted a package of political reforms, increasing the number of people's representatives from nine to seventeen, with ten seats for Tongatapu, three for Vavaʻu, two for Haʻapai and one each for Niuas and ʻEua.
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. 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 Nukuʻalofa's waterfront.
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. Prior to 2010, the Speaker was appointed by the monarch.
A complete list of the Speakers is below:
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.
Officers
Clerk (Kalake Pule Fale Alea ʻo Tonga)
- Sione Tekiteki (2011–2012)
- Gloria Poleʻo (2012–present)