Marshallese Constitutional Convention election, 2017

Marshall Islands
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A constitutional convention will be elected in the Marshall Islands on 21 February 2017. The convention will examine and develop proposed amendments to the Constitution, which, if approved, would then be submitted to the people by referendum.[1]

Explanation

The Marshall Islands are a parliamentary republic. A constitutional convention is being elected specifically to consider proposed constitutional amendments which have been endorsed by the Nitijeļā, the national parliament. The convention cannot propose new amendments; it can only debate those which have been approved by the parliament.[2] The proposed changes include the following:[3]

  • That the President should be elected directly by the people, rather than by Parliament; that a position of Vice-President be established; that the President, Vice-President and Cabinet no longer be susceptible to removal from office by a parliamentary vote of no confidence; that the President be a natural-born citizen, thus barring naturalised citizens from this office.
  • That six seats in the Nitijeļā be reserved for women; and that the Nitijeļā be required to reject appropriation bills which do not provide a balanced budget.
  • That protection from sexual discrimination be enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
  • That an ombudsman's office be created; and that the Attorney General be empowered to ask an independent body to investigate possible cases of fraud, corruption or unethical behaviour by elected officials and other high-ranking officials.
  • That the number of members of the Council of Iroij (Council of chiefs) be increased by one.
  • That any sale of land be prohibited by the Constitution (so as to protect customary land ownership), except where the lineage of the bwij (clan) owning the land is extinct.

The convention will consist in forty-five members: thirty-three open to any citizen, and twelve reserved for chiefs. There are one hundred and nineteen candidates for the former, and twenty-four for the latter. All but seven of the thirty-three members of the Nitijeļā are standing for election to the convention.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Marshalls candidates gear for Con-Con election", Marianas Variety, 23 December 2016
  2. ↑ "Marshall Is seats to be hotly contested", Radio New Zealand, 23 December 2016
  3. ↑ "At long last: Yes to Con-Con", Marshall Islands Journal, 1 October 2015
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