y the president from among the members of
Parliament
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 NA November 1999 (next to be held NA November
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice

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 and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa
TOMLING]

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-5414
FAX: (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: 247-4011
FAX: 247-4012

Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower
hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with
four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two
stripes

@Marshall Islands:Economy

Economy - overview: US Government assistance is the mainstay of this
tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small
farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes,
melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less t