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Fiji is a sovereign democratic state. A former British colony, it became a Republic in 1987. Parliament in Suva in Fiji procedures and customs are modelled on the British Parliament. Since end July 1997, the Constitution pays heed to recognising, respecting and upholding the rights of many ethnic groups. With the new Constitution, Fiji was also readmitted to the Commonwealth in October, 1997. The sessions of the Parliament in Suva in Fiji are held in Muanikau, in the new office buildings. Muanikau is a suburb of Suva. It is one of the places that can be visited while sightseeing in Fiji. According to the Fiji constitution, legislative powers vest in the Parliament in Suva in Fiji comprising of the President, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. A multi party Cabinet comprises of the Prime Minister and Ministers. The multi-party Cabinet is compulsory, draws members from both Houses of Parliament and comprises of members of parties that have at least 10 per cent of the total members of the House of Representatives. The bicameral Parliament in Suva in Fiji comprises of the two houses where the Senate is regarded as the " lower house ". The House of Representatives comprises of 71 elected members. 25 members are elected by universal suffrage. The remaining 46 are elected by voters on closed rolls, to represent Fiji's ethnic communities. The break up is 23 native Fijians, 19 Indo Fijians, 1 Rotuman and 3 General Electors ( Chinese, Europeans and minorities). In case of 17 "provincial" electorates that represent rural Fijians ( ethnic ), traditional provincial boundaries are followed and all other electorates are to a large extent equal in population. Under the 1997 Constitution, winning is by absolute majority. The term of the representatives and Senators is five years, though it depends on the dissolution of Parliament.The Constitution makes it mandatory for citizens above 21 years of age and residing in Fiji for the preceding two years to register and all registered voters are required to vote. One of the responsibilities of the Parliament in Suva in Fiji is to ensure provision of social programmes for disadvantaged sections for help in in land and housing, education and training, state services and businesses.
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