The political system is based on personal alliances and loyalties derived from clan and family connections.
[2][3][4] Throughout the history of the parliament three women have been elected: Naama Maheu Latasi, from 1989 to 1997; Pelenike Isaia, from 2011 to 2015; and Dr Puakena Boreham from 2015 to 2024.
[7][8] The changes placed greater emphasis on Tuvaluan community values rather than Western concepts of individual entitlement.
[11][1] During the time Tuvalu was a British dependency the parliament was called the House of the Assembly or Fale i Fono.
The Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government.
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.
On 21 September, Tomasi Puapua was re-elected as prime minister; he subsequently appointed a five-member Cabinet.
[17] Bikenibeu Paeniu was subsequently elected as prime minister, with a five-member Cabinet formed on 16 October 1989.
[19] The deputy prime minister was Otinielu Tausi and Tomasi Puapua was appointed the speaker of the parliament.
[17] As the result of the vote on a motion of no confidence Kamuta Latasi resigned and Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected as prime minister for the second time on 23 December 1996.
During the election campaign, candidates from the incumbent government and the opposition traded allegations of sexual and financial misconduct.
Bikenibeu Paeniu remained as prime minister until he resigned following the vote on a motion of no confidence (7:4) on 14 April 1999.
The winner of the October by-election, Elisala Pita, joined the government's benches, enabling it to survive into 2004.
[30] Two government members, Elisala Pita and Otinielu Tausi, crossed the floor to vote against Sopoanga.
[32] On 14 August 2006 Apisai Ielemia was elected as prime minister;[34] and Kamuta Latasi was appointed the speaker of the parliament.
[48] Tuvalu's opposition then requested the governor-general Iakoba Italeli to intervene against the prime minister's decision.
[50] When the parliament met on 30 July, the speaker (Kamuta Latasi) refused to allow a debate on a no-confidence motion in the government of Willy Telavi.
[52] The governor-general Iakoba Italeli then proceeded to exercise his reserve powers to order Mr Telavi's removal and the appointment of Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.
[53][54] The governor-general also ordered that parliament sit on Friday 2 August to allow a vote of no-confidence in Mr Telavi and his government.
[55] Telavi then proceeding to write to Queen Elizabeth II (as the head of state of Tuvalu) informing her that he was dismissing Mr Italeli from his position as governor-general.
[60] In December 2013 a vacancy for the constituency of Nanumaga was declared by the governor-general in accordance with Section 99 (2) of the Tuvalu Constitution following an assessment of Falesa Pitoi's health.
[64] Tausi has chosen to support prime minister Enele Sopoaga, which give the government a two-thirds majority of the members of parliament.
The former University of the South Pacific senior accountant and president of the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization (TNPSO) supported the government of Enele Sopoaga.
[78][79] On Niutao Vete Sakaio, the deputy-prime minister, was not elected and was succeeded by Samuelu Teo, who is a former MP.
On 5 October 2016 Chief Justice Sweeney of the High Court of Tuvalu declared that Ielemia's parliamentary seat was vacant as he was not qualified to be a member of parliament,[84] as the consequence of the short time the opposition MP served time in jail following his conviction on 6 May 2016 in the Magistrate's Court of charges of abuse of office during the final year of his term as Prime Minister (August 2006 to September 2010).
[88] On 19 September, in a secret ballot, the members of parliament elected Kausea Natano from Funafuti as prime minister with a 10-6 majority.
[92] Following the death of Minute Alapati Taupo on 23 May 2022,[93] Reverend Dr Kitiona Tausi was elected to represent Nanumaga in the by-election held on 15 July 2022.
[97] Significant changes to the composition of the parliament include the incumbent Prime Minister Kausea Natano, as well as Puakena Boreham – the only female member of the legislature – not retaining their seats.
[97][98] The former Governor General Sir Iakoba Italeli Taeia was elected as an MP and also Feleti Teo, who was the former Executive Director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
[98][100][99] No candidates contested the sitting MPs Seve Paeniu, who was the finance minister, and Namoliki Sualiki in the electorate of Nukulaelae, so they were automatically returned to parliament.