Privy Council of Tonga
Encyclopedia
The Privy Council of Tonga is the privy council
of the Kingdom of Tonga
. It belongs both to the executive
and judiciary
branches of government. Similarly to the British Privy Council, its main executive role is to advise the monarch on how to exercise his executive authority, while its main judiciary role is to serve as a supreme court of appeal.
and the Governor of Vava'u
. Thus, the Privy Council's executive functions are exercised primarily through the King and his Cabinet. The Council "makes major policy decisions". De jure, it is the highest executive body of the Kingdom.
The Council also contains a Judicial Committee, composed of four Law Lords. As a court of law, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council "presides over cases relating to disputes over titles of nobility and estate boundaries". It is also Tonga's final court of appeal in all cases except criminal cases. In addition, the Judicial Committee "advi[ses] the King on the exercise of his judicial powers" and "investigate[s] complaints against judges".
.
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
of the Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. It belongs both to the executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
and judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
branches of government. Similarly to the British Privy Council, its main executive role is to advise the monarch on how to exercise his executive authority, while its main judiciary role is to serve as a supreme court of appeal.
Executive functions
The Privy Council of Tonga is composed of the monarch (who presides over it as chairman), the Cabinet, the Governor of Ha'apaiHa'apai
Haapai is a group of islands, islets, reefs and shoals in the central part of the Kingdom of Tonga, with the Tongatapu group to the south and the Vavau group to the north. Seventeen of the Haapai islands are populated....
and the Governor of Vava'u
Vava'u
Vavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
. Thus, the Privy Council's executive functions are exercised primarily through the King and his Cabinet. The Council "makes major policy decisions". De jure, it is the highest executive body of the Kingdom.
Judiciary functions
The Privy Council appoints the judges of the Court of Appeal.The Council also contains a Judicial Committee, composed of four Law Lords. As a court of law, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council "presides over cases relating to disputes over titles of nobility and estate boundaries". It is also Tonga's final court of appeal in all cases except criminal cases. In addition, the Judicial Committee "advi[ses] the King on the exercise of his judicial powers" and "investigate[s] complaints against judges".
Legislative functions
The Privy Council is empowered to make laws, "subject to parliamentary confirmation". As a law-making body, it is thus legally subordinate to the Legislative Assembly of TongaLegislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
.
External links
- "Privy Council", Tongan government website (page under construction)
- Tonga Privy Council rulings as a court of appeal, Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute
- A proposed reform of the Privy Council by the Tongan Human Rights and Democracy MovementHuman Rights and Democracy MovementThe Human Rights and Democracy Movement is a political party in Tonga. Its leader is Uliti Uata.The HRDM was founded in the late 1970s as an informal group of Tongans interested in democratic reform. It was formalised in 1992 as the Pro-Democracy Movement, and contested several elections under...