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The Legislature of the Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Nitijeļā [nʲidˠiːzʲɛlˠæ])[2] has 33 members, elected for a four-year term in nineteen single-seat and five multi-seat constituencies. The last election was November 20, 2023. Elections in the Marshall Islands are officially nonpartisan, but most members of the Nitijeļā are affiliated with one of the four active political parties in the Marshall Islands: Aelon Kein Ad (AKA), Kien Eo Am (KEA), United People's Party (UPP), and United Democratic Party (UDP).
Legislature of the Marshall Islands Nitijeļā | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1979[1] |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | Brenson Wase since 3 January 2024 |
Vice Speaker | Issac Zacharias since 3 January 2024 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 33 members |
 | |
Political groups | Independent (33) |
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| Single and multi-seat constituencies | |
Last election | 20 November 2023 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Capitol Building, Majuro | |
| Website | |
| rmiparliament | |
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Bicameral Marshall Islands Congress was established in July 1950. The two chambers were the House of Iroij and the House of Assembly.[3] Kabua Kabua was the president of the House of Iroij in 1953. Atlan Anien was the president of the House of Assembly in 1953.[3]
The Congress was reformulated as unicameral in 1958.[4][5] Members were elected for a 4-year term. The congress was chaired by Atlan Anien in 1959, Amata Kabua in 1962, and Dwight Heine in 1963 and 1964[4]
The legislature, Nitijeļā, was established in its current form in 1979 by the Constitution of the Marshall Islands.
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The salary of the speaker is set to 35,000 USD annually.[6]
| Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Atlan Anien | 1979–1988 | [7] |
| Kessai Note | 1988–1999 | [7] |
| Litokwa Tomeing | January 10, 2000 – 2007 | [7] |
| Jurelang Zedkaia | January 7, 2008 – October 26, 2009 | [7] |
| Alvin Jacklick | November 2, 2009 – January 7, 2012 | [7] |
| Donald Capelle | January 7, 2012 – January 4, 2016 | [7] |
| Kenneth Kedi | January 4, 2016 – January 3, 2024 | [7] |
| Brenson Wase | January 3, 2024 – Incumbent | [7] |
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The twenty-four electoral districts into which the country is divided correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls. There are four political parties in the Marshall Islands: Aelon Kein Ad (AKA), Kien Eo Am (KEA), United People's Party (UPP), and United Democratic Party (UDP). Control is shared by the AKA and the KEA.
| Constituency | Member | Title | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailinglaplap Atoll | Alfred Alfred Jr. | Minister of Resources and Development | KEA |
| Christopher Loeak | Senator, former president (2012–2015) | AKA | |
| Ailuk Atoll | Maynard Alfred | Senator | KEA |
| Arno Atoll | Jejwarick Anton | Vice Speaker | KEA |
| Mike Halferty | Minister of Transportation and Communication | Ind. | |
| Aur Atoll | Hilda Heine | Senator, former president (2016–2020) | Ind. |
| Ebon Atoll | John Silk | Minister of Foreign Affairs | KEA |
| Enewetak Atoll | Jack Ading | Senator | AKA |
| Jabat Island | Kessai Note | Senator, former president (2000–2007) | UDP |
| Jaluit Atoll | Daisy Alik-Momotaro | Senator | Ind. |
| Casten Nemra | Senator, former president (2016) | Ind. | |
| Kili Island | Eldon Note | Senator | UDP |
| Kwajalein Atoll | Alvin Jacklick | Senator | KEA |
| Michael Kabua | Senator | AKA | |
| David Paul | Minister in Assistance to the President | KEA | |
| Lae Atoll | Thomas Heine | Minister of Justice | AKA |
| Lib Island | Joe Bejang | Senator | AKA |
| Likiep Atoll | Leander Leander Jr. | Senator | AKA |
| Majuro Atoll | Kalani Kaneko | Minister of Health | KEA |
| David Kramer | Senator | KEA | |
| Tony Muller | Minister of Public Works | KEA | |
| Sherwood Tibon | Senator | KEA | |
| Brenson Wase | Minister of Finance | KEA | |
| Maloelap Atoll | Bruce Bilimon | Senator | AKA |
| Mejit Island | Dennis Momotaro | Senator | UPP |
| Mili Atoll | Wilbur Heine | Minister of Education | AKA |
| Namdrik Atoll | Wisely Zackhras | Senator | UDP |
| Namu Atoll | Tony Aiseia | Senator | AKA |
| Rongelap Atoll | Kenneth Kedi | Speaker | KEA |
| Ujae Atoll | Atbi Riklon | Senator | AKA |
| Utirik Atoll | Amenta Matthew | Minister of Internal Affairs | KEA |
| Wotho Atoll | David Kabua | President | AKA |
| Wotje Atoll | Litokwa Tomeing | Senator, former President | UPP |
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The Nitijeļā has 7 permanent standing committees with oversight authority and legislative authority. All committees have 9 members.[9]
| Committee | Chair | Duties |
|---|---|---|
| Appropriation | Casten Nemra | considers and reports on all legislation relating to public expenditure or financial administration, both federal and local, including budget estimates and supplementary estimates referred to it |
| Public Accounts | Bruce Bilimon | considers the public funds and account of the Marshall Islands, in conjunction with the report of the Auditor-General on them; reports to the Nitijeļā any excess/unauthorized expenditures and the reasoning for it; proposes any legislation it deems necessary to ensure public funds are properly and efficiently spent and accounted for; reports to the Nitijeļā on any audit of public accounts |
| Health, Education, and Social Affairs | Alvin Jacklick | considers all legislation relating to the education, health, condition of labor, and well-being of the people of the Marshall Islands |
| Ways and Means | Sherwood Tibon | considers all legislation relating to the revenue of the federal and local governments, including matters relating to the administration of revenue laws |
| Judiciary and Governmental Relations | Daisy Alik-Momotaro | |
| Resources and Development | David Kramer | |
| Foreign Affairs and Trade | Maynard Alfred |
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The Nitijeļā is supported by various staff.
Clerk of the Nitijeļā
The Clerk is the administrative head of the legislature, with authority to approve related matters. The Clerk prepares the Nitijeļā's business and serves as the legislature's secretary, keeping minutes and publishing them.[10]
The current Clerk is Morean Watak, and Carl Alik is her Assistant Clerk.[10]
Legislative Counsel
The Office of the Legislative Counsel was established in 1981. The office provides legal advice to MPs and the Speaker, as well as providing legislative drafting services. The Legislative Counsel also serves as the Commissioner of the Marshall Islands Revised Code if the Cabinet has not appointed a Commissioner.[11]
The current Legislative Counsel is Joe Lomae.[11]
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