<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Marshall Islands<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of the Marshall Islands
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Marshall Islands
<item>• <hi format=ital>former:</hi> Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> RM
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 May (1979)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 1 May 1979
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Amata KABUA (since 1979); election last held 6 January 1992 (next to be held NA; results—President Amata KABUA was reelected)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; president selects from the parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Parliament (Nitijela):</hi> elections last held 18 November 1991 (next to be held November 1995); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(33 total)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner—orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes