It consists of 20 members; 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common island-wide roll.

Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three-year term.

Niue follows the Westminster system of government, with the Premier elected by the Assembly and the Cabinet drawn from it.

[1] The Assembly assumed full law-making power within the constitution upon self-government in 1974.

Bills affecting the criminal law or personal status, the public service or Niuean land may not proceed without a report from the Chief Justice, the Niue Public Service Commission, or an appropriate Commission of Inquiry respectively.