Jonah Patel
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy in the Pacific Ocean, with a Polynesian royal family that dates back more than 1,000 years. The country's constitution, which is the oldest in the Pacific islands, was enacted by King George Tupou I on 4 November 1875, and it stipulates the makeup of the government and the balance of power between its executive, legislature, and judiciary. The constitution was amended in 1988 and again in 2010, with the latter amendment changing the electoral system to allow for 17 of the 26 representatives to be directly elected.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of country | Constitutional monarchy |
| Monarchy type | Hereditary |
| Head of state | The monarch |
| Head of government | The prime minister |
| Legislative body | Unicameral Legislative Assembly |
| Number of representatives | 26 |
| Number of elected representatives | 17 |
| Number of nobles' representatives | 9 |
| Voting age | 21 or over |
| Judicial system | Court of Appeal (Privy Council), Supreme Court, Magistrates' Court, Land Court |
| Legal system basis | Acts of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, English statutes of general application, common law |
| Constitution | Adopted in 1875, revised in 1988 |
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What You'll Learn
- Tonga's constitution was granted in 1875 and is the oldest in the Pacific Islands
- The monarch is hereditary and appoints the Prime Minister and their cabinet
- Tonga's unicameral legislature is the Legislative Assembly, with 26 elected members
- The judiciary is headed by a Chief Justice, who is appointed by the monarch
- Tonga's constitution guarantees basic human rights and freedom of worship, press, speech, petition and assembly
Tonga's constitution was granted in 1875 and is the oldest in the Pacific Islands
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. It has 171 islands, 45 of which are inhabited, and a population of over 100,000, 70% of whom live on the main island, Tongatapu.
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy, with a Polynesian royal family that dates back over 1,000 years. The country's first constitution was granted in 1875 by King George Tupou I, and it is the oldest in the Pacific Islands. The constitution established Tonga as a free nation and enshrined a code of law, land tenure, and freedom of the press, while limiting the power of the chiefs. It also provided for the basic human rights of the people of Tonga, guaranteeing the right to own property and enjoy the fruits of one's labour.
Under the 1875 constitution, executive power resided with the monarch. The current constitution, revised in 1988 and further amended in 2010, maintains Tonga as a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The monarchy is hereditary, and the monarch is the head of state, appointing the prime minister as the head of government. The prime minister selects the cabinet, who are then appointed by the monarch. The unicameral legislature is the Legislative Assembly, which comprises 26 elected members, including 9 nobles' representatives chosen by the 33 noble titleholders, and 17 representatives elected by universal adult suffrage.
The constitution of Tonga is the supreme law under which the government operates, stipulating the makeup of the government and the balance between its executive, legislature, and judiciary. It is celebrated annually as Tonga's Constitution Day on November 4, the date of its enactment in 1875.
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The monarch is hereditary and appoints the Prime Minister and their cabinet
Tonga has been a constitutional monarchy since 1875. The country's Polynesian royal family dates back more than 1,000 years. The current monarch of Tonga is King Tupou VI, who ascended the throne in 2012.
The monarch is the head of state and exercises executive power through the cabinet. The cabinet is composed of up to 16 ministers, who are responsible for directing the affairs of the state, including the Armed Forces, the Civil Service, and other Crown Servants such as the Diplomatic and Secret Services. The monarch also appoints judges and other senior officials, although these appointments are made based on the advice of the government.
The monarch's role is primarily ceremonial and representative, and they are constitutionally obliged to follow the government's advice. The monarch's main functions include appointing the Prime Minister and other ministers, opening new sessions of parliament, and giving royal assent to bills passed by parliament, signifying that they have become law. The monarch also chairs monthly meetings of the Privy Council, which has both executive and judicial roles. The Privy Council advises the monarch on how to exercise executive authority and serves as the highest court of appeal.
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Tonga's unicameral legislature is the Legislative Assembly, with 26 elected members
Tonga has been a constitutional monarchy since 1875, when King George Tupou I enacted its constitution. The constitution stipulates the makeup of the Tongan Government and the balance between its executive, legislature, and judiciary. It is the oldest constitution in the Pacific Islands, and the country is the only surviving kingdom in the Pacific.
Tongans did not consider themselves a colony of Great Britain between 1900 and 1970, instead referring to their nation as a "protected state". Tonga became fully independent in 1970. The country's first political party, the People's Party, was formed in 1994 out of the pro-democracy movement.
