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The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is an island country west of the International Date Line and north of the equator in the Micronesia region in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The territory consists of 29 coral atolls and five islands, divided across two island chains: Ratak in the east and Ralik in the west. 97.87% of its territory is water, the largest proportion of water to land of any sovereign state. The country shares maritime boundaries with Wake Island to the north, Kiribati to the southeast, Nauru to the south, and the Federated States of Micronesia to the west. The capital and largest city is Majuro, home to approximately half of the country's population.
The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England.
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, with each of the 24 constituencies electing one or more representatives (senators) to the lower house of RMI's unicameral legislature, the Nitijela. The President, who is head of state as well as head of government, is elected by the 33 senators of the Nitijela. Four of the five Marshallese presidents who have been elected since the Constitution was adopted in 1979 have been traditional paramount chiefs.
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Joe Bejang is a Marshallese politician serving Lib Island in the Legislature of the Marshall Islands, the Nitijela. He was elected in the 2019 election against opponent Whitney Loeak, who received 44 votes.
Wisely Zackhras is a Marshallese politician and senator serving in the Nitijela elected from Namdrik. He is currently serving in the cabinet of President Hilda Heine as Minister of Justice, Immigration and Labour.
Tony Muller is a Marshallese politician who served as Minister of Public Works and Natural Resources and Commerce under President Hilda Heine. Muller holds a bachelor's degree in telecom management.
Ota Kisino is a Marshallese politician currently serving as Minister of Health and Human Services in the cabinet of President Hilda Heine having previously served as minister of Culture and Internal Affairs. Kisino was a Mayor of Wotje during which he served as President of Marshall Islands Mayors Association.
Mike Halferty is a Marshallese politician and senator serving in the Nitijela elected as an independent from Arno Atoll. He was Minister of Justice from 2017 to 2018. He served as minister of Transportation and Communication during the government of President Hilda Heine. Halferty was removed from his ministerial position in June 2018 by President Heine without giving reasons for the removal but only emphasized the power vested in her by the Republic of Marshall Island Constitution to fire cabinet officials.
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References
- ↑ "Jejwarick Anton elected Vice Speaker". www.infomarshallislands.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
- ↑ Islands, U. S. Embassy Marshall (2016-01-05). "Ambassador Armbruster congratulates President-elect Nemra". U.S. Embassy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
- ↑ "Republic of the Marshall Islands". rmiparliament.org. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
- ↑ "Early Election Results". www.infomarshallislands.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.