General Information | Electoral System | Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament
| Parliament: | Nitijela Parliament |
| Structure: | Unicameral |
| Chamber: | Nitijela - Parliament |
| President: | Kessai H. Note (M) |
| Secretary general: | Joe E. Riklon (M) |
| Members: | 33 directly elected |
| Percentage of women: | % |
| Term: | 4 years |
| Last renewal: | 20 November 1995 |
| Address: | Nitijela Parliament Building P.O. Box 24 - 96960 MAJURO Tel.: (692) 625 36 78/79 Cable: - Telex: - Fax: (692) 625 36 87 |
| Affiliation to IPU: | Yes |
| Affiliation dates: | 1993 |
Constituencies:
- 24 constituencies (districts), of which:
- 19 single-member
- 5 multi-member (2 to 5 seats)
Voting system:
Simple majority system.
Each elector has votes equivalent to the number of seats to be filled in the constituency in which he/she resides or has land rights.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements:
- age: 18 years
- Marshall Islands citizenship
- residence or land rights in the constituency where voting
- disqualifications: insanity, sentence (or parole) pursuant to conviction for felony
Eligibility:
Qualified electors
- age: 21 years
- Marshall Islands citizenship
Incompatibilities:
- public servants
Candidacy requirements:
(data unavailable)
Purpose of elections
Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections
General elections had previously been held in November 1991. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Amata Kabua was re-elected President of the Republic - a post he has held since the Marshall Islands became sovereign in October 1986.
According to final polling results, eight of the Nitijela's 33 seats reportedly went to newcomers and two members of the Cabinet failed to be re-elected. On 29 November, President Kabua was returned to office by the newly elected parliamentarians for a fifth successive term.
Statistics
Term:
Appointment:
Eligibility:
Voting system:
Procedures / results :
Board:
Material facilities:
Chairing of public sittings:
Special powers:
Speaking and voting rights, other functions:
MARSHALL ISLANDS Parliament
1. Results of the elections
(data unavailable)
2. Distribution of seats according to political group
( Not applicable : no parties)
3. Distribution of seats according to profession
(data unavailable)
4. Distribution of seats according to sex
(data unavailable)
5. Distribution of seats according to age
(data unavailable)
Title:
Speaker of the Parliament
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament
- elected by all Members of the Parliament
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Parliament
- after Members' mandates are validated and before Members are sworn in
- any Member of the Parliament may be a candidate
- formal notification is required
- deadline for notification: 60 days prior to the general election
- formal vote by secret ballot
- one round by simple majority
- the former Speaker presides over the Parliament during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the results can be challenged by the Members of the Parliament
Status:
- may be called upon as acting Head of State when the President dies
- represents the Parliament with the public authorities
- is ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Parliament in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
[none]
- bi-weekly payment from the Government
- sitting allowance
- housing allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
Organization of parliamentary business:
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments with the Legislative Counsel of the Parliament
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- may appoint committees and/or their presiding officers
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes, as well as the Clerk, announcements concerning the Parliament
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- may interpret the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Parliament, but it is the responsability of the Legislative Counsel of the Parliament
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
- establishes public hearings with the Parliament's Budget Committee
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff in consultation with the Public Service Commission
- makes recommendation of his selection of the Clerk, then informs the Public Service Commission of the selection
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Parliament
- proposes bills or amendments; establishes rules and regulations for the Parliament
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution...)