Niue's Parliamentary System
Following a plea from British missionaries and island leaders, the island became a British Protectorate at the turn of the 20th
Niue’s system of government is based on the Westminster system. The Niue Assembly consists of 20 members, 14 of whom are elected by village constituencies and 6 from the common roll. The 20 members elect a Premier and the Premier selects three cabinet ministers from the 19. Members elect a Speaker from outside their ranks. A general election is held every three years. century. Shortly thereafter, in an agreement with the British government, New Zealand took over responsibility for Niue in 1901.
イギリス人宣教師たちと島の代表からの嘆願に従って、その島は２０世紀になると同時に保護領となった。
ニウエの政治制度はウェストミンスターシステムに基づいている。ニウエの議会は２０人で構成されており、
１４名は村の選挙民から、そして６人は共通の役割から選出される。２０名は首相を選挙し、首相は３人の閣僚を１９人の中から選ぶ。構成員は話し手を彼らのメンバーの外から選ぶ。普通選挙は３年ごとに行われる。それから間もなく、イギリス政府の合意のもとで、ニュージーランドは１９０１年にニウエの支配権を引き継いだ。
The island remained a territory of New Zealand until October 1974 when it adopted self-rule, but continues to retain New Zealand citizenship, a contributing factor in the large presence of Niueans in Auckland.
Niue’s Parliamentary system is based on the Westminster model offering universal suffrage to all permanent residents 18 years and over in a General Election held every three years. To be eligible to vote permanent residents must be present on Niue on the day of the elections, and there are no provisions under the Niue Constitution Act to allow voting rights to Niueans living abroad.
The Constitution Act of 1974 requires that 20 members will be elected to constitute a Fono Ekepule [Niue Legislative Assembly] composing of 14 Members from each of the 14 villages and 6 Members from the Common Roll Register.
On Election Day eligible permanent residents in each village constituency may cast 7 votes – 1 for the village Member, and up to 6 names from the Common Roll Register. There are provisions in the 1974 Constitution Act that allow an uncontested nominated candidate in a village constituency automatic membership in the Niue Fono Ekepule, but the 6 candidates from the Common Roll Register must be voted for by all eligible voters on the day.
選挙当日、各村民選挙区の適格永住者は7票を投じることができます。1票は村のメンバー、そして、一般選挙登録者から最大6票です。 1974年の憲法では、村の選挙区から無競争選挙で選ばれた候補者がニウエFono Ekepuleの自動会員資格を得ることが認められていますが、一般選挙登録簿からの6名の候補者は、その日の有権者によって選出されなければなりません。
選挙日に選挙権のある永住者は、それぞれの村の選挙民の中で７つの投票をするだろう。１つは村のメンバー、そしてCommon Roll Registerから６つまで名前を選べる。 １９７４年憲法には条件があって、村の選挙民が自動的に会員になったニウエFono Ekepuleの中で議論なしで指名された代表者が許される、しかし、Common Roll Register からの６人の代表者は、すべての的確な有占拠者からその日に投票されなければならない。
The first 6 Common Roll candidates with the most popular votes [first past the post’] become members of the Niue Fono Ekepule. There are also provisions in the Constitution Act that allow a ‘taken out of the hat decision’ in the event of a tie between two or more candidates.
At the first Meeting of the Niue Fono Ekepule a Speaker of the House must be appointed in order to legitimatise the Oath Swearing ceremony of all 20 elected members, which once completed a Premier is chosen to lead the Government.
The Premier at his earliest convenience may, after consultation choose 3 members from the Niue Fono Ekepule to form a Team of Cabinet Ministers who will be responsible for the day to day of the government of Niue. Normally during the meeting of Cabinet Ministers a Clerk to Cabinet and the Secretary to Government will be present.
The Premier and Cabinet Ministers may appoint a Chief Judge to form the Judicial arm of the Government thereby completing the legal requisites that are required by the Niue Constitution Act 1974.
