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Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 283 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1970 Population: 105,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$3,820 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 90 Geography Area: 748 sq km Coastline: 419 km Capital: Nuku’alofa The Kingdom of Tonga, known as ‘The Friendly Islands’, lies in the central south-west Pacific, surrounded (clockwise from the west) by Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands and, to the south, New Zealand. The islands, which straddle the international date line, lie to the east of the Tonga Trench, containing some of the deepest waters of the South Pacific. The main island sub-groups are Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai. The largest island is Tongatapu. Constitution Status: National monarchy Legislature: Parliament of Tonga Independence: 4 June 1970 Until 2010 the constitution was essentially King George Tupou I’s constitution granted in 1875, under which executive power resided with the monarch. Under the 2010 constitution, Tonga is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral Legislative Assembly consisting 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 (women received the vote in 1960) in a general election which must take place at intervals of no longer than four years. The Prime Minister is chosen by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch. The Prime Minister selects his cabinet who are then appointed by the monarch. The Prime Minister may nominate up to four ministers from outside the Assembly and on appointment they become members of the Assembly. All land belongs to the Crown. Large estates have been allotted to nobles. By law, every male Tongan at age 16 is entitled to a small piece of agricultural land and a small town plot. In practice, there is not enough land and the majority of men have not been allocated any land, and latterly there have been objections to the exclusion of women. Consequently, reform of the land tenure system has been under discussion. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Tonga Ministry: Justice The Court of Appeal is presided over by the chief justice and its other members are judges from other Commonwealth countries. It is the final court of appeal for most cases. The monarch’s Privy Council hears appeals from the Land Court concerning hereditary estates and titles. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in the more serious civil and criminal cases. The Land Court is concerned with Tonga


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