Government
The government of the Marshall Islands operates under a mixed parliamentary-presidential system as set forth in its Constitution. Elections are held every four years in universal suffrage (for all citizens above 18), with each of the twenty-four constituencies (see below) electing one or more representatives (senators) to the lower house of RMI’s bicameral 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.
Legislative power lies with the Nitijela. The upper house of Parliament, called the Council of Iroij, is an advisory body comprising twelve tribal chiefs. 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. The twenty-four electoral districts into which the country is divided correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls. There are currently three political parties in the Marshall Islands: Aelon Kein Ad (AKA), United People's Party (UPP), and United Democratic Party (UDP). Rule is shared by the UDP and the UPP. The following senators are in the legislative body:
- Ailinglaplap Atoll – Christopher J. Loeak (AKA), Ruben R. Zackhras (UDP)
- Ailuk Atoll – Maynard Alfred (UDP)
- Arno Atoll – Nidel Lorak (UPP), Gerald M. Zackios (UDP)
- Aur Atoll – Norman Matthew (UPP)
- Ebon Atoll – John M. Silk (UDP)
- Enewetak Atoll – Jack Ading (UPP)
- Jabat Island – Kessai H. Note (UDP)
- Jaluit Atoll – Rien R. Morris (UDP), Speaker Alvin T. Jacklick (UDP)
- Kili Island – Tomaki Juda (UDP)
- Kwajalein Atoll – Michael Kabua (AKA), Tony A. deBrum (AKA), Jeban Riklon (AKA)
- Lae Atoll – Rellong D. Lemari (AKA)
- Lib Island – Jerakoj Jerry Bejang (AKA)
- Likiep Atoll – Donald F. Capelle (UDP)
- Majuro Atoll – Wilfred I. Kendall (UDP), David Kramer (IND), Brenson S. Wase (UDP), Vice Speaker Alik J. Alik (UDP), 'H.E. President Jurelang Zedkaia' (UDP)
- Maloelap Atoll – Michael Konelios (UDP)
- Mejit Island – Dennis Momotaro (UPP)
- Mili Atoll – Kejjo Bien (UPP)
- Namdrik Atoll – Mattlan Zackhras (UDP)
- Namu Atoll – Kaiboke Kabua (AKA)
- Rongelap Atoll – Kenneth Kedi (IND)
- Ujae Atoll – Frederick H. Muller (UPP)
- Utirik Atoll – Amenta Matthew (IND)
- Wotho Atoll – David Kabua (AKA)
- Wotje Atoll – Litokwa Tomeing (UPP)
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“I incline to think that the people will not now sustain the policy of upholding a State Government against a rival government, by the use of the forces of the United States. If this leads to the overthrow of the de jure government in a State, the de facto government must be recognized.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)