Type of Government:

Republic (in Compact of Free Association with the United States)

Capital city:

Majouro

Population:

61,815 (July 2007 est.)

Independence :

October 21, 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Year of current Constitution:

1979

President:

His Excellency Kessai Hesa NOTE

Ambassador:

Vacant

Charge d' Affairs:

Charles A PAUL

Ministers:

Minister in Assistance to the President
Tadashi M. LOMETO

Minister of Education
Wilfred KENDALL

Minister of Finance
Michael KONELIOS

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Anton "Tony" DEBRUM

Minister of Health and Environment
Alvin JACKLICK

Minister of Internal Affairs
Nidel L. LORA

Minister of Justice
Witten T. PHILIPPO

Minister of Public Works
Rien R. MORRIS

Minister of Resource and Development
John SILK

Minister of Transportation and Communications
Brenson S. WASE

Ambassador to the U.S
Banny DE BRUM

Minister of Health and Environment
The Honorable Alvin T. Jacklick

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York
Alfred CAPELLE

Parliament:

Bicameral Parliament - operates under a mixed parliamentary- presidential system. The Council of Iroij (the upper house) and Nitijela (the elected lower house) are legislative arms of government. The Nitijela has an advisory council of high chiefs with 33 members from 24 districts elected for concurrent 4-year terms called senators. The president is elected by the Nitijela from among its members. President picks cabinet members from the Nitijela.

Electoral System:

Plurality Voting in a hybrid Presidential electoral system

Most recent election:

17 November 2003 (next to be held in November 2007)

Previous elections:

1979 | 1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | 1999

Political Parties:

Aelon Kein Ad Party

Judicial System:

Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court; District and Community courts. The legal system is based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, customary laws, and international conventions/treaties ratified.

Military:

Defense is the responsibility of the US

International Memberships

African, Caribbean , and Pacific Group of States (ACP)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

Group of 77 (G-77)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

International Criminal Court (ICCt)

International Development Association (IDA)

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) - 12 May 1997

International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

Interpol

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Sparteca)

United Nations (UN)

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Sources

(1) Cabinet Ministers for Marshall Islands
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-m/marshall-islands.html

(2) World Fact Book - Marshall Islands
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rm.html