Editing History of Tuvalu (section)

==Transition to self-government==
The formation of the [[United Nations Organisation]] after World War II resulted in the [[United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization]] committing to a process of decolonization; as a consequence the British colonies in the Pacific started on a path to [[self-determination]].<ref name="TAHES"/><ref name="MG2">{{cite journal|last1= Goldsmith |first1=Michael|title= The Colonial and Postcolonial Roots of Ethnonationalism in Tuvalu |jstor= 41705922|year= 2012 |journal= The Journal of the Polynesian Society|volume=121|issue=2|pages=129–150|doi=10.15286/jps.121.2.129-150|doi-access=free}}</ref> The initial focus was on the development of the administration of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]]. In 1947 [[Tarawa]], in the [[Gilbert Islands]], was made the administrative capital. This development included establishing the King George V Secondary School for boys and the Elaine Bernacchi Secondary School for girls.<ref name="TAHES"/>

A Colony Conference was organised at [[Marakei]] in 1956, which was attended by officials and representatives from each island in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, conferences were held every 2 years until 1962. The development of administration continued with the creation in 1963 of an Advisory Council of 5 officials and 12 representatives who were appointed by the Resident Commissioner.<ref name="TAHES"/><ref name="TAHTI">{{cite book |first1=Tito |last1=Isala |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Larcy |title=Tuvalu: A History |year= 1983 |publisher= University of the South Pacific/Government of Tuvalu|pages=153–177|chapter= Chapter 20, Secession and Independence}}</ref> In 1964 an Executive Council was established with 8 officials and 8 representatives. The Resident Commissioner was now required to consult the Executive Council regarding the creation of laws to making decisions that affected the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.<ref name="TAHTI"/>

The system of local government on each island established in the colonial era continued until 1965 when Island Councils were established with the islanders electing the councillors who then choose the President of the council. The Executive Officer of each Local Council was appointed by the central government.<ref name="TAHES"/>

A constitution was introduced in 1967, which created a House of Representatives for the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony that comprised 7 appointed officials and 23 members elected by the islanders. Tuvalu elected 4 members of the House of Representatives. The 1967 constitution also established the Governing Council. The House of Representatives only had the authority to recommend laws; the Governing Council had the authority to enact laws following a recommendation from the House of Representatives.<ref name="TAHTI"/>

A select committee of the House of Representatives was established to consider whether the constitution should be changes to give legislative power to the House of Representatives. The proposal was that Ellice Islanders would be allocated 4 seats out of a 24-member parliament, which reflected the differences in populations between Elice Islanders and Gilbertese.<ref name="PIM1966-8">{{cite web| last =| first =  | work= 37(8) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Gilbertese Unmoved By British Plan For "Ellice In Wonderland"|date =1 August 1966|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-331794735/view?sectionId=nla.obj-337321157&partId=nla.obj-331829698#page/n13/mode/1up| access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> It became apparent that the Tuvaluans were concerned about their minority status in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony and the Tuvaluans wanted equal representation to that of the I-Kiribati. A new constitution was introduced in 1971, which provided that each of the islands of Tuvalu (except [[Niulakita]]) elected one representative. However, that did not end the Tuvaluan movement for independence.<ref name="PIM1972-11">{{cite web| last =| first =  | work= 43(11) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=The Ellice Islanders Say They Want To Secede From GEIC|date =1 November 1972|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334879361/view?sectionId=nla.obj-356546224&partId=nla.obj-334976693#page/n10/mode/1up| access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1974 ministerial government was introduced to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony through a change to the Constitution.<ref name="TAHTI"/> In that year a general election was held;<ref name="E1974">{{cite book |title= General election, 1974: report / Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony |year=1974|publisher= Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. Tarawa: Central Government Office }}</ref> and a [[1974 Ellice Islands self-determination referendum|referendum was held in 1974]] to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration.<ref name="PIM174-8"/><ref name=N>Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p831 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}</ref> The result of the referendum, was that 3,799 Elliceans voted for separation from the Gilbert Islands and continuance of British rule as a separate colony, and 293 Elliceans voted to remain as the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]] colony. There were 40 spoilt papers.<ref name="PIM1974-11">{{cite web| last =| first =  | work= 45(11) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Ellice votes the 'E' out of the GEIC |date =1 November 1974|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-333519384/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338557955&partId=nla.obj-333573184#page/n9/mode/1up| access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>

As a consequence of the referendum, separation occurred in two stages. The Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government.<ref name="PIM175-5"/> The second stage occurred on 1 January 1976 when separate administrations were created out of the civil service of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.<ref name="TAHTito">{{cite book |first1=Tito |last1=Isala |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Larcy|title=Tuvalu: A History|year= 1983 |publisher= University of the South Pacific/Government of Tuvalu|pages=169|chapter= Chapter 20, Secession and Independence}}</ref>

Elections to the House of Assembly of the British Colony of Tuvalu were held on 27 August 1977; with [[Toaripi Lauti]] being appointed Chief Minister in the House of Assembly of the Colony of Tuvalu on 1 October 1977. The House of Assembly was dissolved in July 1978 with the government of Toaripi Lauti continuing as a [[caretaker government]] until the 1981 elections were held.<ref name="IPU81">{{cite web| work=Inter-Parliamentary Union|title=Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu) |year =1981|url= http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/TUVALU_1981_E.PDF| access-date=7 March 2013}}</ref> 
 
Toaripi Lauti became the first [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]] of the [[Parliament of Tuvalu]] or ''Palamene o Tuvalu'' on 1 October 1978 when Tuvalu became an independent nation.<ref name="TAHES"/><ref name="TAHTI"/>

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}}</ref>

{{see also| 1974 Ellice Islands self-determination referendum|Constitution of Tuvalu}}