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The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Politics of Fiji takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the Politics of Fiji takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the Fiji 's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ, (born December 29, 1920) has been the President The Fijian vice-presidency is a mostly ceremonial office The position was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the President, As a former British colony, Fiji has largely adopted British political models and follows the Westminster, or Cabinet system of government in which the Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers presided Fiji 's chief governmental legal officer is the Attorney General. The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Fiji 's Parliament is Bicameral. The House of Representatives has 71 members The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers it may not initiate legislation but may amend or veto it The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Fijian House of Representatives. Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions which are further subdivided into fourteen Provinces Each division is headed by a Commissioner Fiji has established municipal governments for two cities ( Suva and Lautoka) and ten Towns ( Ba, Labasa, Lami Fiji's municipal elections of October 2002 produced results that allowed three major political parties the United Fiji Party (SDL the Fiji Labour Party Municipal elections were held for 11 of Fiji's twelve City and Town councils on 22 October 2005. The title of Queen of Fiji was held by Queen Elizabeth II between 1972 and 1987. Fiji was a British Crown Colony from 1874 to 1970 and an independent Dominion in the British Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987 Fiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874 and an independent Dominion in the Commonwealth in 1970 Fiji 's British colonial rulers established the office of Chief Minister in October 1967 along with the Cabinet system of government The colonial Governors of Fiji relied on the Executive Council for advice on proposals for legislation which after being discussed in the Executive Council meetings The Fijian Legislative Council was the colonial precursor to the present-day Parliament, which came into existence when Fiji became independent on The Constitution of Fiji is the supreme law of Fiji. Background The Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands dates from 1997 The Constitution of Fiji begins with a Preamble, which sets out the historical cultural and political reasons for the drafting of the 1997 Constitution Chapter 1 The State The first chapter of the Fiji Constitution is titled The State Chapter 2 Compact The second chapter of the Fiji Constitution contains Sections 6 and 7 of the Constitution Chapter 3 Citizenship The third chapter of the Fijian Constitution, comprising Sections 8 through 20 of the Constitution set out the rules for Chapter 4 Bill of Rights Chapter 4 of the Constitution of Fiji is titled Bill of Rights Chapter 5 Social Justice Chapter 5 of the Fiji Constitution is titled Social Justice Chapter 6 The Parliament Chapter 6 of the Fiji Constitution is titled The Parliament Chapter 7 Executive Government Chapter 7 of the Fiji Constitution is titled Executive Government Chapter 8 Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga Chapter 8 Executive Government Chapter 9 Judiciary Chapter 9 of the Fijian constitution is titled Judiurt of Appeal (Fiji|Court of Appeal]] and the Supreme Court, and also Chapter 10 State Services Chapter 10 of the Fijian constitution is titled State Services Chapter 11Accountability Chapter 11 of the Fijian constitution is titled Accountability Chapter 12 Revenue and Expenditure Section 175 Raising of revenue The raising by the Government of revenue or moneys whether through the imposition of taxation or otherwise Chapter 13 Group Rights Section 185 Alteration of certain Acts (1 A bill alters any of the following Acts namely(a Fijian Affairs Act(b Fijian Development Fund Chapter 14 Emergency Powers Section 187 Emergency powers (1 The Parliament may make a law conferring power on the President acting on the advice of the Cabinet Chapter 15 Amendment of Constitution Section 190 Alteration of Constitution This Constitution may be altered in the way set out in this Chapter and may not be altered Chapter 16 Commencement Interpretation and Repeals Section 193 Short title and commencement (1 This Act maybe cited as the Constitution Amendment Act 1997 Chapter 17 of the Constitution of Fiji is named "Schedule Oaths and Affirmations The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fiji 's senior hereditary chiefs, along with Ratu Ovini Bokini Ratu (born 3 November 1944) is a Fijian chief and political leader Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title This article lists political parties in Fiji. Fiji has a Multi-party system with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining Historical overview Fiji 's electoral system is the result of complex negotiations compromises and experiments conducted over the years leading up to and following independence The Fijian House of Representatives consists of 71 members all elected from single member constuencies. A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures goals or loyalty Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fijian electoral system. Communal constituencies have been the most durable feature of the Fijian electoral system. National constituencies are a former feature of the Fijian electoral system. Fiji has held nine general elections for the House of Representatives since becoming independent of the United Kingdom in 1970; there had The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years General elections were until recently scheduled to be held in Fiji in March 2009 Elections to the offices of President and Vice-President of Fiji took place on 8 March 2006, when the Great Council of Chiefs Fiji has had many coups recently in 1987 2000 and 2006. Fiji has been suspended various times from the Commonwealth of Nations, a grouping of mostly Fiji has a small number of diplomatic missions abroad - it does not even have missions on any neighbouring Pacific Island states Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Fiji 's Parliament is Bicameral. The House of Representatives has 71 members It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them. The House of Representatives may override a Senatorial veto by passing the bill a second time in the parliamentary session immediately following the one in which it was rejected by the Senate, after a minimum period of six months. The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. Amendments to the Constitution are excepted: the veto of the Senate is absolute. The Constitution of Fiji is the supreme law of Fiji. Background The Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands dates from 1997 Following the passage of a bill by the House of Representatives, the Senate has 21 days (7 days in the case of a bill classified as "urgent") to approve, amend, or reject it; if at the expiry of that period the Senate has done nothing about it, it is deemed to have passed the bill.
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Composition of the Senate
The Senate has 32 members. Formally, they are appointed by the President for five-year terms coinciding with the term of the House of Representatives. Fiji 's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Constitutionally, however, the President is required to accept the nominees of specified institutions. 14 Senators are chosen by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs), though in practice it has chosen to delegate this prerogative to Fiji's 14 Provincial Councils, each choosing one Senator. The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions which are further subdivided into fourteen Provinces Each division is headed by a Commissioner A further 9 Senators are chosen by the Prime Minister and 8 by the Leader of the Opposition. As a former British colony, Fiji has largely adopted British political models and follows the Westminster, or Cabinet system of government in which the The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. The one remaining Senator is selected by the Council of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency. The Council of Rotuma is a Municipal body on the island of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency Rotuma is a Fijian Dependency, consisting of the island of Rotuma and the nearby islets of Hatana, Hạf Liua, Solkope, Solnohu
From among their own members, the Senators elect a President and Vice-President, whose roles are similar to those of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Fijian House of Representatives. As of September 2006, the President of the Senate is Ratu Kinijoji Maivalili; the Vice-President is Hafiz Khan. September 2006 was marked by a controversy surrounding statements made by Pope Benedict XVI regarding Islam, during the same week as the fifth anniversary Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank Ratu Kinijoji R Maivalili is a Fijian Chief and political leader Hafizud Dean Khan is a Fijian businessman and former Senator. They were chosen in June 2006 to replace Taito Waqavakatoga and Kenneth Low, both of whom had retired from the Senate. June 2006 was a month with thirty days The following events also occurred during the month Taito Waqavakatoga is a Fijian political leader and former civil servant who served as President of the Senate from Kenneth Mang-Kwong Low is a Fijian businessman and political leader of Chinese descent.
The built-in near-majority of Fijian chiefs in the Senate gives them an effective veto over contentious social legislation, as well as constitutional amendments, provided they vote as a block, as they will almost certainly be joined by enough other senators to muster a majority. In addition, any changes to clauses of the constitution guaranteeing indigenous Fijian ownership and control of most of the land must be approved by 9 of the 14 Senators chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs, as well as by a majority in the Senate as a whole. Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia.
Senators, like their fellow-parliamentarians from the House of Representatives, may be appointed to the Cabinet - the executive arm of government. Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers presided
History of the Senate
The Fijian Senate came into being in 1972, when the old unicameral Legislative Council was replaced by the bicameral Parliament. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber The Fijian Legislative Council was the colonial precursor to the present-day Parliament, which came into existence when Fiji became independent on In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Senate has been restructured twice since the original constitutional structures went into effect.
From 1972 to 1987, the Senate consisted of 22 members. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Appointed by the Governor-General on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs (8), the Prime Minister (7), the Leader of the Opposition (6), and the Council of Rotuma (1), Senators served six-year terms, with half retiring every three years. Fiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874 and an independent Dominion in the Commonwealth in 1970 The first term of office for half of the nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs and of the Leader of the Opposition, 3 of the 7 nominees of the Prime Minister, and the lone Rotuman Senator, was for three years only, ending in 1975. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Senate was a permanent body; it was never dissolved. In Parliamentary systems a dissolution of parliament is the dispersal of a Legislature at the call of an Election.
The Constitution was rewritten following two military coups in 1987. The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II The Senate was expanded to 34 members appointed by the President for four-year terms, with half retiring every two years. The President appointed 24 Senators on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs, 1 on the nomination of the Council of Rotuma, and a further 9 at his own discretion from the Indo-Fijian and minority communities. Indo-Fijians are Fijians who trace their ancestry to India. They number 311591 (37 "General Electors" is the term used in Fiji to identify citizens of voting age who belong in most cases to ethnic minorities This arrangement was in effect from 1992 to 1999. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The first term of 12 of the 24 Senators nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs and 4 of the 9 appointed to represent other communities was for two years only, ending in 1994. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) As previously, the Senate was never dissolved.
