Links to all sites last visited 27 November 2023
Constitution of Tonga 1875, as amended to 2021
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishEvery Tongan subject of twenty-one years of age or more who is not a noble, is not insane or imbecile and is not disabled by the twenty-third clause shall, if registered as an elector, be entitled to vote in an election for representatives of the people to the Legislative Assembly and on the day appointed for election shall be exempt from summons for debt. A person resident outside of Tonga who is qualified to be an elector may vote at an election only if he is registered as an elector and present in Tonga for the election. (Clause 64)
- TonganKo e taha Tonga kotoa pe kuo kakato hono ta‘u uofulu ma taha pe lahi ange ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha nopele, ‘oku ‘ikai faha pe vale pea ‘oku ‘ikai fakatapui ia ‘e hono uofulu ma tolu ‘o e kupu, kapau kuo lesisita ko ha taha fili, ‘oku pau ke ngofua ke ne kau ‘i he fili ‘o e kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai ki he Fale Alea, pea ‘i he ‘aho kuo tu‘utu‘uni ke fai ai ‘a e fili kuo pau ke faka‘ata ia mei hano faka‘ilo ko e ‘uhi ko ha mo‘ua. Ko ha taha ‘oku ‘ikai nofo ‘i Tonga ‘a ia ‘oku ngofua ke hoko ko e taha fili ‘e ngofua ke fili ‘i ha fili ‘o kapau pe ‘oku ‘osi lesisita ko e taha fili pea ‘oku lolotonga ‘i Tonga ki he fili. (Kupu 64)
Head of State
- EnglishThe form of government for this Kingdom is a Constitutional Monarchy under His Majesty King George Tupou V and his successors. (Clause 30)
- TonganKo e anga ‘o e fai ‘a e Pule ‘o e Fonua ni ko e Pule‘anga Tu‘i Faka-Konisitutone ‘I he malumalu ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio ko e Tu‘i ko Tupou VI mo kinautolu ‘e hoko kiate ia. (Kupu 30)
Head of State
- EnglishThe right and title of King George Tupou I to the Crown and the Throne of this Kingdom were confirmed by the Constitution of 1875 and it was further declared in the said Constitution that the succession to the Crown and Throne should devolve upon David Uga and then upon Wellington Gu and then upon them begotten by him in marriage and if at any time there be no heirs of Wellington Gu the Crown and Throne shall descend in accordance with the following law of succession:
It shall be lawful only for those born in marriage to succeed.
The succession shall be to the eldest male child and the heirs of his body but if he should have no children to the second male child and the heirs of his body and so on until all the male line shall be ended.
Should there be no male child the eldest female child shall succeed and the heirs of her body and if she should have no children it shall descend to the second female child and the heirs of her body until the female line is ended.
And if there shall be none of this line of David Uga lawful descendants by marriage to succeed to the Crown of Tonga it shall descend to William Tungi and his lawful heirs begotten by him in marriage and to their heirs begotten by them.
And if there should be no lawful heir the King shall appoint his heir if the House of Nobles consent to it (the representatives of the people having no voice in the matter) and he shall be publicly declared heir to the Crown during the King's life.
Should there be no heir to the Crown or successor who has been so publicly proclaimed the Prime Minister or in his absence the Cabinet ministers shall convoke the nobles of the Legislative Assembly (the representatives of the people having no voice in the matter) and when they meet the House of Nobles shall choose by ballot some one of the chiefs whom they wish to succeed as King. And he shall succeed as the first of a new dynasty and he and the heirs of his body born in marriage shall possess the Crown according to law.
