Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster -based parliamentary system . This article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state . In some countries, the title of " Official Opposition " is conferred upon the largest political party sitting in opposition in the legislature, with said party's leader being accorded the title " Leader of the Opposition ".
8-552: Opposition (10) Vacant (1) The Legislative Assembly of Tonga ( Tongan : Fale Alea ʻo Tonga ) is the unicameral legislature of Tonga . A Legislative Assembly providing for representation of nobles and commoners was established in 1862 by King George Tupou I . This body met every four years and was continued in the 1875 Constitution . Originally the Legislative Assembly consisted of all holders of noble titles, an equal number of people's representatives,
16-412: A package of political reforms, increasing the number of people's representatives from nine to seventeen, with ten seats for Tongatapu , three for Vavaʻu , two for Haʻapai and one each for Niuas and ʻEua . The 100-year-old Tongan Parliament House was destroyed by Cyclone Gita , a Category 4 tropical cyclone that passed through the nation on 12 and 13 February 2018. Parliament subsequently moved to
24-502: A single faction, reduce their parliamentary opposition to tokenism . In some cases, in more authoritarian countries, tame "opposition" parties are created by the governing groups in order to create an impression of democratic debate. Some legislatures offer opposition parties particular powers. In Canada , the United Kingdom , and New Zealand , 20 days each year are set aside as " Opposition Days " or "Supply Days", during which
32-548: Is presided over by a Speaker, who is elected by majority of the elected members of Parliament at the first meeting after the general election and constitutionally appointed by the king . Prior to 2010, the Speaker was appointed by the monarch. A complete list of the Speakers is below: Until 2010, the government was appointed by the monarch without reference to Parliament, and there were no political parties. The last term under
40-617: The Tongan National Centre complex in Tofoa. In November 2021 the Tongan government announced that a new parliament building would be constructed on Nukuʻalofa's waterfront. The assembly has 26 members in which 17 members are elected by the people for 5-year term in single-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system. There are 9 members elected by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga. The Legislative Assembly
48-458: The governors for Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, and at least four Cabinet Ministers chosen by the monarch . An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members. Amendments in 1914 saw a reduction in the size of the Assembly and annual sittings. The principle of equal representation of nobles and commoners was retained. In April 2010 the Legislative Assembly enacted
56-515: The old system was the 2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly . Political reform in 2010 saw the Prime Minister elected by Parliament from among its members, leading to responsible government . Clerk ( Kalake Pule Fale Alea ʻo Tonga ) Parliamentary opposition In first-past-the-post assemblies, where the tendency to gravitate into two major parties or party groupings operates strongly, government and opposition roles can go to
64-431: The two main groupings serially in alternation. The more proportionally representative a system, the greater the likelihood of multiple political parties appearing in the parliamentary debating chamber . Such systems can foster multiple "opposition" parties which may have little in common and minimal desire to form a united bloc opposed to the government of the day. Some well-organised democracies, dominated long-term by
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