Palau · Constitution
Constitution of the Republic of Palau
Effective 1 January 1981. Article IV contains fundamental rights; Article XIII, section 6 prohibits the use, testing, storage or disposal of nuclear, chemical, gas or biological weapons in Palau without approval by a 75% majority at referendum — the provision that forced eight referendums before free association could proceed. Article XII restricts land ownership to citizens, and Article V requires the government to respect and protect the role of traditional leaders and customary law.
The constitutional text
Effective 1 January 1981. Article IV contains fundamental rights; Article XIII, section 6 prohibits the use, testing, storage or disposal of nuclear, chemical, gas or biological weapons in Palau without approval by a 75% majority at referendum — the provision that forced eight referendums before free association could proceed. Article XII restricts land ownership to citizens, and Article V requires the government to respect and protect the role of traditional leaders and customary law.
Separation of powers
A republic of sixteen states, each with its own constitution, governor and legislature, over a small population — Palau has more layers of government per head than almost anywhere. The national Council of Chiefs, made up of the paramount chief of each state, advises the President on custom and traditional law, and the two highest-ranking chiefly titles of Koror and Melekeok carry particular weight.
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