Short facts about the government of Palau
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Republic of Palau
conventional short
form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a
Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau
District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands) |
| 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 |
| Independence: |
1 October 1994 (from the
US-administered UN Trusteeship) |
| National
holiday: |
Constitution Day, 9 July
(1979) |
| Constitution: |
1 January
1981 |
| Legal
system: |
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of
the legislature, municipal, common, and customary
laws |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Tommy Esang 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 Esang 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 NA 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 (16 seats; members elected by popular vote
on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be
held NA November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next to
be held NA 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 |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Palau Nationalist Party [Johnson
TORIBIONG]; Ta Belau Party [Kuniwo NAKAMURA] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
ACP, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
WHO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1150 18th Street
NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202)
452-6814
FAX: [1] (202)
452-6281 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau; Charge
d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT
embassy: address NA,
Koror
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau
96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680]
488-2911 |
| Flag
description: |
light blue with a large yellow disk
(representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side | Source: World Factbook |
