House of Representatives of Fiji
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The House of Representatives was the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament from 1970 to 2006. It was the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone had the power to initiate legislation (the Senate, by contrast, could amend or veto most legislation, but could not initiate it). The House of Representatives also had much greater jurisdiction over financial bills; the Senate could not amend them, although it might veto them. Except in the case of amendments to the Constitution, over which a veto of the Senate was absolute, the House of Representatives might override a Senatorial veto by passing the same 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.
Also, the Prime Minister and Cabinet were required to retain the confidence of a majority of the House of Representatives to remain in office.
The House of Representatives was suspended by the 2006 military coup. The 2013 Constitution abolished it and replaced it with a single chamber Parliament.
History
The House of Representatives dated from 10 October 1970, when Fiji attained independence from the United Kingdom. Under a grandfather clause in the 1970 Constitution, the old Legislative Council, which had functioned in various forms since 1904, was renamed the House of Representatives and continued in office until 1972, when the first post-independence elections were held. Membership of the House of Representatives was increased from 36 to 52 in 1972, and to 70 in 1992. By the time of its suspension and abolition it had 71 members, all of whom were elected for five-year terms to represent single-member constituencies.
Electoral system
- See main articles: Electoral system of Fiji, Voting system of Fiji
The electoral system was changed a number of times after independence in an effort to meet the competing demands of Fiji's diverse
The elections of 1992 and 1994 saw all 70 members elected from communal constituencies; this system was widely resented by many Indo-Fijians, who complained that only 27 seats were allocated to them as opposed to 37 to ethnic Fijians, despite the near equality of their numbers at that time. A further 5 seats were allocated to minority groups.
A constitutional review in 1997 introduced a new system, with 71 members. 25 were elected by universal suffrage from
The open constituencies differed from the former national constituencies in that while both comprised all registered voters on a common voters' roll, regardless of race, the open constituencies might be contested by members of any ethnic group whereas the national constituencies were ethnically allocated.
Organization
At its first session following a general election, the House of Representatives would elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. With a view to ensuring impartiality, the Speaker was not allowed to be a member of the House, though he was required to qualify for membership. The Deputy Speaker, however, was elected from among members of the House.
Latest election
Speaker and Deputy Speaker
| Office | Incumbent |
| Speaker | Pita Nacuva [1] |
| Deputy Speaker | Niko Nawaikula [2] |
| [1] The Speaker was not allowed to be a member of the House. [2] The Deputy Speaker was required to be a member of the House. The last Deputy Speaker, Niko Nawaikula, represented the Cakaudrove West Fijian Communal Constituency for the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Party. | |
Open Electorates
Communal Electorates (Fijian)
| Electorate | Member of Parliament | Political Party |
| Ba East | Paulo Ralulu | SDL |
| Ba West | Ratu Meli Q. Saukuru | SDL |
| Bua | Mitieli Bulanauca | SDL |
| Cakaudrove East | Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu | SDL |
| Cakaudrove West | Niko Nawaikula | SDL |
| Kadavu | Konisi T. Yabaki | SDL |
| Lau | Laisenia Qarase | SDL |
Lomaiviti |
Simione Kaitani | SDL |
| Macuata | Isireli Leweniqila | SDL |
| Nadroga Navosa | Ratu Isikeli Tasere | SDL |
| Naitasiri | Ilaitia Bulidiri Tuisese |
SDL |
| Namosi | Ro Suliano Matanitobua | SDL |
Nasinu Urban |
Inoke Luveni | SDL |
| North East Urban | Nanise Nagusuca | SDL |
| North West Urban | Joji N. Banuve | SDL |
| Ra | Tomasi Vuetilovoni | SDL |
| Rewa | Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa | SDL |
| Serua | Pio Tabaiwalu | SDL |
| South West Urban | Ratu Jone Kubuabola | SDL |
| Suva City Urban | Mataiasi V. Ragiagia |
SDL |
| Tailevu North | Samisoni Tikoinasau | SDL |
| Tailevu South | Irami Matairavula | SDL |
| Tamavua Laucala Urban | Ratu Jone Wagairatu | SDL |
Communal Electorates (Indo-Fijian)
| Electorate | Member of Parliament | Political Party |
| Ba East | Jain Kumar | Fiji Labour Party |
| Ba West | Narendra K. Padarath |
FLP |
| Labasa | Kamlesh Reddy | FLP |
| Labasa Rural | Mohammed Tahir | FLP |
| Laucala | Dewan Chand | FLP |
| Lautoka City | Jai Gawander | FLP |
| Lautoka Rural | Udit Narayan | FLP |
| Macuata East Cakaudrove | Vijay Chand | FLP |
| Nadi Rural | Perumal Mupnar | FLP |
| Nadi Urban | Dr. Gunasagaran Gounder | FLP |
| Nadroga | Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi | FLP |
| Nasinu | Krishna Datt | FLP |
| Suva City | Gyani Nand | FLP |
| Tailevu Rewa | Ragho Nand | FLP |
| Tavua | Anand Babla | FLP |
| Vanua Levu West | Surendra Lal | FLP |
| Viti Levu South Kadavu | Chaitanya Lakshman | FLP |
| Viti Levu East Maritime | Sanjeet Chand Maharaj | FLP |
| Vuda | Vyas Deo Sharma | FLP |
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Communal Electorate (Rotuman)
| Electorate | Member of Parliament | Political Party |
| Rotuma | Jioji (George) Konrote |
Independent |
Communal Electorates (General Electors)
| Electorate | Member of Parliament | Political Party |
| North Eastern | Robin Irwin | Independent |
| Suva City | Bernadette Rounds Ganilau | UPP |
| West Central | Mick Beddoes | United Peoples Party (Fiji) |
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