Legislative Assembly of Tonga

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Tonga
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The Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea 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 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.

1 Speaker of the Assembly
2 Elections
3 Membership
4 Legislative Procedures
5 References
6 External Links

[edit] Speaker of the Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, appointed by the monarch^[1].

The current Speaker is Hon Tu'ilakepa^[2]. An incomplete list of recent Speakers is below:^[3]

	Name	Took Office	Left Office
?	Hon. Veikune	1999	2002
?	Hon. Tu'ivakano	1 July 2002	2004
?	Hon. Veikune	22 March 2005	?
?	Hon. Tui'ha'anga	?	2008
?	Hon Tu'ilakepa	April 29, 2008	Incumbent

[edit] Elections

e•d Summary of the 17 March 2005 Tonga Legislative Assembly election results
Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Human Rights and Democracy Movement	30,501	38.9	7
Other candidates	47,816	61.1	2
members elected by and among the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga			9
members of the Privy Council (appointed by the King)			10
Governors (appointed by the King)			2
Total	78,317		30
Source: http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/t/tonga/tonga2005.txt