The Constitution of the Marshall Islands is the

supreme law A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these princi ...

of the

Republic of the Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Intern ...

, in force from 1 May 1979. Its text is both English and Marshallese. The Constitution was approved on 1 March 1979 by

constitutional referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

, by 63% of voters.

History

Before the

Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Internati ...

become an independent state (1986), the Marshallese decided to have their own constitutional law in 1966. In 1976, a Constitutional Convention was organized with 46 elected members. This Convention drafted the Constitution of 1979, having into consideration a future independence status.

Structure

The Constitution of the Marshall Islands mixes British and American constitutional concepts based mainly on Westminster system, with a legislative branch that originates the executive branch, with an independent judicial branch. The legislature is a bicameral institution, consisting of the Council of Irooij (Traditional High Chiefs) and the elected

Nitijeļā The Legislature of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Nitijeļā ) has 33 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat and five multi-seat constituencies. The last election was November 18, 2019. Elections in the Marshall Islands are officially ...

(Parliament). The Nitijeļā is the law-making branch of the legislature and consists of 33 elected members, every four years. The Nitijeļā also elects from its members the

President of the Marshall Islands The following is a list of presidents of the Marshall Islands, since the establishment of that office in 1979. The president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is the head of state and government of the Marshall Islands. The President is el ...

and, on nomination by the President, other members of the parliament to serve as the

Cabinet of the Marshall Islands The government of the Marshall Islands operates under a mixed parliamentary-presidential system as set forth in its Constitution. Elections are held every four years in universal suffrage (for all citizens above the age of 18), with each of the 24 ...

. The Cabinet is the executive branch and directs the actions of the Government. The Cabinet is then responsible to the Nitijeļā for its executive actions. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of the Marshall Islands, the

High Court of the Marshall Islands The High Court is the second highest court of law in the Marshall Islands Judiciary. The court is established by Article VI, section 3 of the republic's constitution It has Appellate court, appellate jurisdiction over cases originating in the lower ...

, the traditional rights court, district courts, and community courts.

References

External links

Constitution of the Marshall Islands

Government of the Marshall Islands Law of the Marshall Islands {{constitution-stub