Editing History of Tuvalu (section)

==Local government of each island by the Falekaupule and Kaupule==
[[File:Interior of a maneapa in Funafuti, Tuvalu.jpg|thumb|Interior of a maneapa on Funafuti, Tuvalu.]]
The ''[[Falekaupule]]'' on each of the [[Islands of Tuvalu]] is the traditional assembly of elders or ''te sina o fenua'' (literally: "grey-hairs of the land" in the [[Tuvaluan language]]).<ref name="Bennetts"/> Under the Falekaupule Act (1997),<ref name="pacliiF">{{cite web| work=PACLII|title= Falekaupule Act (1997)|url=http://www.paclii.org/tv/legis/consol_act_2008/fa121/ | access-date=6 April 2014}}</ref> the powers and functions of the ''Falekaupule'' are now shared with the ''Kaupule'' on each island, which is the executive arm of the ''Falekaupule'', whose members are elected. The ''Kaupule'' has an elected president – ''pule o kaupule''; an appointed treasurer – ''ofisa ten tupe''; and is managed by a committee appointed by the ''Kaupule''.<ref name="pacliiF"/>

The Falekaupule Act (1997) defines the ''Falekaupule'' to mean the "traditional assembly in each island ... composed in accordance with the Aganu of each island". ''Aganu'' means traditional customs and culture.<ref name="pacliiF"/> The ''Falekaupule'' on each island has existed from time immemorial and continue to act as the local government of each island.<ref name=TKII>{{cite web|url= http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Tuvalu/42.pdf |title=Te Kakeega II – National Strategies for Sustainable Development 2005–2015| year =2005|publisher= Government of Tuvalu |access-date=14 October 2011}}</ref>

The ''maneapa'' on each island is traditionally an open meeting place where the chiefs and elders deliberate and make decisions.<ref name="TT96-1"/> In modern times a ''maneapa'' is a building in which people meet for community meetings or celebrations. The ''maneapa'' system is the rule of the traditional chiefs and elders.<ref name="TT96-1"/>