About Us
History of the Nitijela
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History of the Nitijela
A Brief History of the Marshall Islands as a Member of the Trust Territory
In the sixteenth century Spain laid claim to the Marshall Islands and later sold it to the Germans during the Spanish-American war in 1898. Japan captured the Marshall Islands from Germany during World War I and later lost it to the United States during World War II
Under a 1947 Trusteeship Agreement with the United Nations, the United States administered the Marshall Islands and other Micronesian countries. Under the Trusteeship Agreement the United States assumed the obligation to foster the development of political institutions such as suited for member countries of the Trust Territory.
The United States was tasked with promoting the development of the inhabitants of the Trust Territory towards independence according to the wishes of the peoples concerned. A bicameral Congress of Micronesia was established in 1964 of which the Marshall Islands was a part.
Brief Overview of Political Development in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
In 1978 the Marshall Islands in a referendum broke away from the rest of Micronesia and opted for a separate Constitution. In 1979 its Constitution was ratified. The country gained independence and signed a compact of free association with the United States in 1986.
The 1979 constitution provides for a unicameral parliamentary system. However, the President is elected by members of the Nitijela (parliament), and serves as the head of government as well as the head of state. A consultative upper house for traditional leaders known as the Council of Irooj Advises on customary issues.
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Members of Nitijela From the Inception
1st – 4th Constitutional Regular Session
1. H.E. President Amata Kabua
2. Speaker Atlan Anien
3. Vice Speaker Namo Hermios
4. Minister Ataji Balos
5. Minister Kunar Abner
6. Minister Wilfred Kendall
7. Minister Tom Kijjiner
8. Minister Atjang Paul
9. Minister Kessai H Note
10. Minister Jina Lavin
11. Minister Henry Samuel
12. Minister Ruben Zackhras
13. Senator Toke Sawej
14. Senator Imata Kabua
15. Senator Jolly Lojekar
16. Senator Katip Mack
17. Senator Kanchi Ibbino
18. Senator Carl Heine
19. Senator Evelyn Konou
20. Senator Alee Alik
21. Senator Ekpap Silk
22. Senator Pijja Jerwan
23. Senator Andrew Hiseah
24. Senator Litokwa Tomeign
25. Senator Beasa Peter
26. Senator Mwejor Mathusla
27. Senator Ishmael John
28. Senator Henchi Balos
29. Senator Jeton Anjain
30. Senator Report Emius
31. Senator Donald Matthew
32. Senator Jimmy Akeang
33. Senator Calep Rantak
Majuro Atoll
Namu Atoll
Maloelap Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Ailuk Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Likiep Atoll
Ailinglaplap Atoll
Jabot Island
Majuro Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Ailinglaplap Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Arno Atoll
Arno Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Mili Atoll
Ebon Atoll
Lib Atoll
Namdrik Atoll
Wotje Atoll
Aur Atoll
Wotho Atoll
Enewetak & Ujelang Atoll
Kili, Bikini & Ejit Atoll
Rongelap Atoll
Mejit Island
Utrik Atoll
Lae Atoll
Ujae Atoll
5th – 8th Constitutional Regular Session
1. H.E President Amata Kabua
2. Speaker Atlan Anien
3. V-Speaker Andrew Hiseah
4. Minister Tony deBrum
5. Minister Tom Kijiner
6. Minister Brenson S. Wase
7. Minister Kessai H. Note
8. Minister Charles Domnick
