Editing Rotuma (section)

===Political offices===

Rotuma is divided into seven districts, each with its own chief ([[gagaja|Gagaj {{okina}}es Itu{{okina}}u]]). The district chiefs and elected district representatives make up the [[Council of Rotuma|Rotuma Island Council]]. The districts are divided into subgroupings of households (ho{{okina}}aga) that function as work groups under the leadership of a subchief (gagaj {{okina}}es ho{{okina}}aga). All district headmen and the majority of ho{{okina}}aga headmen are titled. In addition, some men hold titles without headship (as tög), although they are expected to exercise leadership roles in support of the district headman. Titles, which are held for life, belong to specified house sites (fuạg ri). All the descendants of previous occupants of a fuạg ri have a right to participate in the selection of successors to titles.

[[Image:White tailed tropicbird.jpg|300px|thumb|upright|left| Participants of the formal [[tautoga]] dance sometimes wear the lengthy tailfeathers of the [[white-tailed tropicbird]], called the "täväke" in [[Rotuman language|Rotuman]]]]

On formal occasions, titled men and dignitaries such as priests, ministers, government representatives, and distinguished visitors occupy a place of honor. They are ceremonially served food from special baskets and [[kava]]. In the daily routine of village life, however, they are not especially privileged. As yet no significant class distinctions based on wealth or control of resources have emerged, but investments in elaborate housing and motor vehicles by a few families have led to visible differences in standard of living.

At the time of arrival by Europeans, there were three pan-Rotuman political positions created by the Samoan invaders: the [[fakpure]], the [[sạu (Rotuman king)|sạu]], and the mua. The fakpure acted as convener and presiding officer over the council of district headmen and was responsible for appointing the sạu and ensuring that he was cared for properly. The fakpure was headman of the district that headed the alliance that had won the last war. The sạu's role was to take part in the ritual cycle, oriented toward ensuring prosperity, as an object of veneration. Early European visitors referred to the sạu as "king", but he actually had no secular power. The position of sạu was supposed to rotate between districts, and a breach of this custom was considered to be incitement to war. The role of mua is more obscure, but like the sạu, he was an active participant in the ritual cycle. According to some accounts the mua acted as a kind of high priest.

Following Christianisation in the 1860s, the offices of sạu and mua were terminated. Colonial administration involved the appointment by the governor of Fiji of a Resident Commissioner (after 1935, a [[District Officer]]) to Rotuma. He was advised by a council composed of the district chiefs. In 1940 the council was expanded to include an elected representative from each district and the Assistant Medical Practitioner. Following Fiji's independence in 1970, the council assumed responsibility for the internal governance of Rotuma, with the District Officer assigned to an advisory role. Up until the first coup, Rotuma was represented in the Fiji legislature by a single senator.