John Silk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister in Assistance to the President | |
| In office September 2017 –October 2017 | |
| President | Hilda Heine |
| Preceded by | Mattlan Zackhras |
| Succeeded by | David Paul |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 September 1956 |
| Nationality |  Marshallese |
John Silk (born 15 September 1956) is a Marshallese lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of President Hilda Heine. He was elected to Nitijela (Marshall Islands parliament) from Kwajalein Atoll in 2000. [1] [2]
Attended Assumption Schools for his primary education and secondary education before proceeding to Regis University in Denver graduating with a degree in 1979. Silk is a member of Marshall Islands Law Society and Marshall Islands Bar Association and was a delegate to the Marshall Islands Constitutional Convention. [2]
He began his career as a reporter and rose to the rank of editor at the Marshall Islands Journal before leaving to practice law. He was elected to the Nitijela in 2000 representing Ebon Atoll and served in different positions including as a member of Nitijela standing committees on Appropriation,Resources and Development,Foreign Affairs,Public Accounts and as a cabinet minister. Silk served twice as minister of Foreign Affairs –his last appointment was in the cabinet of President Hilda Heine. During his term in the Foreign Affairs ministry,he represented Marshall Islands in several international events such as United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He is a member of KEA party and a 4th term member of Nitijela. [3] [4]
The Legislature of the Marshall Islands has 33 members,elected for a four-year term in nineteen single-seat and five multi-seat constituencies. The last election was November 20,2023. Elections in the Marshall Islands are officially nonpartisan,but most members of the Nitijeļā are affiliated with one of the four active political parties in the Marshall Islands:Aelon Kein Ad (AKA),Kien Eo Am (KEA),United People's Party (UPP),and United Democratic Party (UDP).
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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