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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands
former: Ellice Islands
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
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Capital:
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Funafuti
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Administrative divisions:
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none
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Independence:
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1 October 1978 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
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Constitution:
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1 October 1978
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Legal system:
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NA
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Faimalaga LUKA (since 9 September 2003)
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 2 August 2002 (next to be held NA)
election results: Saufatu SOPOANGA elected prime minister; Parliamentary vote - Saufatu SOPOANGA 8, Amasone KILEI 7
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Saufatu SOPOANGA (since 2 August 2002)
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
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Judicial branch:
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High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)
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Political parties and leaders:
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there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, New York 10017, telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
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Flag description:
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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
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