Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong,
Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island,
Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution: 1 January 1981
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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]