ship)
National holiday:
Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 May (1979)
Constitution:
1 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Amata KABUA (since 1979); election last held 6 January 1992
(next to be held NA; results - President Amata KABUA was reelected)
cabinet:
Cabinet; president selects from the parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Nitijela):
elections last held 18 November 1991 (next to be held November 1995);
results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties; President KABUA is chief political (and
traditional) leader
Member of:
AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
INTERPOL, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Wilfred I. KENDALL
chancery:
2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 234-5414
FAX:
(202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general:
Honolulu and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David C. FIELDS
embassy:
NA address, Majuro
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
telephone:
(692) 625-4011
FAX:
(692) 625-4012
Flag:
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

@Marshall Islands, Economy

Overview:
Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural
production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important
commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few
cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry
is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist
industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about
10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural resources, and
imports far exceed exports. In 1987 the US Government provided grants
of $40 million out of the Marshallese budget of $55 million.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $63 million (1989 es