9. Minister Phillip Muller
10. Minister Ruben Zackhras
11. Minister Kunio Lemari
12. Minister Kunar Abner
13. Minister Henchi Balos
14. Senator Tipne Philippo
15. Senator Chuji Chutaro
16. Senator Jeton Anjain
17. Senator Ataji Balos
18. Senator Report Emius
19. Senator Carl Heine
20. Senator Henry Samuael
21. Senator Alden Bejang
22. Senator Ishmael John
23. Senator Imata Kabua
24. Senator Evelyn Konou
25. Senator Hermios Kibin
26. Senator Hemos A. Jack
27. Senator Christopher J. Loeak
28. Senator Donald Matthew
29. Senator Amsa Jonathan
30. Senator Calep Rantak
31. Senator Leikman Robert
32. Senator Ekpap Silk
33. Senator Litokwa Tomeing
Majuro Atoll
Namu Atoll
Namdrik Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Likiep Atoll
Arno Atoll
Jabot Island
Maloelap Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Alinglaplap Atoll
Wotho Atoll
Ailuk Atoll
Kili, Bikini & Ejit Atoll
Lae Atoll
Mili Atoll
Rongelap Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Mejit Island
Jaluit Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Lib Atoll
Ujelang/Enewetak Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Alinglaplap Atoll
Utrik Atoll
Aur Atoll
Ujae Atoll
Arno Atoll
Ebon Atoll
Wotje Atoll
9th – 12th Constitutional Regular Session
1. H.E President Amata Kabua
2. Speaker Kessai H. Note
3. V-Speaker Andrew Hiseah
4. Minister Henchi Balos
5. Minister Ruben Zackhras
6. Minister Antonio Eliu
7. Minister Kunio Lemari
8. Minister Amsa Jonathan
9. Minister Phillip Muller
10. Minister Tom Kijiner
11. Minister Kunar Abner
12. Minister Christopher J. Loeak
13. Minister Brenson S. Wase
14. Senator Jeton Anjain
15. Senator Alden Bejang
16. Senator Ataji Balos
17. Senator Hiroshi Yamamura
18. Senator Report Hemius
19. Senator Carl Heine
20. Senator Hemos A. Jack
21. Senator Ishmael John
22. Senator Evelyn Konou
23. Senator Hermios Kibin
24. Senator Lomes McKay
25. Senator Ring Eliu
26. Senator Tony deBrum
27. Senator Alee Alik
28. Senator Leikman Robert
29. Senator Henry Samuel
30. Senator Atlan Anien
31. Senator Imata Kabua
32. Senator Michael Kabua
33. Senator Litokwa Tomeing
Majuro Atoll
Jabot Island
Namdrik Atoll
Kili, Bikini & Ejit atolls
Alinglaplap Atoll
Ujae Atoll
Wotho Atoll
Aur Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Likiep Atoll
Ailuk Atoll
Alinglaplap Atoll
Arno Atoll
Rongelap Atoll
Lib Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Utrik Atoll
Mejit Island
Jaluit Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Ujelang & Enewetak Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Maloelap Atoll
Lae Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Mili Atoll
Arno Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Namu Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Ebon Atoll
Wotje Atoll
1. H.E. President Amata Kabua
2. Speaker Atlan Anien
3. Vice Speaker Namo Hermios
4. Minister Ataji Balos
5. Minister Kunar Abner
6. Minister Wilfred Kendall
7. Minister Tom Kijjiner
8. Minister Atjang Paul
9. Minister Kessai H Note
10. Minister Jina Lavin
11. Minister Henry Samuel
12. Minister Ruben Zackhras
13. Senator Toke Sawej
14. Senator Imata Kabua
15. Senator Jolly Lojekar
16. Senator Katip Mack
17. Senator Kanchi Ibbino
18. Senator Carl Heine
19. Senator Evelyn Konou
20. Senator Alee Alik
21. Senator Ekpap Silk
22. Senator Pijja Jerwan
23. Senator Andrew Hiseah
24. Senator Litokwa Tomeign
25. Senator Beasa Peter
26. Senator Mwejor Mathusla
27. Senator Ishmael John
28. Senator Henchi Balos
29. Senator Jeton Anjain
30. Senator Report Emius
