Government of the Marshall Islands
Politics of the Marshall Islands |
|---|
 |
The government of the Marshall Islands operates under a mixed parliamentary-presidential system as set forth in its Constitution.[1] Elections are held every four years in universal suffrage (for all citizens above the age of 18), with each of the 24 constituencies (see below) electing one or more representatives (senators) to the lower house of RMI's unicameral legislature, the Nitijela. (Majuro, the capital atoll, elects five senators.) The President, who is head of state as well as head of government, is elected by the 33 senators of the Nitijela. Four of the five Marshallese presidents who have been elected since the Constitution was adopted in 1979 have been traditional paramount chiefs.[2]
Governance occurs in a framework of a
Executive branch
.jpg)
The president is elected by the
The executive branch consists of the President and the Presidential Cabinet, which consists of ten ministers appointed by the President with the approval of the Nitijela. President appoints, among the members of
who acts as a substitute for the President.In January 2020,
The Presidential cabinet includes offices of Minister-in-Assistance to the President, Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Presidential Cabinet is as follows:
| Title |
|---|
| Minister of Justice, Immigration, and Labor |
| Minister-in-Assistance to the President and Environment |
| Minister of Health and Human Services |
| Minister of Education, Sports, and Training |
| Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| Minister of Transportation, Communications, and Information Technology |
| Minister of Finance, Banking, and Postal Services |
| Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs |
| Minister of Works, Infrastructure, and Utilities |
Legislative branch
The legislative branch of the government of the Marshall Islands consists of the unicameral
Constituencies
The 24 electoral districts into which the country is divided correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls.
| Constituency | Seats |
|---|---|
| Ailinglaplap Atoll | 2 |
| Ailuk Atoll | 1 |
| Arno Atoll | 2 |
| Aur Atoll | 1 |
| Ebon Atoll | 1 |
| Enewetak Atoll | 1 |
| Jabat Island | 1 |
| Jaluit Atoll | 2 |
| Kili Island | 1 |
| Kwajalein Atoll | 3 |
| Lae Atoll | 1 |
| Lib Island | 1 |
| Likiep Atoll | 1 |
| Majuro Atoll | 5 |
| Maloelap Atoll | 1 |
| Mejit Island | 1 |
| Mili Atoll | 1 |
| Namdrik Atoll | 1 |
| Namu Atoll | 1 |
| Rongelap Atoll | 1 |
| Ujae Atoll | 1 |
| Utirik Atoll | 1 |
| Wotho Atoll | 1 |
| Wotje Atoll | 1 |
Municipalities
The Marshall Islands is divided into 33 municipalities:
|
|
|
Foreign affairs and defense
The Compact of Free Association with the United States gives the U.S. sole responsibility for international defense of the Marshall Islands. It allows islanders to live and work in the United States, and establishes economic and technical aid programs.
Judicial branch
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 judge or jury. Jurisdiction of the traditional rights court is limited to cases involving titles, land rights, or other disputes arising from customary law and traditional practice.
See also
- Elections in the Marshall Islands
- List of presidents of the Marshall Islands
- Marshall Islands and the United Nations
Notes
- ^ "Constitution of the Marshall Islands". Paclii.org. Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- Marianas Variety News & Views. Archived from the originalon 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ "New president for Marshall Islands". Radio New Zealand. 6 January 2020.
- ^ "Hilda Heine sworn in as President of the Marshall Islands". RNZ. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "HE President David Kabua and members of Cabinet". Facebook. Retrieved 2020-01-13.