Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration

Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration in Exile
Type
Type	Unicameral
Term limits	None
New session started	2011
Leadership
Speaker	Penpa Tsering since January 2006
Structure
Members	43
Political groups	Nonpartisan
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Next election	November 2011 (all 43 seats)
Meeting place
Dharamsala Himachal Pradesh, India
Website
Tibet Parliament in Exile

The Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration, also known as the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, is the unicameral legislative organ of the Central Tibetan Administration. Established and based in India, it was founded in 1960, and was most recently elected to a 14th 5-year term from 2006-2011. The first election of the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration took place on 2 September 1960, the anniversary of which is observed by the Tibetan exile community as Democracy Day.

It consists of anywhere between 43 to 47 members, including:

• two delegates from the Tibetan diaspora in Europe
• two delegates from the Tibetan diaspora in North America (an amendment in September 2010 raised the number to two from one)
• ten delegates from each one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet
• two members each from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon school
• one to three members appointed by the Dalai Lama with distinction in culture, sciences or community services

Election to the Parliament is open to Tibetans who are at least 25 years old, and the minimum voting age is 18. There are no political parties in the elections. Sessions are held twice every year between six month intervals. A standing committee of 12 members is in place when the Parliament is not in session, consisting of two members from each traditional region, one member from each religious denomination, and one member who is directly nominated by the Dalai Lama.

The Parliament also helps with organization of Local Parliaments established in 38 major Tibetan communities with no less than 160 Tibetans.

List of members

Number (and position)	Member	Constituency or tradition
1 (Speaker)	Penpa Tsering	Amdo
2 (Deputy Speaker)	Dolma Gyari	Kham
3	Sonam Tenphel	Nyingma Tradition
4	Bhutuk Gyari	""
5	Karma Sherab Tharchin	Kagyu Tradition
6	Sonam Damdul	""
7	Pema Jungney	Sakya Tradition
8	Tseringpo	"
9	Geshe Thubten Phelgye	Gelug Tradition
10	Beri Jigme Wangyal	"
11	Geshe Monlam Tharchin	Bön Tradition
12	Geshe Yungdung Gyaltsen	"
13	Tsetan Norbu	U-Tsang
14	Dolma Tsering	"
15	Ngawang Lhamo	"
16	Karma Yeshi	"
17	Dawa Tsering	"
18	Gyalnor Tsewang	"
19	Yeshi Phuntsok	"
20	Tsering Dolma	"
21	Dawa Phunkyi	"
22	Karma Choephel	"
23	Juchen Kunchok	Kham
24	Serta Tsultrim	"
25	Tulku Ugyen Topgyal	"
26	Sonam Topgyal	"
27	Dewatsang Dorjee Wangdue	"
28	Youdon Ukartsang	"
29	Choekyong Wangchuk	"
30	Kelsang Gyaltsen	"
31	Tsultrim Tenzin	"
32	Gyalrong Dawa Tsering	Amdo
33	Chabdak Lhamo Kyab	"
34	Tenzin Khedup	"
35	Tenzin Gonpo	"
36	Kirti Dolkar Lhamo	"
37	Phegye Dolma Tsomo	"
38	Tsering Youdon	"
39	Serta Tsultrim Woeser	"
40	Yeshi Dolma	"
41	Sonam Tsering Frasi	Europe
42	Monkhar Sonam Phuntsok	"
43	Tenzin Choedhen	America

External links

• Legislature: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
• The Tibetan Parliament in Exile (Tibetan Parliamentary & Policy Research Centre)

The newly elected list of members need to be updated