!!!Marshall Islands: Government
||Country name|''conventional long form'': Republic of the Marshall Islands \\ ''conventional short form'': Marshall Islands \\ ''local long form'': Republic of the Marshall Islands \\ ''local short form'': Marshall Islands \\ ''abbreviation'': RMI \\ ''former'': Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District \\ ''etymology'': named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788 \\ 
||Government type|presidential republic in free association with the US
||Capital|Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap[{GoogleMap location='Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap' zoom='6'}] \\ ''geographic coordinates'': 7 06 N, 171 23 E \\ ''time difference'': UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) \\ 
||Administrative divisions|24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namdrik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
||Independence|21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
||National holiday|Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
||Constitution|effective 1 May 1979; amended several times, last in 1995 (2016)
||Legal system|mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
||International law organization participation|accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
||Citizenship|''citizenship by birth'': no \\ ''citizenship by descent only'': at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands \\ ''dual citizenship recognized'': no \\ ''residency requirement for naturalization'': 5 years \\ 
||Suffrage|18 years of age; universal
||Executive branch|''chief of state'': President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government \\ ''head of government'': President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016) \\ ''cabinet'': Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker \\ ''elections/appointments'': president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 January 2016 (next to be held in 2020) \\ ''election results'': Hilda C. HEINE elected president on 27 January 2016; Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 24, she was the only candidate \\ 
||Legislative branch|''description'': bicameral legislature consists of the Council of Iroij (12 seats; consists of tribal chiefs chosen by holders of the chieftainship among the constituent islands) and the National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice) \\ ''elections'': last held on 21 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015) \\ ''election results'': percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 33 \\ 
||Judicial branch|''highest court(s)'': Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges as prescribed by law) \\ ''judge selection and term of office'': judges appointed by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and upon the approval of the Nitijela; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 72 \\ ''subordinate courts'': High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts \\ 
||Political parties and leaders|traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party (Michael KABUA) and United Democratic Party or UDP (Litokwa TOMEING)
||Political pressure groups and leaders|NA
||International organization participation|ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
||Diplomatic representation in the US|''chief of mission'': Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016) \\ ''chancery'': 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20008 \\ ''telephone'': (1) (202) 234-5414 \\ ''FAX'': (1) (202) 232-3236 \\ ''consulate(s) general'': Honolulu, Springdale (AR) \\ ''consulate(s)'': Agana (Guam) \\ 
||Diplomatic representation from the US|''chief of mission'': Ambassador Thomas H. ARMBRUSTER (since 16 August 2012) \\ ''embassy'': Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro \\ ''mailing address'': P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379 \\ ''telephone'': (692) 247-4011 \\ ''FAX'': (692) 247-4012 \\ 
||Flag description|blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north
||National symbol(s)|a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange
||National anthem|''name'': "Forever Marshall Islands" \\ ''lyrics/music'': Amata KABUA \\  \\ ''__note__'': adopted 1981 \\