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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Tuvalu
former:
Ellice Islands
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| Government type: |
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
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| Administrative divisions: |
none
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| Independence: |
1 October 1978 (from UK)
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| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
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| Constitution: |
1 October 1978
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA (since 26 June 1998)
head of government:
Acting Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU (since 8 December 2000); note - TUILIMU took over after Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA died suddenly of a heart attack on 8 December 2000
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 27 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:
results of the last election for prime minister - Ionatana IONATANA elected prime minister; percent of Parliament vote - NA%; Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU elected deputy prime minister; percent of Parliament vote - NA%; note - Deputy Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU became acting prime minister following the death of Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA on 8 December 2000
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (12 seats; 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
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| Judicial branch: |
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: |
there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none
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| International organization participation: |
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
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| 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
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