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Marshall Island Government
President and Government Information
Her Excellency Hilda Heine
President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
President Heine holds a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California, making her the first person from the Marshall Islands to earn a doctorate12. Prior to her presidency, she worked as a teacher and counselor at Marshall Islands High School and was active in women's rights advocacy through her organization, Women United Together Marshall Islands12. She has also served as Minister of Education and has been involved in international politics surrounding climate change
President Hilda C. Heine is the tenth President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. President Heine has been representing Aur Atoll since her first appointment as Senator in 201112. She was the first woman to be chosen as President from 33 elected senators in the Marshall Islands Nitijela, serving in this capacity from 2016 to 2020 and re-elected in 2024
Kalani Kaneko serves as a Senator in the Republic of the Marshall Islands Legislature since 2016 and represents the Capital City of Majuro Atoll. He was recently appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He served 4 years (2020-2023) as the Chairman of the Heath, Education, and Social Affairs (HESA) Standing Committee. Minister Kaneko was assigned from 2016 to 2020 as the Minister of Health and Human Services. Prior to his political career, he served in the US Army in various capacities and duty locations. He held many leadership positions during his 20 years of service in both combat and combat support occupations. Minister Kaneko also serves as a board of director with the Marshall Islands Scholarships, Grants and Loans Board (MISGLB), Marshall Islands Social Security Board, Marshall Islands Holding Inc., and as a commissioner in Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. He was recently appointed to chair the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee for U.S. Outlying areas and Freely Associated States. Kaneko's civilian and military education includes Senior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Warrior Leadership Development Course, Army Recruiter Course, Station Commander Course, Equal Opportunity Leader Course, Safety Officer Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course. He graduated from Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also earned an Associate of Science in Marketing and Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut. Minister Kaneko is married to Lorraine Aron formerly of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. They have two sons, Kalakini and Michael; one daughter, Lolani.
Honorable Kalani R. Kaneko
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Republic of the Marshall Islands
PRESIDENTIAL CABINET
Executive power lies with the President, who is Head of State and Head of Government, and the Presidential Cabinet. The President is elected by the Nitijela (Parliament). The President appoints cabinet ministers from amongst the Nitijela members to lead the government ministries with the approval of the Nitijela.
Her Excellency Hilda C. Heine, President
Honorable Jess Gasper , Minister In-Assistance to the President and Environment
Honorable Kalani Kaneko , Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Honorable David Paul , Minister of Finance, Banking and Postal Services
Honorable Wisely Zackhras , Minister of Justice, Immigration and Labor
Honorable Gerald M. Zackios , Minister of Education, Sports and Training
Honorable Bremity Lakjohn , Minister of Health and Human Resources
Honorable Ota Kisino. , Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs
Honorable Tony Muller , Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce
Honorable Thomas Heine , Minister of Works, Infrastructure and Utilities
Honorable Hilton T. Kendall , Minister of Transportation, Communication and Information Technology
THE NITIJELA (NATIONAL PARLIAMENT)
Legislative power resides in the Nitijela, the lower house of the Marshall Islands bicameral parliament. It consists of 33 senators elected by 24 electoral districts by universal suffrage of all citizens above 18 years of age. The electoral districts correspond roughly to each atoll of the Marshall Islands. Four district centers—Majuro, Ebeye, Jaluit, and Wotje—serve as local governments with an elected council, a mayor, appointed local officials, and a local police force. Funding for the district centers comes in the form of grants from the national government and revenues raised locally. No legal restrictions exist against the formation of political parties, and two parties currently exist.
Nitijela Leadership:
Honorable Brenson S. Wase , Speaker of Nitijela
Honorable Isaac Zackras , Vice Speaker of Nitijela
Senators:
Ailinlaplap – Honorable Bruce Loeak, Vice Speaker of the Nitijela - Honorable Isaac Zachras
Ailuk - Honorable David Anitok
Arno - Honorable Mike Halferty, Honorable Gerald Zackios
Aur - President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands - Her Excellency Dr. Hilda C. Heine
Bikini, Kili, Ejit - Minister of Internal Affairs - Honorable Jess Gasper Jr.
