Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Nauru
conventional short form:
Nauru
local long form:
Republic of Nauru
local short form:
Nauru
former:
Pleasant Island
etymology:
the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach"
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution:
history:
effective 29 January 1968
(2018)
amendments:
proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Parliament membership; amendments to constitutional articles such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches also requires two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum; amended 1968, 2009, 2014
(2018)
Legal system:
mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Baron WAQA (since 11 June 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Baron WAQA (since 11 June 2013)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament
elections/appointments:
president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 June 2013 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:
Baron WAQA reelected president; Parliament vote - Baron WAQA (independent) 13, Roland KUN (Nauru First) 5
Legislative branch:
description:
unicameral parliament (19 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote using the "Dowdall" counting system by which voters rank candidates on their ballots; members serve 3-year terms)
elections:
last held on 9 July 2016 (next to be held in 2019)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 19; composition - men 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - in late 2017, the Nauruan Government revoked the 1976 High Court Appeals Act, which had allowed appeals beyond the Nauruan Supreme Court, and in early 2018, the government announced its intention to form its own appeals court
judge selection and term of office:
judges appointed by the president to serve until age 65
subordinate courts:
District Court, Family Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]
Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party
Nauru Party (informal)
note: loose multiparty system
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marlene Inemwin MOSES (since 13 March 2006)
chancery:
800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
[1] (212) 937-0074
FAX:
[1] (212) 937-0079
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Flag description:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, gold stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the gold stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru; the star's white color represents phosphate, the basis of the island's wealth
National symbol(s):
frigatebird, calophyllum flower; national colors: blue, yellow, white
National anthem:
name:
"Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)
lyrics/music:
Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
note: adopted 1968
