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Tonga: Government

Key Figures

Chief of State:
King Tupou VI
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni

Overview

Government Name:
Kingdom of Tonga
Constitution:
Adopted: 1875; Establishes the structure of the Tongan government in terms of branches: executive, judiciary, and legislative. Additionally, the constitution is separated into three parts: the declaration of rights of the Tongan people, the form of government, and part three provides the laws for land ownership, succession, and sale.
Government Type:
Constitutional Monarchy
Kingdom of Tonga Flag
Coat of Arms of Kingdom of Tonga

Index of Economic Freedom

Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. Source: Heritage Foundation (2023)

Country Risk Rating

There is no Country Risk Rating for Tonga

Government Branches

Main Powers Election Process Election Cycle 1
Executive

Empowered to advise the King in his capacity as Head of State and Fountain of Justice.

Prime minister is elected by parliament.

Prime minister: 4 years
Judicial

Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to try civil matters when the amount in dispute exceeds T$500 and in all matters of divorce, probate, and admiralty. Appeals from decisions of the Supreme Court may be heard by the Court of Appeal, which is the final court of appeal for most matters.

Judge appointments by King need consent by Legislative Assembly.

Until dismissal by monarch
Legislative

Power to draft and enact laws.

In the Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea), 9 members are elected by hereditary state rulers and 17 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies.

4 years

Regional Trade Blocs

No Regional Trade Blocs

International Organization Participation [2]

Environmental Agreements [3]

Tax Information [2]

Tax Authority:
Information not available
Tax Name:
Information not available

Sources:

  1. ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
  2. EY, http://www.ey.com
  3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
  4. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/