Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands former: Marshall Islands
District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Government type: constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

Capital: Majuro

Administrative divisions: 33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap,
Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat,
Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap,
Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang,
Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

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

National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution: 1 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3
January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since
3 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government cabinet: elections: president elected by Parliament
from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held
15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results:
Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections:
last held 15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) note: the
Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting
customary law and practice election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally
organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles
factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters,
formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings"
have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Kabua Party
[Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC,