Tonga
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Introduction - Tonga: | Location - Tonga: | People - Tonga: | Government - Tonga: | Country name | conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Puleanga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands | | Government type | constitutional monarchy | | Capital | name: Nukualofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | | Administrative divisions | 3 island groups; Haapai, Tongatapu, Vavau | | Independence | 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate) | | National holiday | Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970) | | Constitution | 4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967 | | Legal system | based on English common law | | Suffrage | 21 years of age; universal | | Executive branch | chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; four appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including two each from the nobles and peoples representatives serving three-year terms
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and two governors
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch | | Legislative branch | unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the countrys 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%, other 30%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2 | | Judicial branch | Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and approved by Privy Council) | | Political parties and leaders | Peoples Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO] | | Political pressure groups and leaders | Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servants Association [Finau TUTONE] | | International organization participation | ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) | | Diplomatic representation in the us | chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa UTOIKAMANU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
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 | |
Economy - Tonga: | Communications - Tonga: | Transportation - Tonga: | Military - Tonga: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007 Source: CIA >>> |