Politics of Palau
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Palau is a democratic republic with directly-elected executive and legislative branches. Presidential elections take place every four years, when the president and vice president run on separate tickets. The Palau National Congress (Olbiil era Kelulau) consists of two chambers -- the Senate and the House of Delegates. The Senate has nine members elected nationwide. The House has 16 members, one from each of Palau's states. All legislators serve 4-year terms. Each state also elects its own governor and legislature.
The Council of Chiefs advises the president on traditional laws and customs. It is made up of the highest traditional chiefs from each state.
The judicial system consists of the Supreme Court, National Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Land Court. The Supreme Court has trial and appellate divisions and is presided over by the Chief Justice.
While calm in recent years, Palau witnessed several instances of political violence in the 1980s. The republic's first president, Haruo I. Remeliik, was assassinated in 1985; the Minister of State was found to be complicit in the crime. Palau's third president, Lazurus Salii, committed suicide in September 1988 amid bribery allegations. Salii's personal assistant had been imprisoned several months earlier after being convicted of firing shots into the home of the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
The Senate passed legislation making Palau an "offshore" financial center in 1998. Opponents to the legislation voiced fears that the country would become a haven for money launderers and other sorts of criminal activity.
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General Information
Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Palau
conventional short form:
Palau
local long form:
Beluu er a Belau
local short form:
Belau
former:
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Data code: PS
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Capital:
Koror
note:
a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror
Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island, Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp BASILIUS]
International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
Branches of the Government
Executive branch
chief of state:
President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr.(since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra Pierantozzi (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr.(since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra Pierantozzi (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet
elections:
president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004 - results are delayed as of 5 November 2004)
election results:
Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr. 53%, Peter Sugiyama 46%; Sandra Pierantozzi elected vice president; percent of vote - Sandra PIERANTOZZI 52%, Alan Seid 45%
Legislative branch
Bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:
Senate - Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
See also: Palau