The Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress (Olbiil era Kelulau). The Senate members are elected to serve four-year terms in multi-seat constituencies. Since January 2025, the Senate has 15 members. No political parties exist. The most recent election was held in November 2024.

Membership The Constitution does not indicate the number of a members of the Senate. Every 8 years, the National Congress appoints a reapportionment commission to draw up and recommend a district map allocating seats in accordance with the population. Therefore, the number of senators may change as frequently as every 8 years. Any voter can challenge a reapportionment before the Palau Supreme Court.

During the first legislature in 1981, there were 18 Senators, which was reduced to 14 in 1984. In 2000, the number dropped to 9, but in 2008, the number rose to 13, then increased to 15 in 2024.

Committees The Senate of Palau has 12 standing committees. They are: +Current Standing CommitteesCommitteeWays & Means and Financial MattersJudiciary and Governmental AffairsCapital Improvement ProjectsHealth and EducationTourism DevelopmentForeign Affairs and State MattersResources, Commerce, Trade, and DevelopmentYouth and Social WelfareCulture and TraditionsPublic Utilities, Communications, and Housing DevelopmentBanking and InsuranceMaritime and Climate Change

Presidents of the Senate

Name Congress Period NotesKaleb Udui1stJanuary 1981 – November 1984Isidoro Rudimch2ndJanuary 1985 – October 1986Joshua Koshiba2ndOctober 1986 – December 1988 3rdJanuary 1989 – 1991Isidoro Rudimch3rd1991 – November 1992Peter Sugiyama4thJanuary 1993 – November 1996Isidoro Rudimch5thFebruary 1997 – 31 August 1999Seit Andres5thSeptember 1999 – December 20006thJanuary 2001 – December 2004Surangel S. Whipps7thJanuary 2005 – April 2005Johnny Reklai7thApril 2005 – 11 March 2007Joshua Koshiba7th27 March 2007 – 25 April 2007Surangel S. Whipps7th25 April 2007 – 15 January 2009Mlib Tmetuchl8th15 January 2009 – 16 January 2013Elias Camsek Chin9th16 January 2013 – 19 January 2017Hokkons Baules10th19 January 2017 – January 202011thJanuary 2020 – 16 January 202512th16 January 2025 –

References

External links The Senate homepage