Ebon - Honorable Marie Davis Milne
Enewetak - Honorable Jack J. Adding
Jabot -Honorable Kessai H. Note
Jaluit - Honorable Sonny Milne
Kili – Senator Eldon Note
Kwajalein - Honorable Drile K. Kabua, Honorable Kitlang Kabua, Minister of Finance - Honorable David Paul
Lae - Minister of Public Works - Honorable Thomas Heine
Arno - Minister of Education - Honorable Gerald M. Zackios
Likiep - Honorable Wallace Peter
Majuro - Honorable Stephen W. Phillip, Honorable David Kramer, Minister of Resources & Development - Honorable Tony Muller, Minister of Foreign Affairs - Honorable Kalani Kaneko, Speaker of the Nitijela - Honorable Brenson S. Wase
Maloelap – Honorable Bruce Bilimon
Mejit – Honorable Dennis Momotaro
Mili - Honorable Wilbur Heine
Namu - Honorable Tony Aiseia
Namdrik – Minister of Justice - Honorable Wisely Zackhras
Rongelap - Minister of Transportation & Communication - Honorable Hilton T. Kendall
Utrik - Honorable Hiroshi Yamamura
Ujae - Minister in Assistance to the President - Honorable Minister Bremity Lakjohn
Ujelang - Honorable Jack J. Ading
Wotje - Minister of Health - Honorable Ota Kisino
Wotho - Honorable David Kabua
For more information, click on the Nitijela’s website here:https://www.rmiparliament.org
THE HOUSE OF IROIJ
The House of Iroij is the upper house of the Marshall Islands bicameral parliament. The House is comprised of 12 tribal chiefs who advise the Presidential Cabinet and review legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice, including land tenure.
Council of Iroij Leadership:
Iroij Lanny Kabua, Chairman
Iroij Farrend Zackios, Vice Chairman
Members:
Iroijlaplap Michael Kabua
Leroij Esther Zedkeia
Iroij Lejje Loeak
Iroij Ritok Loeak
Iroij Manwel Joklur
Iroij Mixon Jerbal
Leroij Nella Chutaro
Iroij Atson S. Johanes
Owner Kathrine deBrum
GOVERNMENT HISTORY
Germany purchased the Marshall Islands from Spain in 1899. Japan seized the Islands in 1914, governing them under a League of Nations mandate until the U.S. Navy occupied them in 1945. In 1947, the islands became part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands under United Nations trusteeship. The Constitution of the Marshall Islands entered into force on May 1, 1979, at which time the parliament chose Amata Kabua to be the country’s first President. In 1983, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which entered into force in 1986. Under the Compact, the country is fully sovereign in domestic and foreign affairs, but gives responsibility for defense to the United States.
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
The government of the Marshall Islands operates under a mixed parliamentary- presidential system, which includes a ead of state—the President, who is also the head of government—and a bicameral parliament—the Council of Iroij (the upper house) and the Nitijela (the elected lower house).
Executive: Executive power lies with the President, who is elected by the Nitijela, and the Presidential Cabinet. The President appoints cabinet ministers to leading positions in the government departments with the approval of the Nitijela.
Legislative: Legislative power resides in the Nitijela, which consists of 33 senators elected by 24 electoral districts by universal suffrage of all citizens above 18 years of age. The electoral districts correspond roughly to each atoll of the Marshall Islands. Although no legal restrictions exist against the formation of political parties, no formal parties exist. Two ad hoc parties have existed since the mid 1990s.
Council of Iroij: The Council of Iroij is comprised of 12 tribal chiefs who advise the Presidential Cabinet and review legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice, including land tenure.
POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
Freedom of Speech and the Press: The government respects freedom of speech and the press. A privately owned weekly newspaper, the Marshall Islands Journal, publishes in both English and the Marshallese languages. There are several radio stations (one is state-owned) which give voice to a range of views. Cable television broadcasts local news as well as U.S. programs.
Judicial Independence: The Judiciary is independent, and the rule of law is well established. The government respects the right to a fair trial. Both the national and local police honor legal civil rights protections in performing their duties. There are no restrictions on religious observance in this predominantly Christian country.
CONSTITUTION (PREAMBLE)
“We, the people of the Marshall Islands, trusting in God, the Giver of our life, liberty, identity and our inherent rights do hereby exercise these rights and establish for ourselves and generations to come this Constitution, setting forth the legitimate legal framework for the governance of the Marshall Islands.
We have reason to be proud of our forefathers who boldly ventured across the unknown waters of the vast Pacific Ocean many centuries ago, ably responding to the constant challenges of maintaining a bare existence on these tiny islands in their noble quest to build their own distinctive society.
This society has survived, and has withstood the test of time, the impact of other cultures, the devastation of war, and the high price paid for the purposes of international peace and security. All we have and are today as a people, we have received as a sacred heritage which we pledge ourselves to maintain, valuing nothing more dearly than our rightful home on these islands.
With this Constitution, we affirm our desire and right to live in peace and harmony, subscribing to the principles of democracy, sharing the aspirations of all other peoples for a free and peaceful world, and striving to do all we can to assist in achieving this goal.
We extend to other peoples what we profoundly seek from them: peace, friendship, mutual understanding, and respect for our individual idealism and our common humanity.”
Download the entire here: Constitution (English)（https://www.rmiembassyus.org/s/RMI_Constitution.pdf） or Constitution (Marshallese)（https://www.rmiembassyus.org/s/Jemenei-Majol.pdf）