31. Senator Donald Matthew
32. Senator Jimmy Akeang
33. Senator Calep Rantak
Majuro Atoll
Namu Atoll
Maloelap Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Ailuk Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Likiep Atoll
Ailinglaplap Atoll
Jabot Island
Majuro Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Ailinglaplap Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Arno Atoll
Arno Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Mili Atoll
Ebon Atoll
Lib Atoll
Namdrik Atoll
Wotje Atoll
Aur Atoll
Wotho Atoll
Enewetak & Ujelang Atoll
Kili, Bikini & Ejit Atoll
Rongelap Atoll
Mejit Island
Utrik Atoll
Lae Atoll
Ujae Atoll
1. H.E President Amata Kabua
2. Speaker Atlan Anien
3. V-Speaker Andrew Hiseah
4. Minister Tony deBrum
5. Minister Tom Kijiner
6. Minister Brenson S. Wase
7. Minister Kessai H. Note
8. Minister Charles Domnick
9. Minister Phillip Muller
10. Minister Ruben Zackhras
11. Minister Kunio Lemari
12. Minister Kunar Abner
13. Minister Henchi Balos
14. Senator Tipne Philippo
15. Senator Chuji Chutaro
16. Senator Jeton Anjain
17. Senator Ataji Balos
18. Senator Report Emius
19. Senator Carl Heine
20. Senator Henry Samuael
21. Senator Alden Bejang
22. Senator Ishmael John
23. Senator Imata Kabua
24. Senator Evelyn Konou
25. Senator Hermios Kibin
26. Senator Hemos A. Jack
27. Senator Christopher J. Loeak
28. Senator Donald Matthew
29. Senator Amsa Jonathan
30. Senator Calep Rantak
31. Senator Leikman Robert
32. Senator Ekpap Silk
33. Senator Litokwa Tomeing
Majuro Atoll
Namu Atoll
Namdrik Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Likiep Atoll
Arno Atoll
Jabot Island
Maloelap Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Alinglaplap Atoll
Wotho Atoll
Ailuk Atoll
Kili, Bikini & Ejit Atoll
Lae Atoll
Mili Atoll
Rongelap Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Mejit Island
Jaluit Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Lib Atoll
Ujelang/Enewetak Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Alinglaplap Atoll
Utrik Atoll
Aur Atoll
Ujae Atoll
Arno Atoll
Ebon Atoll
Wotje Atoll
1. H.E President Amata Kabua
2. Speaker Kessai H. Note
3. V-Speaker Andrew Hiseah
4. Minister Henchi Balos
5. Minister Ruben Zackhras
6. Minister Antonio Eliu
7. Minister Kunio Lemari
8. Minister Amsa Jonathan
9. Minister Phillip Muller
10. Minister Tom Kijiner
11. Minister Kunar Abner
12. Minister Christopher J. Loeak
13. Minister Brenson S. Wase
14. Senator Jeton Anjain
15. Senator Alden Bejang
16. Senator Ataji Balos
17. Senator Hiroshi Yamamura
18. Senator Report Hemius
19. Senator Carl Heine
20. Senator Hemos A. Jack
21. Senator Ishmael John
22. Senator Evelyn Konou
23. Senator Hermios Kibin
24. Senator Lomes McKay
25. Senator Ring Eliu
26. Senator Tony deBrum
27. Senator Alee Alik
28. Senator Leikman Robert
29. Senator Henry Samuel
30. Senator Atlan Anien
31. Senator Imata Kabua
32. Senator Michael Kabua
33. Senator Litokwa Tomeing
Majuro Atoll
Jabot Island
Namdrik Atoll
Kili, Bikini & Ejit atolls
Alinglaplap Atoll
Ujae Atoll
Wotho Atoll
Aur Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Likiep Atoll
Ailuk Atoll
Alinglaplap Atoll
Arno Atoll
Rongelap Atoll
Lib Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Utrik Atoll
Mejit Island
Jaluit Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Ujelang & Enewetak Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Maloelap Atoll
Lae Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Mili Atoll
Arno Atoll
Majuro Atoll
Namu Atoll
Kwajalein Atoll
Ebon Atoll
Wotje Atoll
