Marshall Islands · Constitution
Constitution of the Marshall Islands
Effective 1 May 1979, before the Compact of Free Association entered into force in 1986. Article II contains an extensive Bill of Rights, and Article VI creates the Traditional Rights Court with jurisdiction over questions of customary law and traditional practice. Article X preserves the authority of the Iroij (paramount chiefs) in land matters, and the Constitution requires that certain questions be referred to the Traditional Rights Court for determination rather than decided by the High Court alone.
The constitutional text
Effective 1 May 1979, before the Compact of Free Association entered into force in 1986. Article II contains an extensive Bill of Rights, and Article VI creates the Traditional Rights Court with jurisdiction over questions of customary law and traditional practice. Article X preserves the authority of the Iroij (paramount chiefs) in land matters, and the Constitution requires that certain questions be referred to the Traditional Rights Court for determination rather than decided by the High Court alone.
Separation of powers
Unitary with strong local government. Each inhabited atoll has an elected local council with substantial authority over land use and local services, and the Council of Iroij, a body of twelve traditional leaders, reviews legislation affecting custom and land and may express its opinion to the Nitijela.
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