Constitution of Tonga

The Constitution of Tonga was enacted by King George Tupou I on 4 November 1875, unifying the kingdom under a single legal framework and establishing a monarchy with a landed nobility, drawing influence from Hawaiian and British constitutional models. Tonga functions as a semi-constitutional monarchy in which the king exercises executive power through the Cabinet, while legislative authority rests with the Legislative Assembly; the king may also legislate through the Privy Council when the Assembly is not in session, subject to later confirmation by the Assembly. The constitution is organized into three parts: a Declaration of Rights, provisions on governmental structure, and provisions on land ownership and succession. The Declaration guarantees freedom of worship, press, speech, petition and assembly along with habeas corpus protections. Amendments require passage through the Legislative Assembly three times and unanimous support in the Privy Council, and the Declaration of Rights, the monarchical succession and the noble estates cannot be altered.