The Tongan monarchy is hereditary, and the monarch is head of state. The current system of government is a hereditary constitutional monarchy, with King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV ruling since 1965. The unicameral legislature is the Legislative Assembly, with 26 elected members. Nine of these representatives are chosen by the 33 hereditary nobles, and 17 are elected by universal adult suffrage. The Legislative Assembly is composed of representatives from both the Nobles and the people. This composition is established by Article 59 of the Constitution as amended by the "Constitution of Tonga Amendment Act 2010".
The head of government is the prime minister, who is chosen by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch. The prime minister selects the cabinet, who are then appointed by the monarch. The prime minister may nominate up to four members from outside the Assembly, and on appointment, they become members of the Assembly.
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The judiciary is headed by a Chief Justice, who is appointed by the monarch
Tonga has been a constitutional monarchy since 1875, when King George Tupou I enacted its constitution. The current monarch is King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who has ruled since 1965. The Tongan monarchy is hereditary, and the monarch is the head of state. The constitution stipulates the makeup of the three branches of the Tongan Government: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.
The monarch appoints all members of the cabinet, including the prime minister, deputy prime minister, and up to four extra cabinet members from outside the Assembly. The prime minister selects the cabinet, who are then appointed by the monarch. The Legislative Assembly is composed of representatives from both the Nobles and the people. The unicameral legislature is made up of 26 elected members, nine of whom are elected by and from among the country's 33 hereditary nobles, and 17 on the basis of universal adult suffrage.
The Tongan legal system is based on the Acts of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, English statutes of general application, and common law. The constitution guarantees the rights of property, including the sanctity of Royal property. It also guarantees the right of everyone to own property and to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
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Tonga's constitution guarantees basic human rights and freedom of worship, press, speech, petition and assembly
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy, with a population of approximately 130,000. The monarchy is hereditary, and the monarch is head of state. The Tongan constitution guarantees basic human rights, including freedom of worship, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, the right to petition, and freedom of assembly. However, these rights are not always protected in practice. While the constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, politicians and media outlets seeking greater democracy often have their rights curtailed. For example, all programming on the government-owned Tonga Broadcasting Commission must be reviewed by TBC-appointed censors before broadcast. There are also issues concerning the protection of civil and political rights, particularly freedom of expression and rights to political participation.
Tonga's constitution, established in 1875, underwent a revision in 1988, incorporating all amendments up to December 31, 1988. It underwent further changes in 2010, with 17 of 26 representatives now directly elected. The unicameral legislature is the Legislative Assembly, which comprises 16 ministers, 9 noble representatives chosen by 33 noble titleholders, and 9 representatives elected by universal suffrage by Tongans aged 21 or over. Legislative power is vested in the Legislative Assembly, while executive power is exercised by the King through his Cabinet. The King is the head of state and appoints the Prime Minister as the head of government. The Prime Minister selects the Cabinet, who are then appointed by the King.
The legal system in Tonga is based on the Acts of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, English statutes of general application, and common law. The Constitution guarantees all rights of property and recognizes the sanctity of Royal property. It provides for the right of everyone to own property and enjoy the fruits of their labor. The protection of private property rights is specified in the Constitution, which also guarantees the protection of the National Flag of the Kingdom.
Tonga does not have a national human rights institution, but there is a Public Complaints Commissioner who receives and investigates complaints about government departments. The death penalty is legal in Tonga but has not been imposed since 1982, and the country is considered abolitionist in practice. Abortion is illegal, with a penalty of up to 7 years' imprisonment, and sodomy is also illegal, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, although there have been no recent prosecutions. Tonga is a Christian society that believes in tolerance and respect for differences, and its response to recommendations during its Universal Periodic Review in 2008 left its position open for future UPR reviews, which may eventually result in a positive human rights outcome.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Tonga is a constitutional monarchy.
Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 under King George Tupou I.
The current system of government in Tonga is a hereditary constitutional monarchy, with King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV ruling since 1965.
Under the 2010 constitution, Tonga is both a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The monarch is hereditary and serves as the head of state, appointing the prime minister and cabinet. The unicameral legislature, the Legislative Assembly, comprises elected members, including representatives from the nobles and the people. The constitution guarantees certain rights and freedoms, including freedom of worship, press, speech, petition, and assembly.