The present Constitutional arrangements came into effect in 1997-1998, and the first Senate so appointed took office in 1999. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) For the first time, all Senators served concurrent, five-year terms, coinciding with the term of the House of Representatives.
Senate membership
As of 28 September 2006, the Fijian Senate comprises the following persons:
Nominated by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga
| . Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. | Senator | Province |
| rowspan=14 | Ratu Solomone Bauserau | Naitasiri |
| Isaia Gonewai | Nadroga-Navosa | |
| Atunaisa Kaloumairai | Lomaiviti | |
| Ratu Aisea Katonivere | Macuata | |
| Atonio Leawere | Serua | |
| Ratu Kinijoji R. Naitasiri is a Province of Fiji. It is one of the country's fourteen Provinces and one of eight based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island Nadroga-Navosa is one of Fiji 's fourteen Provinces and one of eight based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island The Lomaiviti (lomaiβiti Archipelago of Fiji consists of seven main islands and a number of smaller ones Ratu Aisea Katonivere is a Fijian chief and politician from the northern Province of Macuata, where he is the Paramount Chief and Chairman Macuata is one of Fiji 's fourteen Provinces, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the north-eastern 40 percent Serua is one of Fiji 's fourteen Provinces. Its 830 square kilometers occupy the southernmost areas of Viti Levu, being one of 8 provinces based on Fiji's Maivalili | Cakaudrove | |
| Adi Laufitu Malani | Ra | |
| Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau | Lau | |
| Eminoni Ranacovu | Tailevu | |
| Ratu Manoa Rasigatale | Rewa | |
| Asesela Sadole | Ba | |
| Matareti Sarasau | Kadavu | |
| Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro | Namosi | |
| Ratu Kinijioji Vakawaletabua | Bua |
Nominated by the Prime Minister
| Tupeni Baba |
| Qoriniasi Bale |
| Ratu Jone Bouwalu |
| Adi Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli |
| Hafiz Khan |
| Dixon Seeto |
| Kaliopate Tavola |
| Ratu Jekesoni Yavalanavanua |
| Adi Lagamu Vuiyasawa |
Nominated by the Leader of the Opposition
| rowspan=8 | Gaffar Ahmed | |
| Jokapeci Talei Koroi | ||
| Vijay Nair | ||
| Lavinia Padarath | ||
| Bijai Prasad | ||
| Tom Rickets | ||
| Sachida Nand Sharma | ||
| Chandra Singh |
Nominated by the Council of Rotuma
Notes
Source: Fiji Parliamentary website, supplemented from the Hansard records. Cakaudrove is one of fourteen Provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third Adi Laufitu Malani is a Fijian for the gonesau clan diplomat and political leader Ra is one of the fourteen Provinces of Fiji. Occupying the northern area of Viti Levu, the largest island it is one of eight Viti Levu-based Provinces Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau is a Fijian lawyer who has served as a career diplomat and politician The Lau Islands (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Tailevu is one of Fiji 's fourteen Provinces. One of eight Provinces based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island its 755 square kilometers occupy the south-eastern Ba is a province of Fiji, occupying the north-western sector of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island Kadavu (kandaβu with an area of 411 square kilometers is the fourth largest island in Fiji, and the largest island in the Kadavu Group, a Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro is a Fijian Chief and political leader Namosi is one of Fiji 's fourteen Provinces, and one of eight based in Viti Levu, the largest island Ratu Kinijioji Vakawaletabua is a Fijian Chief and political leader Tupeni Lebaivalu Baba is a Fijian academic and politician who founded the now-defunct New Labour Unity Party. Qoriniasi Babitu Bale is a Lawyer and political leader who has served twice as Fiji 's Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, most recently Adi Litia Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli (born 1940 is a Fijian chief, politician and diplomat Dixon Seeto is a Fijian businessman and political leader of Chinese descent Kaliopate Tavola (born 1946) is a Fijian Economist, Diplomat, and Politician, who was his country's Minister for Foreign Affairs Adi Lagamu Lewaturaga Vuiyasawa is a Fijian businesswoman and politician Gaffar Ahmed is a Fiji Labour Party (FLP Fijian politician of Indian descent Jokapeci Talei Koroi is a Fijian politician She is currently the President of the Fiji Labour Party and a Senator. Vijay Nair was one of the eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji after the 2006 elections. Lavinia Padarath was one of the eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji after the 2006 elections. Bijai Prasad was one of the eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji after the 2006 elections. Tom Ricketts was one of the eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji after the 2006 elections. Sachida Nand Sharma was one of the eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji after the 2006 elections. Chandra Singh was one of the eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji after the 2006 elections. Dr John Charles Fatiaki is a career medical practitioner who was chosen by the Rotuma Island Council to be their representative in the Fijian Senate.
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