Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA, M.D. (since NA
June 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23
December 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Kokeiya MALUA (since 8
April 1998);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 8 April 1998 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: Bikenibeu PAENIU reelected prime minister by a
vote in Parliament of 10 to 2; Kokeiya MALUA elected deputy prime
minister; percent of Parliament vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (12 seats—two from each island with more than 1,000 inhabitants, one from all the other inhabited islands; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 12
Judicial branch: eight Island Courts; High Court; note—a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High Court
Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but
members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tuvalu does not have an
embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
Flag description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands