 Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form:Kiribati local long form:Republic of Kiribati local short form:Kiribati note:pronounced keer-ree-bahss former:Gilbert Islands
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name:Tarawageographic coordinates:1 21 N, 173 02 E time difference:UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) note:on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory was in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction were on the other side of the International Date Line
Administrative divisions:
3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions but there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
preindependence - The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975; latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence); amended 1995 (2013)
Legal system:
English common law supplemented by customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government:President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO cabinet:12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament elections:the House of Parliament nominates the presidential candidates from among its members following parliamentary elections and then those candidates compete in a general election; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on 13 January 2012 (next to be held in 2015); vice president appointed by the president election results:Anote TONG 42.2%, Tetaua TAITAI 35%, Rimeta BENIAMINA 22.8%
| | Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders (representing Banaba Island); members serve four-year terms)elections:legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 21 October 2011 and the second round on 28 October 2011 (next to be held in 2015) election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)
Judicial branch:
highest court(s):High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)note - the High Court has jurisdiction on constitutional issues judge selection and term of office:chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC); other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC subordinate courts:Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders:
Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote TONG]Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI] Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA] note:there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Makurita BAARO (since 21 May 2014); note - also serves as Permanent Representative to the UNchancery:800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, New York 10017 telephone:[1] (212) 867-3310 FAX:[1] (212) 867-3320 consulate(s):there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
name:'Teirake kaini Kiribati' (Stand Up, Kiribati)lyrics/music:Urium Tamuera IOTEBA note:adopted 1979 |