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) independents 33

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties; President KABUA is
chief political (and traditional) leader

Member of: AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, 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: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador David C. FIELDS
embassy: address NA, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012

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. The US Government provides
about 70% of the budget.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $75 million (1992
est.)

National product real growth rate: 6% (1992)

National product per capita: $1,500 (1992 est.)

Inflation rat