Legal System of Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands is located in Australia Oceania. It is geographically situated in oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the north pacific ocean, about halfway between hawaii and australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the ratak (sunrise) group and the ralik (sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited. The country achieved independence on 21 october 1986 (from the us-administered un trusteeship). The capital is Majuro.
Government Overview
Government Type: mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US Chief of State: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023) Head of Government: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023) Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker Administrative Divisions: 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje National Holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Legal System
The legal system of Marshall Islands is described as mixed system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitutional Framework
The constitution has the following history: effective 1 May 1979 Amendment Process: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum
Judicial Branch
Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices) Judge Selection: judges appointed by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement at age 72 Subordinate Courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
Legislative Branch
The legislative structure consists of unicameral Note: note: the Council of Iroij is a 12-member consultative group of tribal leaders that advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice
Citizenship and Suffrage
Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Historical Background
Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592.
This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Marshall Islands based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.