Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
d . Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments: The executive authority of the State is vested in the President who is the Head of State. The President shall be appointed by Parliament. The Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition shall nominate one candidate each to the Speaker of the Parliament. The person who receives the support of the majority of the members of the Parliament present shall be appointed as the President.
Source: Constitution, art. 81 (2), 84: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/18
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
d . Leader of the party which forms the government becomes Head of Government
Comments: The Prime Minister is the Head of Government. After a general election, the member elected to Parliament who is the leader of one political party which won more than 50% of the total number of seats assumes office as a Prime Minister.
Source: Constitution, art. 92 (1), 93 (2-3): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/18
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: In order to be eligible for the office of President, a person must have had a distinguished career in any aspect of national or international life, whether in the public or private sector; holds only a Fijian citizenship; not be a member of or hold any office in any political party, not be a candidate for election to any other office in the State, and have not, at any time during the 6 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law.
Source: Constitution, art. 81 - 89: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/18
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament, which is unicameral.
Source: Constitution, art. 46: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/18
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
g . List Proportional Representation
Comments: 53. Proportional representation system
1. The election of members of Parliament is by a multi-member open list system of proportional representation, under which each voter has one vote, with each vote being of equal value, in a single national electoral roll comprising all the registered voters.
2. Subject to subsections (3) and (4), in each general election of members of Parliament, the seats in Parliament must be awarded to candidates in proportion to-
a.
the total number of votes cast for each political party contesting the general election, which shall be determined by totaling the number of votes cast for each candidate of that political party; and
b.
the total number of votes cast for each independent candidate, if any, provided however that an independent candidate shall only be eligible to be awarded one seat in Parliament.
3. A political party or an independent candidate shall not qualify for any seat in Parliament unless the political party or the independent candidate receives at least 5% of the total number of votes cast.
Source: Constitution, art. 53: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Electoral Decree No. 11 of 2014, art. 104: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-electoral-decree-no.-11-of-2014/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/18
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