Government

Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony.

Under the Fiji Constitution, the President (head of state) is appointed for a 5-year term by the Great Council of Chiefs, a traditional ethnic Fijian leadership body. The President in turn appoints the Prime Minister (head of government) and cabinet from among the members of Parliament. The Prime Minister must have the support of the House of Representatives in order for his government to enact legislation. Both houses of the legislature have some seats reserved by ethnicity. Other seats can be filled by persons of any ethnic group. The House of Representatives is elected; the Senate is appointed.
 

Fiji maintains a judiciary consisting of a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeals, a High Court, and magistrate courts.

There are four administrative divisions--central, eastern, northern, and western--each under the charge of a Divisional Commissioner. Ethnic Fijians have their own administration in which councils preside over a hierarchy of provinces, districts, and villages. The 14 provincial councils deal with all matters affecting ethnic Fijians. There is also a Rotuma Island Council for the island of Rotuma.

The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga) is made up of 55 hereditary chiefs, most of whom are nominated to the Council by their respective provincial councils. It is established under the Fijian Affairs Act and recognized by the constitution. The interim government promulgated regulations in February 2008 concerning membership in the Great Council of Chiefs that are being challenged in Fiji's courts.  In January 2007 Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was appointed Prime Minister in the Interim Government of Fiji.
 

Fiji has traditionally had close relations with its major trading partners Australia and New Zealand. Fiji has pursued closer relations with a number of Asian countries, including the People's Republic of China and India.
 

Since independence, Fiji has been a leader in the South Pacific region. Fiji hosts the Secretariat of the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum, as well as a number of other prestigious regional organizations. In 2002, Fiji hosted the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Summit with more than 80 countries represented. During the ACP Summit, the Nadi Declaration was adopted regarding economic cooperation with the European Union. In July 2003, Fiji hosted the South Pacific Games, a prestigious event that went far beyond athletics and symbolized the country's return to normalcy. In September 2005, Fiji hosted the 51st Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference. Fiji became the 127th member of the United Nations on October 13, 1970, and participates actively in the organization. Fiji's contributions to UN peacekeeping are unique for a nation of its size. It maintains about 600 soldiers and police overseas in UN peacekeeping missions, primarily in Iraq, and with MFO Sinai in the Middle East. Fiji also has a number of private citizens working in Iraq and Kuwait, mostly in security services and over 1500 citizens serving in the British Army.