Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). In 2003 it became an overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Its statutory law of 27 February 2004 gives it the particular designation of "overseas country" to underline the large autonomy of the territory.
French Polynesia elects the Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française), the unicamerallegislature on the territorial level. The Assembly of French Polynesia has 57 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. Since the territorial elections of March 6, 2001, the parity bill now binds that the number of women matches the number of men at the Assembly.
The members of the Assembly of French Polynesia are elected in 6 different electoral districts or electoral circumscriptions (French: circonscriptions électorales) which slightly differ from the administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives) on the Tuamotus and the Gambier Islands. The 6 electoral circumscriptions (circonscriptions électorales) are:
electoral circumscription of the Windward Islands (circonscription des Îles du Vent) (37 members)
electoral circumscription of the Leeward Islands (circonscription des Îles Sous-le-Vent) (8 members)
electoral circumscription of the Austral Islands (circonscription des Îles Australes) (3 members)
