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Government and Politics of Niue
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Niue.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- self-governing parliamentary democracy
- Administrative Divisions
- none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
- Legal System
- English common law
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000) head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 12 May 2005 (next to be held May 2008) election results: Young VIVIAN reelected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 85%, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 15%
- Legislative Branch
- unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; 6 elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 30 April 2005 (next to be held April 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
- Political Parties
- Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of Independents or AI [leader NA]
- Head of State
- Queen ELIZABETH II
- Head of Government
- Acting Administrator Owen WALSH
- Cabinet
- Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
- Elections
- the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
- Constitution
- 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
- Independence
- on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
- National Holiday
- Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
- International Organization Participation
- ACP, FAO, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Alofi
- Location
- 19 01 S, 169 55 W
- Time Difference
- UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Military
Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.
- Military Branches
- no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