And in the event of there being none to succeed according to this law the Prime Minister or in his absence the Cabinet ministers shall again convoke the nobles of the Legislative Assembly in accordance with this law and they shall choose one to succeed to the Throne as the first of a new dynasty and so on according to this law for ever. (Clause 32) - Tongan‘Oku ma‘u ‘a e Kalauni mo e Nofo‘anga Faka-Tu‘i ‘o e Pule‘anga ni ‘e he ‘Ene ‘Afio ko Kingi Siaosi Tupou I pea ‘oku fakapapau ni ‘e ma‘u ‘e ia pea mo ia na‘e tupu ‘iate ia ‘a Tevita ‘Unga pea mo ia na‘e tupu ai ‘a Uelingatoni Ngu mo kinautolu ‘e tupu ‘iate ia ko ‘ene fānau mali pea ka hala ia ‘o ‘ikai ha hako tupu mali ‘o Uelingatoni Ngu ‘e hoko ‘o hangē ko e lao ‘o e hokohoko ni:
Pea ko ‘eni ‘a e anga ‘o e hokohoko ‘e ngofua ke kau ‘i he hokohoko ni ‘a e fanau tupu mali pe.
Pea ‘e hoko ki he tamasi‘i tangata mo e ngaahi ‘ea ‘o hono sino pea ka hala ia ‘o ‘ikai hano hako ‘e hoko ki hono ua ‘o e tamasi‘i tangata mo e ngaahi ‘ea ‘o hono sino pea fai pehē kae ‘oua kuo ‘osi ‘a e fānau tangata.
Pea ka ‘ikai ha tamasi‘i tangata ‘e hoko ki he ‘uluaki tamasi‘i fefine mo e ngaahi ‘ea ‘o hono sino pea ka hala ia ‘o ‘ikai hano hako ‘e hoko ki hono ua ‘o e tamasi‘i fefine mo e ngaahi ‘ea ‘o hono sino pea fai pehē pe kae ‘oua kuo ‘osi ‘a e fānau fefine.
Pea ka ‘ikai ha taha ‘iate kinautolu ‘o Tevita ‘Unga ko e fanau mali hoko totonu ke hoko ki he Kalauni ‘o e Tu‘i ‘o Tonga ‘e hoko kia Uiliami Tungi pe ko hono ngaahi ‘ea totonu ‘a ia ‘oku tupu ‘i hono sino ko e fānau mali pea mo e ngaahi ‘ea ‘oku tupu ‘iate kinautolu foki.
Pea ka ‘ikai ha ‘ea totonu ‘e fakanofo ‘e he Tu‘i ‘a hono ‘ea kapau ‘oku loto ki ai ‘a e Hou‘eiki Nopele (ka ‘oku ‘ikai kau ai ‘a e kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai) pea ‘e fakahāhā ko e ‘ea ia ki he Kalauni ‘i he kei lakoifie ‘a e Tu‘i.
Pea ka faifai pea ‘ikai ha ‘ea mo e hoko totonu ki he Kalauni ha taha kuo fakahāhā‘o hangē ko e tu‘utu‘uni ni ‘e fakataha leva ‘e he Palemia pea ka mama‘o ia ‘e ‘i he Kapineti (ko e kau Minisita) ‘a e Hou‘eiki Nopele ‘o e Fale Alea (pea ‘e ‘ikai kau ai ‘a e kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai) pea ka fakataha ‘e fili ‘e he hou‘eiki Nopele ‘o e Fale Alea ‘aki ‘a e paloti ha taha ‘o e Hou‘eiki ‘a ia ‘oku nau loto ki ai ke hoko ko e Tu‘i pea ‘e hoko ia ko e kamata‘anga ‘o e Ha‘a Tu‘i fo‘ou pea ‘e ma’u ‘e hono ngaahi ‘ea ‘oku tupu ‘iate ia ‘i hono sino ko e fānau mali ‘a e Kalauni ‘o hangē ko e lao ni
Pea ka faifai pea ‘ikai ha hoko ‘iate kinautolu ‘o hangē ko e lao ni ‘e toe fakataha ‘e he Palemia pea ka mama‘o ia ‘e ‘i he Kapineti mo e Hou‘eiki Nopele ‘o e Fale Alea ‘o hangē ko e tu‘utu‘uni ni pea te nau toe fili ha taha ke hoko ki he Kalauni ko e kamata‘anga ‘o e Ha‘a Tu‘i fo‘ou pea ‘e fai pehē ai pe ‘o hangē ko e lao ni ‘o lauikuonga. (Kupu 32)
Head of State
- English(1) It shall not be lawful for any member of the Royal Family who is likely to succeed to the throne to marry any person without the consent of the King. And if any person should thus marry the marriage shall not be considered legal and it shall be lawful for the King to cancel the right of such person and his heirs to succeed to the Crown of Tonga. And the next person in succession to him who so marries shall be declared the heir and the offender shall be regarded as dead.
