Tonga
Country in the SW Pacific Ocean, in Polynesia.
Government
Tonga is an independent hereditary monarchy within the Commonwealth.
Its constitution dates from 1875 and provides for a monarch who
is both head of state and government. The monarch exercises executive
power in conjunction with an appointed 10- member Privy Council,
which functions as a cabinet and is headed by a prime minister.
There is a single-chamber legislature, the Legislative Assembly,
of 31 members, which include the monarch, the Privy Council, nine
hereditary nobles, and nine representatives of the people elected
by universal adult suffrage. The assembly has a life of three
years.
History
The original inhabitants were Polynesians, and the first European visitors
to the islands were Dutch, 1616 and 1643 (Abel Tasman). Captain
Cook dubbed them the Friendly Islands 1773. The contemporary Tongan
dynasty was founded 1831 by Prince Taufa'ahau Tupou, who assumed
the designation King George Tupou I when he ascended the throne.
He consolidated the kingdom by conquest, encouraged the spread
of Christianity, and granted a constitution. Tonga became a British
protectorate from 1900, but under the terms of revised treaties
of 1958 and 1967 recovered increased control over its internal
affairs.
Queen Salote Tupou III died 1965 and was succeeded by her son,
Prince Tupouto'a Tungi, who as King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV led his
nation to full independence, within the Commonwealth, 1970.
In the Feb 1993 elections for nine elected representatives of
the people in the legislative assembly, six prodemocracy candidates
were successful, putting the king under additional pressure to
dilute his absolute powers. In the general election to the 30-member
legislative assembly Jan 1996, the prodemocracy movement, led
by Akilisi Pohiva's People's Party, won five of the nine `commoner´
seats open to popular vote.
Pohiva was imprisoned Sept 1996 for contempt of the Legislative
Assembly, but was released Oct 1996.
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