Executive branch: chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote-Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote-Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats-one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); House of Delegates-last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA; House of Delegates-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp
BASILIUS
International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IMF, SPC,
SPF, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814 FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila); Charge d'Affaires Gerald PASCUA embassy: address NA, Koror mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990 FAX: [680] 488-2911
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
@Palau:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.