Short facts about the government of Tonga

Country name:

conventional long form:  Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form:  Tonga former:  Friendly Islands

Government type:

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Nuku'alofa

Administrative divisions:

3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independence:

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution:

4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Legal system:

based on English law

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

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)

Political parties and leaders:

Human Rights and Democracy Movement [Huliki WATAB, chairman, Viliami FUKOFUKA, president, 'Akilisi POHIVA, vice president]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Pro-Democracy and Human Rights Movement [leader NA]

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)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag description:

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Source: World Factbook