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 Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands: Travel tips, articles, photos, gallery, cities database, population, pics, flags, statistics, free maps online
 
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007| Introduction - Marshall Islands: |  | Location - Marshall Islands: |  | People - Marshall Islands: |  | Government - Marshall Islands: |  | Country name | conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands
 local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
 local short form: Marshall Islands
 abbreviation: RMI
 former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
 |  |  |  | Government type | constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004 |  |  |  | Capital | name: Majuro geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
 time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
 |  |  |  | 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 5 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004)
 cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature
 elections: president elected by Parliament from among its members for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held in November 2007)
 election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100%
 |  |  |  | Legislative branch | unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held by November 2007)
 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 33
 note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice
 |  |  |  | Judicial branch | Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights 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 - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING] |  |  |  | Political pressure groups and leaders | NA |  |  |  | International organization participation | ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, 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: [1] (202) 234-5414
 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
 |  |  |  | Diplomatic representation from the us | chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
 mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
 telephone: [692] 247-4011
 FAX: [692] 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 |  |  |  | Economy - Marshall Islands: |  | Communications - Marshall Islands: |  | Transportation - Marshall Islands: |  | Military - Marshall Islands: |  Source: CIA >>>
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