GOVERNMENT
The legislative branch of the government consists of the Nitijela (parliament) with an advisory council of high chiefs. The Nitijela has 33 members from 24 districts elected for concurrent 4-year terms. Members are called senators. The president is elected by the Nitijela from among its members. Presidents pick cabinet members from the Nitijela. Amata Kabua was elected as the first president of the republic in 1979. Subsequently, he was re-elected to 4-year terms in 1983, 1987, 1991, and 1996. After Amata Kabua's death in office, his first cousin, Imata Kabua, won a special election in 1997. The third president, Kessai Note, served two 4-year terms from 2000 to 2008. Litokwa Tomeing was elected president in January 2008.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has four court systems: Supreme Court, high court, district and community courts, and the traditional rights court. Trial is by jury or judge. Jurisdiction of the traditional rights court is limited to cases involving titles or land rights or other disputes arising from customary law and traditional practice.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Citizens of the Marshall Islands live with a relatively new democratic political system combined with a hierarchical traditional culture. The first two presidents were chiefs. Former President Kessai Note is a commoner. President Litokwa Tomeing is a traditional chief.
There have been a number of local and national elections since the Republic of
the Marshall Islands was founded, and in general, democracy has functioned well.
The United Democratic Party, running on a reform platform, won the 1999
parliamentary election, taking control of the presidency and cabinet. Elections
on November 19, 2007 elected a new Nitijela that took office in January 2008,
giving control of the government to the opposition.
Principal
Government Officials
Head of State--President Litokwa Tomeing
Minister of Foreign Affairs--John Silk
Ambassador to the U.S.--The ambassador-designate is pending confirmation.
Ambassador to the UN--Philip Muller
The
Republic of the Marshall Islands maintains an embassy
at 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-234-5414).
It has a consulate at 1888 Lusitana St., Suite 301, Honolulu,
HI 96813 (tel. 808-545-7767).
Type: Parliamentary democracy in free association with the U.S. A Compact of Free Association entered into force in 1986 and an Amended Compact entered into force May 1, 2004.
Independence: October 21, 1986 from the U.S.-administered UN trusteeship.
Constitution: May 1, 1979.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral parliament (Nitijela) and consultative Council of Iroij (traditional leaders). Judicial--Supreme Court, high court, district and community courts, traditional rights court.
Political parties: United Democratic Party and United People's Party.
Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 24 local governments.
