<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
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<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 12 July 1979 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 12 July 1979
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> NA
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President (Beretitenti) Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991); election last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results—Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the president from an elected parliament
<item><hi format=bold>House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu):</hi> elections last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Court of Appeal, High Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaba Party, Roniti TEIWAKI
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> Kiribati has no mission in the US
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean