Government and Politics of Palau

Government Type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Administrative Divisions

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral

Legal System

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021) and Vice President Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021) and Vice President Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) election results: Surangel WHIPPS Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS Jr. 56.7%, Raynold OILOUCH 43.3%; Uduch Sengebau SENIOR elected vice president

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (13 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; one member elected from each of Palau's 16 states by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Elections: Senate - last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held in November 2028); House of Delegates - last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held in November 2028) Election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 13; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 All members serve four-year terms and run as independents, as Palau does not have formal political parties. The OEK is responsible for enacting legislation, approving the national budget, and ratifying international agreements on behalf of the Republic of Palau.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Political Parties

none

Head of State

President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. and Vice President Uduch Sengebau SENIOR

Head of Government

President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. and Vice President Uduch Sengebau SENIOR

Elections

Senate - last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held in November 2028); House of Delegates - last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held in November 2028)

Election Results

Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 13; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 All members serve four-year terms and run as independents, as Palau does not have formal political parties. The OEK is responsible for enacting legislation, approving the national budget, and ratifying international agreements on behalf of the Republic of Palau.

Constitution

1-Jan-81

Independence

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National Holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

International Organization Participation

ACP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, OPCW, PIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA chancery: 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814 FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 consulate(s) general: Honolulu consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau embassy: Koror (no street address) mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990 FAX: [680] 488-2911

Capital City

Ngerulmud

Location

7 30 N, 134 37 E

Time Difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the Palauan meaning is "place of fermented 'mud'" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006

U.S. Embassy in Koror, Palau In Airai State, in an area known as Omsangel (no street address) P.O. Box 6028, Koror, Palau 96940 Telephone: (680) 587-2920/2990 Facsimile: (680) 587-2911 The U.S. Embassy in Koror accepts passport applications but does not issue passports or make decisions about citizenship claims; the Honolulu Passport Agency handles these requests. The Embassy does not issue immigrant visas, that function is performed by the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Palau National Police