The
Tibetan Parliament in Exile (
TPiE) is the unicameral and highest legislative organ of the
Central Tibetan Administration. It was established and is based in
Dharamsala,
India. The creation of this democratically elected body has been one of the major changes that the
14th Dalai Lama brought about in his efforts to introduce a
democratic system of administration. Today, the Parliament consists of 44 members: ten members each from
Ü-Tsang,
Kham, and
Amdo, the three traditional provinces of
Tibet; the four major schools of
Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional
Bön faith elect two members each; four members are elected by Tibetans in the west: two from
Europe, one from
North America and one from
Canada. The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is headed by a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members amongst themselves. Any Tibetan who has reached the age of 25 has the right to contest elections to the Parliament.