(2) The expression “any member of the Royal Family who is likely to succeed to the throne” in the last preceding sub-clause shall be construed to include all persons born in lawful marriage and related by descent either lineally or collaterally to the King but not more than twenty times removed from the King. (Clause 33) - Tongan(1) ‘E ‘ikai si‘i ngofua ki ha taha ‘o e famili ‘o e Tu‘i ha taha ‘e faifai pea ngali hoko ki he Kalauni ke mali mo ha taha ‘oku ‘ikai loto ki ai ‘a e Tu‘i. Pea ka fai ha mali pehē‘e ‘ikai lau ko e mali fakalao ia pea ‘e ngofua ki he Tu‘i ke liliu ‘a e totonu ‘o e tokotaha ko ia ke ‘oua ‘aupito na‘a hoko ia ki he Kalauni ‘o Tonga pe ko hono hako. Pea ka fai ia ‘e ma‘u ia ‘e ia ‘oku hoko ki he tokotaha ko ia pea lau ko e ‘ea ia pea ko e talangata‘a ‘e lau ia ‘o hange kuo mate.
(2) Ko e kupu‘i lea ko “ha taha ‘e faifai pea ngali hoko ki he kalauni” ‘i he kupusi‘i faka‘osi kimu‘a angé, kuo pau ke faka‘uhinga‘i ia ke fakakau‘i ai ‘a kinautolu kotoa pē kuo fanau‘i ‘i he mali fakalao pea ‘oku fehokotaki ta‘ata‘a mo e Tu‘i ‘i he hohoko ‘o e hako tukufakaholo, pe hako ofi tahá ka he ‘ikai ke lahi hake ‘i he toko uofulu hono mama‘o ‘i he fakahokohoko mei he Tu‘i. (Kupu 33)
Head of State
- EnglishThe King is the Sovereign of all the Chiefs and all the people. The person of the King is sacred. He reigns the country but ministers are responsible.
… (Clause 41) - TonganKo e Tu‘i ko e Pule ‘o e kau Nopele mo e kakai kotoa pe. ‘Oku toputapu ‘a e sino ‘o e Tu‘i. ‘Oku ‘iate ia ‘a hono pule ‘o e fonua ka ‘oku ‘i he ‘ene kau Minisita ‘a hono fai ‘a e ngaue ‘o e fonua (responsible). Neongo ‘e fokotu‘u ‘e he Fale Alea ‘a e ngaahi lao ‘e ‘ikai ke hoko kae ‘oua kuo ‘ai ki ai ‘e he Tu‘i hono huafa.
... (Kupu 41)
Government
- English(1) The King shall appoint from amongst the elected representatives a Prime Minister who is recommended by the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the procedure set out in the Schedule to, or clause 50B of, this Constitution.
... (Clause 50A) - Tongan(1) Kuo pau ke fakanofo ‘e he Tu‘i mei he kau fakafofonga kuo fili ha Palemia ‘a ia kuo fokotu‘u atu ‘e he Fale Alea ‘o fakatatau ki he founga ngaue kuo fokotu‘u atu ‘i he Tepile ki he, pe kupu 50B ‘o e, Konisitutone ko eni.
… (Kupu 50A)
Government
- English(1) The executive authority of the Kingdom shall vest in the Cabinet, which shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly for the executive functions of the Government.
