Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) is
a constitutional monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991)
and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
were appointed for life by the king
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king
Privy Council: consists of the king and the Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February
1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote
NA; seats - (30 total, 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex
officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and
nine for elected people's representatives) 6 proreform, 3
traditionalist
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami
FUKOFUKA
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: Tonga does not have an embassy in
the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner
Economy ———-