Palau Governance Information

Type of Government:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital city:

Melekeok

Other cities:

Koror

Population:

21,093 (July 2008 est.)

Independence:

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Year of current Constitution:

January 1, 1981.

President:

Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr.,

Vice President:

Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005).

Ministers:

Minister of State - Temmy Shmull

Minister of Justice - Camsek E. Chin

Minister of Resources & Development - Mr. Fritz Koshiba

Minister of Commerce & Trade - Mr. Otoichi Besebes

Minister of Health - Mr. Victor Minoru Yano, M.D.

Minister of Education - Mario Katosang

Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs - Alexander Merep

Parliament:

Bicameral Parliament  [Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK)] consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Electoral System:

Plurality Voting in a hybrid Presidential electoral system

Most recent election:

October 23, 2004 (next to be held in October 2007)

Previous elections:

April 8, 2000; May 3, 2003

Political Parties:

Palau Nationalist Party,

Ta Belau Party

Judicial System:

Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas, and the Land Court.

Chief Justice:

Hon. Arthur Ngiraklsong

Public Auditor:

Mr. Satrunino Tewid

Electoral Commissioner:

Mr. Santos Borja

Solicitor General:

Mr. Jeffrey Beattie

Director of Public Prosecution:

Mr. Garth Backe

Commissioner of Police:

Mr. Hazime Telei

Chairman of the Public Service Commission:

Mr. Secilil Eldebechel

Ambassador:

Hersey KYOTA.

Military:

Defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but no military forces are stationed there.

International Memberships

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

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

International Development Association (IDA)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

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 Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - 18 July 1996

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

World Bank

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Sources:

http://www.spc.int/prism/country/pw/stats/PalauStats/Publication/publications.htm

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1840.htm

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/World-Leaders-2003/Palau-POLITICAL-BACKGROUND.html

http://www.palauembassy.com/

http://www.palaugov.net/

http://www.faqs.org/docs/factbook/geos/ps.html

http://www.electionguide.org/country-events.php?ID=150

Sources

(1) Official Website - Palau
http://www.palaugov.net/

(2) Chief of State and Cabinet Ministers - Palau
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/palau.html