Editing Tuvalu (section)

===Parliamentary democracy===
{{see also|Human rights in Tuvalu}}
The ''[[Constitution of Tuvalu]]'' states that it is "the supreme law of Tuvalu" and that "all other laws shall be interpreted and applied subject to this Constitution"; it sets out the [[Bill of rights|Principles of the Bill of Rights]] and the [[Fundamental rights|Protection of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms]]. On 5 September 2023, Tuvalu's parliament passed the Constitution of Tuvalu Act 2023,<ref name="SKJM">{{cite web |last=Simon Kofe and Jess Marinaccio |title=Tuvalu Constitution updated: culture, climate change and decolonisation |publisher=DevPolicyBlog - Development Policy Centre |page= |date=21 September 2023 |url=https://devpolicy.org/tuvalu-constitution-updated-culture-climate-change-and-decolonisation-20230921/ |access-date=27 November 2023 |archive-date=28 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128064801/https://devpolicy.org/tuvalu-constitution-updated-culture-climate-change-and-decolonisation-20230921/ |url-status=live}}</ref> with the changes to the constitution came into effect on 1 October 2023.<ref name="CofT23">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Constitution of Tuvalu |publisher=Government of Tuvalu |page= |date=5 September 2023 |url=https://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1986/1986-0001/ConstitutionofTuvalu_2.pdf |access-date=27 November 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203110943/https://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1986/1986-0001/ConstitutionofTuvalu_2.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

Tuvalu is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and [[Commonwealth realm]] with [[Charles III]] as [[Monarchy of Tuvalu|King of Tuvalu]]. Since the King resides in the United Kingdom, he is represented in Tuvalu by a [[Governor General of Tuvalu|governor general]], whom he appoints upon the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|prime minister of Tuvalu]].<ref name="IPU81"/> Referendums were carried out in [[1986 Tuvaluan constitutional referendum|1986]] and [[2008 Tuvaluan constitutional referendum|2008]] seeking to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic, but on both occasions the monarchy was retained.

From 1974 (the creation of the British colony of Tuvalu) until independence, the legislative body of Tuvalu was called the ''House of the Assembly'' or ''Fale I Fono''. Following independence in October 1978, the House of the Assembly was renamed the [[Parliament of Tuvalu]] or ''Palamene o Tuvalu''.<ref name="IPU81"/> The place at which the parliament sits is called the ''Vaiaku maneapa''.<ref name="TT96-1">{{cite web |last=Taafaki |first=Tauaasa |title=South Pacific – Governance in the Pacific: the dismissal of Tuvalu's Governor-General |publisher=Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU (No 96/5) |page= |year=1996 |url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/210296/1/b1967241x.pdf |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827234001/https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/210296/1/b1967241x.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The ''maneapa'' on each island is an open meeting place where the chiefs and elders deliberate and make decisions.<ref name="TT96-1"/>

The [[unicameral]] Parliament has 16 members, with elections held every four years. The members of parliament select the Prime Minister (who is the [[head of government]]) and the [[List of Speakers of the Parliament of Tuvalu|Speaker of Parliament]]. The ministers that form the [[Cabinet of Tuvalu|Cabinet]] are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. There are no formal political parties; election campaigns are largely based on personal/family ties and reputations.

The 2023 amendments to the [[Constitution of Tuvalu|Constitution]] recognise the [[Falekaupule]] as the traditional governing authorities of the islands of Tuvalu.<ref name="SKJM1">{{cite web |last=Simon Kofe and Jess Marinaccio |title=Tuvalu Constitution updated: culture, climate change and decolonisation |publisher=DevPolicyBlog - Development Policy Centre |page= |date=21 September 2023 |url=https://devpolicy.org/tuvalu-constitution-updated-culture-climate-change-and-decolonisation-20230921/ |access-date=29 November 2023 |archive-date=28 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128064808/https://devpolicy.org/tuvalu-constitution-updated-culture-climate-change-and-decolonisation-20230921/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Tuvalu National Library and Archives]] holds "vital documentation on the cultural, social and political heritage of Tuvalu", including surviving records from the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands|colonial]] administration, as well as Tuvalu government archives.<ref name="bl.uk">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070202161907/http://www.bl.uk/about/policies/endangeredarch/2006/rovery.html "Tuvalu National Archives major project"], British Library</ref>

Tuvalu is a state party to the following human rights treaties: the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]] (CRC); the [[Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women]] (CEDAW) and; the [[Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]] (CRPD).<ref name="HR">{{cite web |work=Attorney General's Office of Tuvalu and the Pacific Community (SPC) |title=Tuvalu National Human Rights Action Plan 2016–2020 |year=2016 |url=http://rrrt.spc.int/publications-media/publications/item/740-tuvalu-national-human-rights-action-plan |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115163833/http://rrrt.spc.int/publications-media/publications/item/740-tuvalu-national-human-rights-action-plan |url-status=live}}</ref> Tuvalu has commitments to ensuring human rights are respected under the [[Universal Periodic Review]] (UPR) and the [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDGs).

The national strategy plan ''Te Kete - National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2021-2030'' sets out the development agenda of the Government of Tuvalu,<ref name="TK21-30">{{cite web |work=Government of Tuvalu |title=Te Kete - National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 |date=2020 |url=https://australiaawardsfijiandtuvalu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Te-Kete-2021-2030-National-Development-Strategy.pdf |access-date=27 April 2021 |archive-date=3 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803011343/https://australiaawardsfijiandtuvalu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Te-Kete-2021-2030-National-Development-Strategy.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TK2020">{{cite web |last=Tausi |first=Kitiona |title=Minister Announces New Name For National Strategy For Sustainable Development |chapter= |date=30 November 2020 |publisher=Tuvalu Paradise |url=https://tuvaluparadise.tv/2020/11/30/minister-announces-new-name-for-national-strategy-for-sustainable-development/ |access-date=15 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124072109/https://tuvaluparadise.tv/2020/11/30/minister-announces-new-name-for-national-strategy-for-sustainable-development/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> which followed on from ''Te Kakeega III – National Strategy for Sustainable Development-2016-2020'' (TK III). The areas of development in these strategic plans include education; climate change; environment; migration and urbanisation.<ref name="TK21-30"/><ref name="TK III">{{cite web |work=Government of Tuvalu |title=Te Kakeega III – National Strategy for Sustainable Development-2016-2020 |year=2016 |url=http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/cobp-tuv-2017-2019-ld-02.pdf |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-date=31 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231072945/https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/cobp-tuv-2017-2019-ld-02.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Tuvalu National Council for Women]] acts as an umbrella organisation for non-governmental women's rights groups throughout the country and works closely with the government.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://pacificwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Tuvalu-gender-stocktake.pdf |title=Stocktake of the Gender Mainstreaming Capacity of Pacific Island Governments: TUVALU |publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Community |year=2013 |access-date=9 September 2021 |archive-date=8 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908203024/https://pacificwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Tuvalu-gender-stocktake.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>