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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
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Government type:
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hereditary constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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Nuku'alofa
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Administrative divisions:
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3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
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Independence:
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4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
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Constitution:
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4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
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Legal system:
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based on English law
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the Cabinet, and two governors
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU (since NA January 2001)
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats - pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court)
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Political parties and leaders:
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there are no political parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA, president]
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1136
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
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Flag description:
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red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
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