(2) The Cabinet shall consist of the Prime Minister and such other Ministers who are nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the King:Provided that –
(a) the Prime Minister may nominate as Cabinet Ministers not more than 4 persons who are not elected representatives;
(b) the Prime Minister and Cabinet shall be fewer in number than half of the number of elected members of the Legislative Assembly excluding the Speaker.
… (Clause 51) - Tongan(1) Kuo pau ke ‘i he Kapineti ‘a e mafai pule ‘o e Fonua, ‘a ia kuo pau ke nau ma‘u ‘a e ngafa ‘o e fengaue‘aki fakataha mo e taliui ki he Fale Alea ‘a e ngaahi fatongia pule ‘o e Pule‘anga.
(2) Kuo pau ke kau atu ki he Kapineti ‘a e Palemia mo e kau Minisita kehe ko ia kuo fokotu‘u ‘e he Palemia pea fakanofo ‘e he Tu‘i:Ka kuo pau —
(a) ‘e ngofua ke fokotu‘u ‘e he Palemia ‘o ‘ikai lahi hake ‘i he toko 4 ‘a ia ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha kau fakafofonga kuo fili ko e kau Minisita ‘o e Kapineti;
(b) ko e Palemia mo e Kapineti ke si‘i hifo honau tokolahi ‘i he vaeua ‘o e tokolahi ‘o e kau memipa ‘o e Fale Alea kuo fili, ‘o ‘ikai ke kau ai ‘a e Sea.
... (Kupu 51)
Government
- EnglishRepresentatives of the people shall be chosen by ballot and any person who is qualified to be an elector may nominate as a candidate and be chosen as a representative for the electoral constituency in which he is registered, save that no person may be chosen against whom an order has been made in any court in the Kingdom for the payment of a specific sum of money the whole or any part of which remains outstanding or if ordered to pay by instalments the whole or any part of such instalments remain outstanding on the day on which such person submits his nomination paper to the Returning Officer:
Provided that a person resident outside of Tonga who is qualified to be an elector will qualify as a candidate only if he is present in Tonga for a period of 3 months within the 6 months before the relevant election. (Clause 65) - Tongan‘E fai ‘a e fili ‘o e kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai ‘aki ‘a e paloti pea ‘ilonga ha taha kuo fakangofua ke fili ‘e ngofua ke fokotu‘u ia koe kanititeiti pea ke fili ia ko e fakafofonga ma‘ae vahenga fili ‘a ia kuo lesisita ki ai, kae kehe kuo pau he ‘ikai fili ha taha ‘a ia kuo fai ki ai ha tu‘utu‘uni ‘i ha Fakamaau‘anga ‘i he Pule‘anga ke totongi ha pa‘anga kuo tuhu‘i pau ‘a ia ko hono kotoa pe konga ‘o ia ‘oku te‘eki ke totongi pe kuo tu‘utu‘uni ke totongi fakakongokonga ‘a e kotoa pe ha konga ‘o e pa‘anga ‘oku te‘eki ke totongi fakakongokonga ko ia ‘i he ‘aho ‘oku ‘oatu ai ‘e he toko taha ko ia ‘ene pepa fili ki he ‘Ofisa Faifili:
Ka kuo pau ko ha taha ‘oku ‘ikai nofo ‘i Tonga ‘a ia ‘oku ngofua ke hoko ko e taha fili ‘e ‘i ai pe ‘ene mafai ke hoko ko ha kanititeiti kapau ‘oku ne ‘i Tonga ‘i ha vaha‘a taimi ko e mahina ‘e tolu ‘i loto ‘i he mahina ‘e ono kimu‘a ‘i he fili felave‘i ko ia. (Kupu 65)
Legislature
- EnglishThe King and the Legislative Assembly shall have power to enact laws, and the representatives of the nobles and the representatives of the people shall sit as one House.
… (Clause 56) - Tongan‘Oku ‘i he Tu‘i mo e Fale Alea ke fokotu‘u ‘a e ngaahi lao, pea ‘e nofo fakataha ‘a e hou‘eiki nopele mo e kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai ‘i he fale pe taha.
