Nitijela

The Nitijela ( ) is the legislature of the Marshall Islands. It has 33 members, elected for a four-year term in nineteen single-seat and five multi-seat constituencies. The last election was 20 November 2023. Elections in the Marshall Islands are officially nonpartisan, but most members of the are affiliated with one of the four active political parties in the Marshall Islands: Aelon Kein Ad (AKA), (KEA), United People's Party (UPP), and United Democratic Party (UDP).

History A bicameral Marshall Islands Congress was established in July 1950. The two chambers were the House of Iroij and the House of Assembly. Kabua Kabua was the president of the House of Iroij in 1953. Atlan Anien was the president of the House of Assembly in 1953.

The Congress was reformulated as unicameral in 1958. Members were elected for a 4-year term. The congress was chaired by Atlan Anien in 1959, Amata Kabua in 1962, and Dwight Heine in 1963 and 1964.

The legislature, Nitijeļā, was established in its current form in 1979 by the Constitution of the Marshall Islands.

2025 parliament building fire

On 26 August 2025, the parliament building, library and archives were destroyed in a fire. Half of the building was burned down, while the other half remains in an unusable state. Both the US and Taiwan offered financial assistance for the reconstruction that started October 8.

Speakers The salary of the speaker is set to US$35,000 annually. Name Period NotesAtlan Anien1979–1988Kessai Note1988–1999Litokwa TomeingJanuary 10, 2000 – 2007Jurelang ZedkaiaJanuary 7, 2008 – October 26, 2009Alvin JacklickNovember 2, 2009 – January 7, 2012Donald CapelleJanuary 7, 2012 – January 4, 2016Kenneth KediJanuary 4, 2016 – January 3, 2024Brenson WaseJanuary 3, 2024 – Incumbent

Members of The twenty-four electoral districts into which the country is divided correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls. There are four political parties in the Marshall Islands: Aelon Kein Ad (AKA), Kien Eo Am (KEA), United People's Party (UPP), and United Democratic Party (UDP). Control is shared by the AKA and the KEA. +Members of the as of 2020ConstituencyMemberTitlePartyAilinglaplap AtollAlfred Alfred Jr.Minister of Resources and DevelopmentKEAChristopher LoeakSenator, former president (2012–2015)AKAAiluk AtollMaynard AlfredSenatorKEAArno AtollJejwarick AntonVice SpeakerKEAMike HalfertyMinister of Transportation and CommunicationInd.Aur AtollHilda HeineSenator, former president (2016–2020)Ind.Ebon AtollJohn SilkMinister of Foreign AffairsKEAEnewetak AtollJack AdingSenatorAKAJabat IslandKessai NoteSenator, former president (2000–2007)UDPJaluit AtollDaisy Alik-MomotaroSenatorInd.Casten NemraSenator, former president (2016)Ind.Kili IslandEldon NoteSenatorUDPKwajalein AtollAlvin JacklickSenatorKEAMichael KabuaSenatorAKADavid PaulMinister in Assistance to the PresidentKEALae AtollThomas HeineMinister of JusticeAKALib IslandJoe BejangSenatorAKALikiep AtollLeander Leander Jr.SenatorAKAMajuro AtollKalani KanekoMinister of HealthKEADavid KramerSenatorKEATony MullerMinister of Public WorksKEASherwood TibonSenatorKEABrenson WaseMinister of FinanceKEAMaloelap AtollBruce BilimonSenatorAKAMejit IslandDennis MomotaroSenatorUPPMili AtollWilbur HeineMinister of EducationAKANamdrik AtollWisely ZackhrasSenatorUDPNamu AtollTony AiseiaSenatorAKARongelap AtollKenneth KediSpeakerKEAUjae AtollAtbi RiklonSenatorAKAUtirik AtollAmenta MatthewMinister of Internal AffairsKEAWotho AtollDavid KabuaPresidentAKAWotje AtollLitokwa TomeingSenator, former PresidentUPP

Committees The has 7 permanent standing committees with oversight authority and legislative authority. All committees have 9 members. + Permanent Standing CommitteesCommittee ChairDutiesAppropriationCasten Nemraconsiders and reports on all legislation relating to public expenditure or financial administration, both federal and local, including budget estimates and supplementary estimates referred to itPublic AccountsBruce Bilimonconsiders the public funds and account of the Marshall Islands, in conjunction with the report of the Auditor-General on them; reports to the any excess/unauthorized expenditures and the reasoning for it; proposes any legislation it deems necessary to ensure public funds are properly and efficiently spent and accounted for; reports to the on any audit of public accountsHealth, Education, and Social AffairsAlvin Jacklickconsiders all legislation relating to the education, health, condition of labor, and well-being of the people of the Marshall IslandsWays and MeansSherwood Tibonconsiders all legislation relating to the revenue of the federal and local governments, including matters relating to the administration of revenue lawsJudiciary and Governmental RelationsDaisy Alik-MomotaroResources and DevelopmentDavid KramerForeign Affairs and TradeMaynard Alfred

Staff The is supported by various staff.

Clerk of the The clerk is the administrative head of the legislature, with authority to approve related matters. The clerk prepares the 's business and serves as the legislature's secretary, keeping minutes and publishing them.

The current clerk is Morean Watak, and Carl Alik is her assistant clerk.

Legislative Counsel The Office of the Legislative Counsel was established in 1981. The office provides legal advice to MPs and the speaker, as well as providing legislative drafting services. The legislative counsel also serves as the Commissioner of the Marshall Islands Revised Code if the Cabinet has not appointed a commissioner.

The current legislative counsel is Joe Lomae.

Nitijela

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