… (Kupu 56)
Legislature
- English(1) The Legislative Assembly shall be composed of –
(a) the representatives of the nobles;
(b) the representatives of the people; and
(c) all members of the Cabinet.
(2) Cabinet Ministers who are elected representatives shall, unless dismissed after impeachment under clause 75, remain as members of the Legislative Assembly and representatives in their respective electoral constituency during their appointment as Minister. (Clause 59) - Tongan(1) Ko e Fale Alea kuo pau ke kau ki ai ‘a e —
(a) kau fakafofonga ‘o e kau nopele;
(b) kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai; mo e
(c) kotoa ‘o e kau memipa ‘o e Kapineti.
(2) Kuo pau ki he kau Minisita ‘o e Kapineti ‘a ia ko e kau fakafofonga kuo fili, tukukehe ka tuku ki tu‘a hili hono faka‘ilo ‘i he kupu 75, ke hoko atu pe ko e kau memipa ‘o e Fale Alea pea kei fakafofonga pe ‘i honau vahenga fili takitaha lolotonga honau fakanofo ko e Minisita. (Kupu 59)
Legislature
- EnglishThere shall be elected by the nobles of the Kingdom from their number nine nobles as representatives of the nobles and there shall be elected by electors duly qualified seventeen representatives of the people.
… (Clause 60) - Tongan‘E fili ‘e he kau nopele ‘o e Pule‘anga mei he kau nopele ha toko hiva ko e kau fakafofonga nopele pea ‘e fili ‘e he kakai ‘oku ‘ata fakalao ha toko hongofulu ma fitu ko e kau fakafofonga kakai.
… (Kupu 60)
Legislature
- EnglishRepresentatives of the people shall be chosen by ballot and any person who is qualified to be an elector may nominate as a candidate and be chosen as a representative for the electoral constituency in which he is registered, save that no person may be chosen against whom an order has been made in any court in the Kingdom for the payment of a specific sum of money the whole or any part of which remains outstanding or if ordered to pay by instalments the whole or any part of such instalments remain outstanding on the day on which such person submits his nomination paper to the Returning Officer:
Provided that a person resident outside of Tonga who is qualified to be an elector will qualify as a candidate only if he is present in Tonga for a period of 3 months within the 6 months before the relevant election. (Clause 65) - Tongan‘E fai ‘a e fili ‘o e kau fakafofonga ‘o e kakai ‘aki ‘a e paloti pea ‘ilonga ha taha kuo fakangofua ke fili ‘e ngofua ke fokotu‘u ia koe kanititeiti pea ke fili ia ko e fakafofonga ma‘ae vahenga fili ‘a ia kuo lesisita ki ai, kae kehe kuo pau he ‘ikai fili ha taha ‘a ia kuo fai ki ai ha tu‘utu‘uni ‘i ha Fakamaau‘anga ‘i he Pule‘anga ke totongi ha pa‘anga kuo tuhu‘i pau ‘a ia ko hono kotoa pe konga ‘o ia ‘oku te‘eki ke totongi pe kuo tu‘utu‘uni ke totongi fakakongokonga ‘a e kotoa pe ha konga ‘o e pa‘anga ‘oku te‘eki ke totongi fakakongokonga ko ia ‘i he ‘aho ‘oku ‘oatu ai ‘e he toko taha ko ia ‘ene pepa fili ki he ‘Ofisa Faifili:
Ka kuo pau ko ha taha ‘oku ‘ikai nofo ‘i Tonga ‘a ia ‘oku ngofua ke hoko ko e taha fili ‘e ‘i ai pe ‘ene mafai ke hoko ko ha kanititeiti kapau ‘oku ne ‘i Tonga ‘i ha vaha‘a taimi ko e mahina ‘e tolu ‘i loto ‘i he mahina ‘e ono kimu‘a ‘i he fili felave‘i ko ia. (Kupu 65)